The most beautiful walks in Wales revealed
A new study has revealed the most beautiful walks in Wales, with a Welsh castle and garden leading the list of strong contenders from across the nation.
Some unexpected locations boast the most beautiful walks in Wales according to new research, with some notable destinations which receive much higher footfall, such as yr Wyddfa in Eryri not making the top ten.
The study, conducted by CEWE, Europe’s leading photo printing company identified and ranked walks across Wales based on desk research and Google review data.
Each location was analysed for star ratings, number of reviews and descriptive terms such as ‘beautiful’, ‘stunning’, ‘amazing’, and ‘lovely’ – words commonly associated with picturesque places that people love to photograph and remember.
Best in show
Powis Castle and Garden is in first place with 254 beautiful reviews.
Located in Welshpool, Powys, it has a 4.7 star rating, 19,600 Instagram hashtags, 307 TikTok views and 7,372 reviews. The castle which was built in the 13th century as a medieval fortress boasts impressive views across the Severn Valley.
Powis Castle (Welsh: Castell Powys) is a medieval castle, fortress and grand country house, and the seat of the Herbert family, earls of Powis.
The castle is known for its formal gardens and for its interiors, the former having been described as “the most important”, and the latter “the most magnificent”, in the country. The castle and gardens are under the care of the National Trust. Powis Castle is a Grade I listed building, while its gardens have their own Grade I listing on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales
Unusually for a castle on the Marches, it was constructed by a Welsh prince, Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, rather than by a Norman baron. Gruffydd was prince of the ancient Kingdom of Powys and maintained an alliance with the English king Edward I during the struggles of the later 13th century. He was able to secure the position of his son, Owain, although the kingdom itself was abolished by the Parliament of Shrewsbury in 1283.
Whitesands Bay in Pembrokeshire, St Davids follows in second with 226 beautiful reviews. Popular with surfers, this picturesque beach offers views of St Davids Head and has a 4.6 star rating, 3,330 Instagram hashtags, 287 TikTok views and 1,560 reviews.
Aber Falls in Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd completes the top three with 203 beautiful reviews. Known as one of Eyri’s most dramatic waterfalls the river plummets from 120 feet into a shallow rocky pool. The waterfall which attracts over 50,000 visitors a year has a 4.8 star rating, 36,500 Instagram hashtags, 3,354 TikTok views and 3,830 reviews.
Other honourable mentions that complete the top 10 are Pen y Fan in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, Gower Peninsula’s Three Cliffs Bay and Carmarthenshire’s The National Botanic Garden of Wales.
Top Ten
| Top 10 Beautiful Walks in Wales | |||||||
| Rank | Walk | Location | Star Rating | Instagram Hashtags | TikTok Views | No of Reviews | No of Beautiful Reviews |
| 1 | Powis Castle and Garden | Welshpool, Powys | 4.7 | 19,600 | 307 | 7,372 | 254 |
| 2 | Whitesands Bay | PembrokeshireSt Davids | 4.6 | 3,330 | 287 | 1,560 | 226 |
| 3 | Aber Falls | Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd | 4.8 | 36,500 | 3,354 | 3,830 | 203 |
| 4 | Stackpole Quay | Stackpole, Pembrokeshire | 4.8 | 11,300 | 256 | 454 | 173 |
| 5 | Three Cliffs Bay | Gower Peninsula, Swansea | 4.8 | 41,400 | 1,038 | 362 | 157 |
| 6 | Marloes Peninsula | Marloes, Pembrokeshire | 4.9 | 100 | 37 | 409 | 149 |
| 7 | The National Botanic Garden of Wales | Llanarthney, Carmarthenshire | 4.6 | 500 | 100 | 4,611 | 137 |
| 8 | Carreg Cennen Castle | Trap,
Carmarthenshire |
4.7 | 5,000 | 70 | 2,101 | 129 |
| 9 | Four Waterfalls | Ystradfellte, Powys | 4.8 | 12,000 | 1,918 | 282 | 122 |
| 10 | Pen y Fan | Bannau Brycheiniog, Powys | 4.9 | 22,000 | 12,400 | 1,624 | 112 |
Moments Made to Remember
From sweeping coastlines to hidden waterfalls, these walks aren’t just ideal for exploring — they’re perfect for photographing.
Following on from its research, CEWE is encouraging people to step outside, camera in hand to capture the beauty of nature and history, with its free guide and tips on taking great photos and turning a simple walk into a memory that can be revisited.
Petra Felgen, Managing Director of CEWE UK said: “We wanted to uncover the Wales’s most beautiful walks not just for their scenery, but for the memories they help create,” said. “Whether it’s capturing a view from a clifftop or a quiet forest trail, these are the kinds of moments that people love to revisit through photography.”
Learn more here: https://www.cewe.co.uk/photo-walks
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I did the walk to Aber Falls on a searingly hot day. I stopped half way to have my sandwiches and a bottle of chilled cider. The looks I got from hot and bothered passing hikers suggested that I might, at any minute, have to fight to keep the cider.
I love Powis Castle, but I’d also add Bodnant Garden. Between them, they paid for my National Trust membership.
Other parts of Wales are available…