There are many lush walks to choose from in Wales but not all of them are suitable for the younger members of the family who might struggle with distance and terrain.
Choosing a walk that's suitable for your family can be a bit tricky as there are many things to consider.
You'll need to think about how challenging the route is, the weather, parking options (don't forget to take pound coins!), are there toilets on the way, can you stop anywhere along the way for food and drinks if the kids get hungry?
Read more: Hiking route in Wales named the second best in the world
The weather can be a tad unpredictable here in Wales, so no matter where you hike, make sure to pack waterproofs and a flask of hot tea to keep everyone warm on a walk. Ramblers Cymru is also a great resource for walking tips, routes and details on family walks in Wales.
We've rounded up some of our favourite family walks in Wales to inspire you to get outdoors and exploring.
1. Castell Coch and Fforest Fawr, Cardiff
The dragon trail around Fforest Fawr behind Castell Coch is ideal for families looking for a walk in nature with some sculptures thrown into the mix.
There are wood carvings along this forest route to explore and plenty of wildlife to spot as well. Take the kids on the mile-long walking route for views over nearby Craig yr Allt and the Garth and also be sure to stop by the fairytale Castell Coch.
Nearby, you'll find toilets, food and refreshments at Forest Tea Rooms in Tongwynlais if everyone is getting tired and hungry.
Here, you can have lunch with the kids in a rustic and leafy cafe in the woods that does the best toasties in Cardiff. It's a family-run business in a gorgeous forest setting that even has the odd peacock roaming around.
2. Rhossili headland, Gower
Children will love the old shipwreck on beautiful Rhossili beach. A three and a half-mile walk to Worm's Head will take you around an hour and a half with the kids.
The Gower Peninsula section of the Wales Coast Path has a series of easy, moderate and difficult walks to suit a range of abilities and ages.
Several popular walks in this area include Oxwich to Pennard Cliffs, Rhossili to Port Eynon, Langland Bay to Caswell Bay and Worm’s Head Walk. The gorgeous scenery takes in the unspoilt coastline, limestone cliffs, beautiful headlands and golden beaches.
3. Garth Mountain, Cardiff
Garth Mountain is located near Taff's Well and is train accessible from Cardiff if travelling by public transport with the family. The route is a roughly 6km trail that takes you to the summit of 1007-feet high of Garth Mountain. It's suitable for older children who have experience walking.
More of a hill than a mountain, it’s the site where Hugh Grant’s 1995 film, The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill But Came Down A Mountain was filmed.
There are several starting points for this strenuous hill walk and many walkers either start from Taff's Well or from Gwaelod-y-Garth Village.
4. Aber Falls, Gwynedd
Aber Falls (Welsh: Rhaeadr Fawr), is a popular waterfall located about two miles south of the village of Abergwyngregyn.
Starting at the car park there are two paths to these picturesque falls, walk the more challenging path through the woodlands if you have older kids and try the more accessible path by the river if you have younger children.
Both routes offer beautiful nature and wildlife along the way, as well as lots of 'photo stops' to get those precious family memories. When you reach the falls you'll be treated to 37m of cascading water that can be watched from the nearby picnic spots.
5. Hensol Forest, Vale of Glamorgan
The inland Vale of Glamorgan has pretty villages, glorious countryside and shady forests for nature-loving families to explore, including Hensol Forest.
You can explore the forest and Pysgodlyn Lake and even take on a marked seven-mile trail - Vale Trail 8 if you and the family are feeling adventurous. Make sure to follow these trail signs to complete the whole route.
This trail starts at the free Forestry Commission Car Park and takes you through an ethereal conifer forest that is full of nature and wildlife. You'll also be able to explore the historic village of Pendoylan, Pysgodlyn Lake and also see the impressive Vale Resort Golf Course.
On this walk, you'll find food and refreshments at the pub at Pendoylan and refreshments and at Vale of Glamorgan Resort if the kids are getting hungry.
6. Devil's Bridge and Falls, Ceredigion
The Devil’s Bridge Fall Nature Trail is located at the ethereal Devil's Bridge area in Ceredigion and is a circular trail that takes around 45 minutes, depending on your family's walking pace.
Pay to enter via the coin-operated turnstile and you can spend as much time as you like exploring the falls with the kids.
The circular challenging trek though, with steep trails, steps and slippery surfaces, so it's more suited to families with older children who enjoy a nature hike.
There’s an alternative ‘three Bridges & Punchbowl trail’ that takes around 10 minutes. It’s an easier trail to manage if you have young children and dogs that can’t manage big treks.
When planning your visit, be aware that an attendant is at the Falls entrance from 9.45 am to 5.30 pm, but hours can vary depending on the season.
Prices are also seasonal and range from £4 to just £2, making it a super budget family activity in the Cambrian Mountains.
8. Margam Country Park, Port Talbot
Margam Country Park is a great place to take the kids for a walk and a run around in the fresh air. It's home to the striking nineteenth-century Gothic mansion Margam Castle and offers plenty for families to enjoy such as its farm trail, fishing lake and adventure playground.
The country park estate, in Neath Port Talbot, was also recently named among the top ten most popular parks in the whole of the UK.
There are some steep sections of the 2.5-mile Monastic Trail at Margam, so best suited for slightly older children.
The walk takes you around the back of the castle and the iron age hillfort and up through woods to the remains of the medieval church Hen Eglwys, passing the fish pond.
9. Monk Nash beach, Vale of Glamorgan
A 4.5-mile walk through the wooded valley of Cwm Nash towards Monk Nash beach that has captivating coastal scenery and 300 million-year-old fossils that kids will enjoy spotting.
In preparation for the walk, why not pick up a free Geology leaflet from the Heritage Coast Centre and learn more about the historic remnants of the Carboniferous, Triassic and Jurassic periods?
Kids will love hunting for fossilised seashells and ammonites in the rocks and dipping their toes in the bracing waves that lap the rocky shorelines.
You can walk along the bedrock beach and try and get some beautiful sunset photos if you time the walk right.
10. Cardiff Bay Trail, Cardiff
This easy, mainly traffic-free, family-friendly trail runs for just over six miles around Cardiff Bay and across to the seaside town of Penarth, via Pont Y Werin.
You can attempt the whole trail or just a small section with the family and its flat surfaces mean that pushchairs and buggies can also be taken on this walk. Make sure to follow the ‘Cardiff Bay trail’ signs to complete this easy and scenic loop trail.
It's a great way to explore Cardiff Bay’s fantastic array of attractions and iconic sights. Along the trail, you'll see some of the historic and modern landmarks of Cardiff, such as the Norwegian Church, Wales Millennium Centre, the Senedd and the Pierhead building.
For the kids, there are plenty of refreshments along the way as well as parks and attractions.
11. Aberporth to Tresaith, Cardigan Bay
How about combining waterfalls and beaches for your next family coastal hike? This short, two-mile walk has rocky coves, fantastic views across Cardigan Bay and also has a unique waterfall feature at Tresaith that the kids will love.
It's a family-friendly walk that has a wheelchair friendly section along with toilet facilities and refreshment stops, making it perfect for little explorers. Look out for seabirds, dolphins and butterflies along the way and remember to bring your camera for gorgeous coastal snaps.
The Cardi Bach coastal bus service runs seasonally between Aberporth and Tresaith if you require public transport.
12. Bosherston Lily Ponds, Pembrokeshire
A 4.4-mile circular walk that takes you on the glorious Pembrokeshire Coast Path Trail. Highlights of this walk include Limestone cliffs, beaches and the famous Bosherston lily ponds, where you'll find otters, waterfowl and water lilies. For families that love the outdoors, this is a beautiful walk in Pembrokeshire.
On this coastal walk, you'll also find many secluded bays, caves, arches, inlets, blow-holes and stacks that are the result of wave action on the limestone cliffs and are great for sea birds including ravens, shags, martins, oystercatchers, jackdaws and, of course, the chough. Wildflowers abound – the squill and sea lavender are particularly beautiful.
Follow the trail to St Govan's head to find a secluded chapel that's hidden on a wild and windy beach. If you walk right down to St Govan’s chapel today you can still see ‘bell rock’. Legend has it that if you make a wish while standing in the rock cleft it will come true – as long as you don’t change your mind before you turn around.
13. Pen y Fan, Brecon Beacons
For some of the best views of the Brecon Beacons, hike up the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Pen-y-Fan. Enjoy panoramic views of the Brecon landscape on a scenic hike with the family.
This walk is suitable for families with older children who are used to hiking in mountainous areas. The vast majority of walkers hike the well-trodden route to the summit from Storey Arms Activity centre and this is the most family-friendly route. There's also a less crowded ascent via the path up from Taf Fechan Forest past Neuadd Reservoir for the more experienced hiking family.
Watching the sunrise at the top of Pen-y-Fan has become extremely popular of late and several families have even made the trek up to watch the dawn break over the peaks.
14. Sychryd trail, Dinas Rock, Neath
Dinas Rock is in a popular part of the Brecon Beacons National Park known as Waterfall Country.
The Sychryd Trail winds its way alongside the river through a narrow wooded gorge and the huge rock known as Bwa Maen, an impressive geological fold, is on the other side of the river. This walk is suitable for everyone, including those in a sturdy wheelchair or buggy. You'll walk through a wooded gorge to the Sgydau Sychryd cascades which are usually at their best in the winter months.
There are spectacular waterfalls along the route and you'll also get to see the impressive limestone rock formation known as Bwa Maen from across the river.
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