The Welsh countryside offers unrivalled opportunities to get out into nature and get some fresh air in your lungs. It might be a small country but the potential is huge! There are some incredibly famous attractions such as Snowdonia National Park and other smaller areas that may not have come onto your radar just yet, like the National Botanic Gardens of Wales. Today, we are going to take a look at these and everything between.
Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park
We are coming in hot with our first suggestion and heading to one of the most notorious leisure spots in the country. Snowdonia National Park is known throughout the world for its breathtaking scenery and wonderful dog walks. Some of these walks can be quite challenging but many of them offer a simple and relaxing route through this glorious countryside.
The Devil’s Kitchen
A stroll around Llyn Idwal Lake is a dramatic experience thanks to the dark crack that splits the rocks. The name derives from the black hole that produces a plume of steam as it rises up from the depths of the Earth, as if the devil himself were cooking up a storm in the kitchen.
This walk is 4.5 miles long and follows the edge of the rugged cliffs and down a ridge producing a few challenging moments along the way.
Conwy Mountain
This circular walk offers views of the coast, mountains and the famous Conwy Castle. It is a dog-friendly hike and will take you through the heart of some of the most beautiful countryside in Wales. Some parts of this trail can be a little remote so it is always important to have your mobile phone with you just in case.
Your phone will be able to provide GPS data to help you navigate your route and also to help others find you should you get lost. Ensure that you have a full battery before starting out on your adventure.
Mobile phones can also add additional benefits to your day and while you are taking a break from your walk, you can relax and enjoy a little fun online should you wish.
New UK slot sites are accessible on your mobile and you can access them from most parts of this trail and others as long as you have suitable internet coverage.
Mobile devices will also give you access to music, podcasts and other forms of entertainment to keep you company on this circular walk.
Swallow Falls
This short walk is a little over two miles long and is a fairly easy stroll that should only take the average walker around an hour to complete.
It is a popular trail with campers, hikers and runners and is open all year round for both you and your pets to enjoy. The woodland trail takes you along scenic pathways through the Gwydir Forest and past the Swallow Falls.
Amber Falls
These waterfalls are perhaps the most dramatic in Wales and you can reach them via an accessible path to make life a little easier. The falls are 120 ft deep with a rocky pool beneath.
It is one of the shortest walks around the Snowdonia area and is completely accessible for everyone starting out their adventure in this park. You can reach the start of this trail close to the A55.
The Brecon Beacons
This National Park is now known as ‘The Bannau’ and is extremely popular with tourists looking to enjoy the great outdoors. The surrounding mountains offer some stunning scenery and on a clear day, you can see for miles out across vast areas of the country.
It is a fantastic place to take your dog for a walk and there are several top trails that have been specially marked out as dog-friendly in this area.
The Pen y Fan and Corn Du circular route
This fantastic walk covers two dramatic peaks across four miles of terrain with breathtaking views along the way. The Pen y Fan is the highest point of the walk at 886m and is the highest peak in South Wales.
National Botanic Garden of Wales
What started as a millennium project has grown into quite the attraction that draws in a crowd from far and wide. You might not automatically associate a botanic garden with dog-friendly days out, but Mondays and the occasional weekends are designated Doggy Days where you and your furry companion can explore the area with its lakes and carefully curated gardens.
Carreg Cennen Castle
Exploring the castle itself is a fantastic experience but it’s also good to know that you can get out and stretch your legs around the area on some top walks. You get to travel through the chestnut valleys and woods surrounding the castle and explore some of the best parts of this area.
One of the top walks takes around four hours and covers a little over 6.5 miles beginning from the village of Trapp. You get to take in all of the breathtaking views of the countryside, castle and wonderful wildlife too.
The Four Waterfalls Walk
It isn’t often that you get to experience four wonderful waterfalls along the same trail but that’s exactly what you get here.
It is a circular walk that covers around five miles and is considered an intermediate walk that should suit most levels with good mobility. It is a dog-friendly trail so feel free to bring your companion with you to enjoy the adventure across this stunning countryside in the Brecon Beacons.
