Discovering Wales: A Guide to Hidden Gems and Natural Wonders
Wales, a country known for its breathtaking landscapes, offers an array of scenic coastlines, sweeping valleys, and rugged peaks. Alongside charming villages and historic sites, the region is home to some of the UK’s most picturesque natural attractions. Despite its relatively small size, Wales boasts a coastline stretching over 1,600 miles, with 20 per cent of its land covered by three National Parks: Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons, and the Pembrokeshire Coast.
For hikers, Snowdonia (Eryri) is a premier destination, drawing around four million visitors each year. Among them, approximately 400,000 attempt to climb Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales. However, those seeking less-traveled routes can explore a new guidebook that highlights 300 carefully curated walking trails across the country. This book showcases lesser-known locations, from the natural beauty of Anglesey (Ynys Môn) and the Wye Valley (Dyffryn Gwy) to the industrial heritage of Blaenavon (Blaenafon). Beyond walking routes, it also features castles, towns, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites scattered throughout Wales.
Below is a selection of 15 breathtaking, crowd-free hotspots from the guide to help you make the most of your next trip to Wales.
1. Borth War Memorial
Perched atop a cliff overlooking upper Borth above Craig Yr Wylfa, the Borth War Memorial was initially built to commemorate the lives of 23 men from the area who were killed during the First World War. The monument, standing six metres high, was designed with a four-stepped base, surmounted by rough-hewn stone plinth and column with a cross at the top. A second plaque was added after the Second World War, which saw a further 25 men from Borth lost. In 1983, it was struck by lightning and damaged before being re-erected by public subscription in 1984.
2. Carreg Cennen Castle
Voted ‘the most romantic location in Wales’ by Countryfile readers, Carreg Cennen Castle sits on a limestone crag nearly 300ft above the River Cennen, offering spectacular views of the Carmarthenshire countryside. The medieval castle, dating back to the 13th century, provides a sense of remoteness and drama, making it a prime wedding destination and filming location. It is a managed visitor site with a small café, access paths, a working farm, and gift shop, though it still feels remote. Admission costs £7.30 for adults, £6.60 for seniors, and £5.10 for children, while disabled persons and their companions can enter free of charge.
3. Conwy Mountain
Conwy Mountain is considered one of the country’s most beautiful mountains for walking. Its alternative name is Mynydd y Dref, meaning The Town’s Mountain, aptly named as it sits north-west of the walled town of Conwy. The mountain is the site of an extinct volcano that erupted 450 million years ago. Shifting tectonic plates have forced the volcanic rock upward and tilted it, carving out the dramatic landscape seen today. Served by a generous network of paths, including the North Wales Path and the Wales Coast Path, the mountain bursts into a soft purple hue in late summer due to bell heather, with gorse and bilberry providing striking contrasts.
4. Cribau & Y Lliwedd from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Cribau and Y Lliwedd are two separate geographic features that meet on the main ridge line connecting the summit of Wales’ tallest mountain, Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), to Y Lliwedd. These ridges were shaped by glaciers during the last Ice Age, creating the sharp edges and valleys seen today. Y Lliwedd, standing at 898m, has a rugged, craggy appearance and was once used for early mountaineering routes, while Cribau is a shorter scrambling ridge that offers a more direct route up to the high ridge between Snowdon and Y Lliwedd.
5. Cribyn
Formed from old red sandstone, Cribyn is part of the same range as Pen y Fan but sees fewer visitors and appears more rugged than its neighbour due to its narrow ridges. Standing at 795 metres, the mountain is the third highest in the central Beacons and is known for its distinctive, pyramidal shape and a steep ridge called ‘The Nose’. The wider area is part of a National Park, with maintained paths but little built infrastructure, while the surrounding landscape is made up of open moorland with sweeping views.
6. Porth yr Ogof
Located in the ‘Waterfall Country’ of the Breacon Beacons, Porth yr Ogof is a large natural cave formed by the River Mellte cutting through limestone over thousands of years. Boasting the largest cave entrance in Wales, the entry point is wide and low, with water flowing through it depending on conditions. Inside, visitors can marvel at the ‘White Horse Pool’, named for the white calcite mark on the wall that resembles a horse’s head. The surrounding woodland and waterfalls create a lush, enclosed setting.
7. Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
Built in the late 18th century, the canal was originally used to transport coal and iron during the Industrial Revolution. Today it’s preserved as a leisure route, popular for walking, cycling, and narrowboat trips, and is widely considered the most scenic waterway in the UK. The canal stretches 35 miles and is lined with old locks, bridges, and towpaths that reflect its industrial past, passing through quiet countryside, villages, and wooded stretches along the Breacon Beacons.
8. Pantmaenog Forest & Foel Eryr – Mynydd Preseli walk
The walk through the privately-owned Pantmaenog Forest to the 1,535 ft summit of Foel Eryr is a classic route, blending managed woodland with the wild, ancient moorland of the Mynydd Preseli (Preseli Hills). The Preseli Hills are geologically significant, as their bluestones were used to build Stonehenge thousands of years ago, while Pantmaenog Forest is a more recent plantation, contrasting with the open moorland of Foel Eryr. Though privately owned, the forest is open to the public for about 12 kilometres and is popular for walking, mountain biking, and horse riding.
9. Porth Dinllaen
This small coastal area has historic roots as a fishing village and was once considered a possible ferry port to Ireland. Today it remains largely unchanged, with a handful of cottages and a world-renowned pub by the beach, as well as being known for its ‘time-warp’. Protected as part of a heritage coastline, development in this area has been minimal, with only 24 buildings in total. The standout star of the village is Tŷ Coch Inn (Red House), ranked the third best beach bar in the world by Cheapflights.co.uk.
10. South Stack Lighthouse
Perched on a tiny islet off Holy Island, South Stack Lighthouse is surrounded by the Irish sea, towering cliffs, and a world-class nature reserve, earning it a reputation as one of the most dramatic landmarks in Wales. The lighthouse was built in 1809 to warn ships of the dangerous rocks along this stretch of coast and is reached by a long flight of around 400 steps and a narrow bridge. The surrounding cliffs are steep and rugged, forming part of a nature reserve rich in seabirds.
11. Tenby Harbour & medieval castle
Tenby Harbour and the ruins of its medieval castle sit on a dramatic, rocky area known as Castle Hill, offering a sandy beach, cliffs, colourful houses, and panoramic views of Carmarthen Bay. The harbour itself has been used for fishing and trade for centuries, though today it is a popular tourist spot with restored buildings and boat trips running from the quay. The castle, founded by the Normans in the 12th century, has lost most of its original structure over time, but several key features remain, such as a solitary stone tower and its main gateway.
12. Cadair Idris
Cadair Idris, based in Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park, was formed by volcanic activity and later shaped by glaciers, giving it its distinctive bowl-shaped peak. It has long been linked to Welsh myths and dark folklore, with legends suggesting that those who fall asleep on the mountain will either awake as a poet or madman—or possibly never wake again. At 2,930 ft, Cadair Idris is one of the highest mountains in southern Eryri, with well-established routes up to the peak but not overly developed, keeping a natural feel.
13. Three Cliffs Bay, Gower
Three Cliffs Bay in Swansea sits within the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, meaning it’s protected from heavy development. Aside from footpaths and a few nearby ruins, the beach remains largely untouched, with surrounding dunes, river, and cliffs providing a varied landscape. The bay—its limestone cliffs formed over millions of years and shaped by coastal erosion—is overlooked by an ancient castle and is often named among Britain’s best beaches.
14. Tin Man sculpture above Llanbedrog beach
The Tin Man is an iconic modern artwork installed in 2001, standing on a headland above Llanbedrog Beach, facing out to sea. The current figure is the third in a series of landmarks to occupy the spot. What would have now been the 100-year-old original wooden structure was destroyed around 1980 by vandals in a fire, while the second metal sculpture rusted away in the harsh coastal elements. Because the sculpture is hollow, the wind that blows through it is said to make it ‘sing’, adding an eerie quality to the landmark.
15. View north along the Clwydian Hills
The Clwydian Hills are an ancient landscape of several hills that run from Llandegla in the south to Prestatyn in the north, with evidence of Iron Age hillforts along the ridge that still shape the skyline today. The area is managed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with maintained trails but limited natural features, though its surroundings offer dazzling views of farmland, moorland, and distant coastal views. Those who cross into North Wales via the M56 motorway can distinctly spot the Clwydian Hills, which stretches about 20 miles.
