Spring is in the air; the days are getting lighter and the weather is getting warmer so it’s a great time to get back into the great outdoors and enjoy some of the most spectacular and varied scenery available in the UK. For anyone who loves walking, and even for those people who prefer more of a gentle stroll Wales has it all, from beautiful countryside to a stunning coastline, from mountains to waterfalls, and this, of course, means that there is a huge selection of walks with something for everyone.
With so many walks in North Wales to choose from it can be hard to narrow it down to just a few but here is our pick for the best walks in North Wales.
Family Walks
Sometimes it can be difficult to motivate your children into going for a walk, but the Holyhead Mountain walk on Anglesey is a great family walk. The summit which is 220 meters above sea level is the perfect place to have your sandwiches with stunning views of the towering sea cliffs, complete with a fantastic array of seabirds and the beautiful views of the South Stack Lighthouse. At 5 miles this walk should take you around 2 hours, excluding that all important sit at the top!
If you prefer something a little flatter then why not try the Llangollen History Trail, which should have plenty to keep your children interested as they walk. This trail takes in the Llangollen Canal, the Horseshoe Falls, and the Llantysilio Church before moving on to Valle Crucis Abbey and the remains of Dinas Bran Castle. There are plenty of places for that all important mid walk rest including the pretty town itself. Allow around 4 hours to complete this 6-mile walk – of course, you might want to add in more time to visit the sights along the way!
Walks for the Adventurous
Of course, if you fancy more of a walking challenge then North Wales has no shortage of those either and of course, we cannot mention walking North Wales without at least suggesting one walk that offers you some of the most spectacular views imaginable.
The Cwm Idwal walk might be classed as something of a more challenging walk but the rewards are certainly worth it. You will be treated to spectacular mountain scenery, including the bowl-shaped hollow that contains the clear waters of Llyn Idwal, accessing a site that is famous all over the world not only for its rock formations but also its fragile and rare plant life. Because of the more strenuous nature of this walk, you should allow around 3 hours to cover the 3 miles.
If you want a good climb from your walk, then the Llanberis path is a fantastic way to visit Snowdon. Originally tourists have ferried up this route on ponies or mules but why not enjoy the challenge of walking up. This is a linear walk so whilst you might pass the same things on the way back down you are sure to spot plenty of things you missed on the way up. Climbing to 975 meters this walk will take approximately 6 hours and covers a total of 9 miles.
Make a Holiday of it
With so many fantastic walks and so little time, why not make the most of your visit to North Wales and stay for a few days. There are plenty of different accommodation options available from bed and breakfasts to hotels, not forgetting a fantastic selection of North Wales caravan sites that could make a great base for going on some of the best walks that North Wales has to offer.