National Trust Cymru care for miles of walking trails across Wales, perfect for a winter stroll with your loved one to celebrate Dydd Santes Dwynwen (St Dwynwen’s Day).
To mark this day, 25 January, dedicated to love, wrap up warm and choose from frost covered parklands and gardens; following in the footsteps of some of history’s famous couples. Hike up hills and share the views with your someone special or pick a coastal path and walk across the sand, hand in hand.
Here are the top ten most romantic walking trails for you to enjoy with your loved one.
- Porthdinllaen, Llŷn Peninsula
A picture-perfect fishing village perched on a beautiful stretch of sandy beach and has a rich history, spectacular views and wildlife abound. It has its fair share of romantic charm with its secluded location with views across the Irish Sea.
Porthdinllaen, Gwynedd, North Wales. Credit: James Dobson - Erddig, Wrexham
You’ll find old romance at Erddig, walking in the footsteps of servant sweethearts Lucy Hitchman and Ernest Jones, who worked at Erddig just before the First World War. They fell in love and took strolls around the park on their afternoons off together.
View of the house across the lake at Erddig, Wales. Credit: Rob Stothard - Beddgelert, Snowdonia
Beddgelert is a village in the heart of Snowdonia and the perfect place for a romantic getaway. From the kissing gate at the river, follow the mountain views to find the grave of Gelert, the much-loved folktale of Prince Llywelyn’s faithful hound. This circular walk heads through ancient woodland to reach the spectacular Aberglaslyn gorge, before bringing you back to the picturesque village of Beddgelert.Visitors with a dog beside the Glaslyn river, Craflwyn and Beddgelert, Wales. Credit: Chris Lacey - Stackpole, Pembrokeshire
Spend precious together-time in Pembrokeshire. Take a loved one on a wander through Bosherston Lily Ponds to the secluded Barafundle Bay. Meander along the coastline, high above the waves and if you time it right take a sunset stroll along Broadhaven Beach on your way back.Credit: Leo Mason - Bodnant Garden, Conwy
Woo your special person at Bodnant Garden, a world-class garden in North Wales. Follow your heart on a winter garden trail under the twisted trunks of the Laburnum Arch. Head to the rose terraces and you will be rewarded with romantic panoramic vistas of this world-famous garden.Visitors walking in The Dell beside the River Hiraethlyn at Bodnant Garden, Conwy, Wales. Credit: Arnhel de Serra - Dyffryn Gardens, Cardiff
Walk hand in hand through grand vistas and intimate spaces at the elegant, Dyffryn Gardens. Explore a sensory garden and wander through the glasshouse of exotic flowering plants transporting you to faraway places.Visitors at Dyffryn House and Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Credit: James Dobson - Powis Castle, Welshpool
Wales is famous for its castles, and Medieval Powis Castle set high on a rock overlooking its world-famous garden terraces and aerial views across the deer park won’t fail to impress. The gardens are spectacular whatever the season, sheltered by a labyrinth of towering topiary yew hedges. Take a romantic wander among the formal herbaceous borders and lead statues, and you’ll find secluded benches hidden in the great arches of box hedge to cosy up with a loved one on a wintry day.Visitors admiring the view from the terraced gardens at Powis Castle, Powys, Wales. Credit: Paul Harris - Mwnt, Ceredigion
If you and your loved one have a shared passion for wildlife, Mwnt is a beautiful hidden cove, and one of the best places in Ceredigion to spot bottlenose dolphins. Pack your binoculars and a picnic for two and take a walk past the little white-washed chapel (popular for weddings) up to the top of Foel y Mwnt to see if you can catch a glimpse of dolphins that might be swimming, playing and feeding in the bay below. To reach the beach, follow the signed local stretches of Wales’ Coastal Path.Coastal Path Sign, Mwnt, Ceredigion. Photographer: Aled Llywelyn - Rhosili, Gower
What could be more romantic than a walking hand in hand along the beach at sunset. Rhosili is the longest beach in Wales, with dramatic coastline, shipwrecks and clifftop views. In the summer, return to Rhosili to wander in fields blooming with wildflowers against the stunning backdrop of Worm’s Head.Worm’s Head from Rhossili Bay, Gower, Swansea. - St David’s Peninsula, Pembrokeshire
The wild and windswept Peninsula of St David’s, is a place of historic pilgrimage and the perfect destination for romantics, with secluded beaches and picturesque cottages for a weekend getaway. St David’s Head, named after the patron saint of Wales, has been a cultural hotspot for thousands of years, and an idyllic spot for bird-lovers.From the high point of Carn Llidi on St David’s Head. Credit: Joe Cornish
Please follow the latest Welsh Government regulations and guidance when visiting. Changes to government restrictions may affect your visit, so please check the relevant individual property webpage for the latest information when planning your visit.
