Accessible adventures on walking trails across Wales

Starting and ending in the pretty village of Beddgelert in the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, this short circular walk travels along a flat, wheel-friendly waterside path. Along the Gelert's Grave Walk you'll follow the banks of the River Glaslyn and possibly spot trains on the Welsh Highland Railway puffing past.

You’ll also see Gelert’s Grave, a memorial to the heroic dog who once belonged to 13th-century Welsh Prince Llywelyn the Great. Back in Beddgelert, you’ll find a good choice of pubs, cafés and shops – plus accessible public toilets.

Distance: 1.6 miles (2.6km)

Surface: Flat and largely paved

Allow: 1 hour

Starting from Llangefni on Anglesey, this out-and-back trail is made up of wooden boardwalks through the Dingle Nature Reserve and the tarmacked trails of the Lon Las Cefni cycle route. As you travel through the woodland bordering the River Cefni, watch out for rare red squirrels in the trees above and blankets of colourful wildflowers in spring and summer.

When you emerge from the woods you’ll see the shimmering waters of the reservoir, home to an array of wading birds and aquatic wildlife. There are plenty of places to pick up refreshments in lively Llangefni, alongside accessible public toilets.

Distance: 3.5 miles (5.6km)

Surface: Tarmac and wooden boardwalk with rails

Allow: 1-2 hours

Starting from the Elan Valley Visitor Centre just outside Rhayader, the short walk through Cnwch Woods is a great introduction to the Elan Valley’s natural and man-made wonders. The circular trail passes the sheer walls of mighty Caban Coch dam, which transforms into a roaring cascade when water levels are high, before travelling through shady woodland alive with birds and animals.

The visitor centre is packed with information on the incredible engineering feats that transformed this peaceful valley into one of the country’s the largest areas of fresh water. There’s also a café, shop and toilets ­– plus a fun outdoor play area for younger visitors.

Distance: 0.87 miles (1km)

Surface: Tarmac paths

Allow: 1 hour

Return to the source at Hafren Forest in the Cambrian Mountains, where you can traverse the banks of the River Severn before it grows into one of Wales’ mightiest waterways. The river springs from peat bogs above the forest on the slopes of Pumlumon mountain, gathering speed and power as it tumbles downhill over a series of rushing waterfalls.

The Cascades Walk leads directly from the car park, following the riverbank on a wooden boardwalk to a raised viewing platform. With an accessible picnic bench and lovely views of the cascades, it’s the perfect spot to stop for refreshments. The route’s return leg goes through the trees on a smooth woodland path back to the car park, which offers Blue Badge parking and accessible toilets.

Distance: 0.5 miles (0.9km)

Surface: Wooden boardwalk and level paths

Allow: 30 minutes to an hour

Located on the outskirts of Cardiff, the immaculate Edwardian Dyffryn Gardens are ideal for accessible exploration. Criss-crossed by a network of easy-to-navigate paths, you can make your own route through the grounds to see a selection of meticulously crafted garden rooms, rose gardens bursting with colours and fragrances and expanses of sweeping formal lawns.

There’s also a walled kitchen garden and tropical glasshouse packed with exotic flora from across the globe. Alongside accessible toilets and the café, visitors can also make use of onsite wheelchairs, mobility scooters and a volunteer-run buggy (though you will need to check in advance to confirm availability).

Distance: There are 55 acres of grounds to explore, so the length of your journey is entirely up to you.

Surface: Tarmac and compacted gravel paths

Allow: 1-5 hours

Nestled in woodland just outside Merthyr Tydfil, Garwnant offers easy access to adventures in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. The visitor centre, with café, Blue Badge parking, a Changing Places toilet and accessible toilets, is the starting point for a number of walking routes. These include the accessible Willow Trail, which winds through the woods and over streams on a series of bridges before leading through a woven willow tunnel on the return to your starting point.

Keep your eyes peeled as you go for a chance to spot abundant bird and plant life including green woodpeckers, yellow-tinged siskins and striking red-capped fly agaric fungi.

Distance: 0.5 miles (0.8km)

Surface: Wooden boardwalks and hard packed gravel paths

Allow: 30 minutes to an hour

Pre-book a free all-terrain ‘tramper’ mobility scooter or beach wheelchair to experience the richly varied landscapes of the spectacular Stackpole Estate on the Pembrokeshire coast. Managed by the National Trust, the estate takes in sandy beaches, shimmering lakes, tranquil woodland and grassy meadows.

The trail from Stackpole Centre to Broad Haven is a great example of the estate’s variety. You’ll travel along the shores of Bosherston Lakes and witness the gradual transition from woodland to coast as you approach the golden sandy beach. There’s free Blue Badge parking across Stackpole estate, alongside accessible toilets in a selection of locations. Check out the Accessibility at Stackpole guide for more information before arrival to plan your visit.

Distance: 2 miles (3.2km)

Surface: Paths suitable for use with off-road mobility scooters and beach wheelchairs

Allow: 2-3 hours

Picture-perfect Rhossili on the Gower Peninsula is a regular feature on lists of the world’s most beautiful coastal locations. The wheelchair-accessible walk along the clifftop means that everybody can enjoy the spectacular seaside views. The flat path leads out the old coastguard lookout point, with plenty of benches along the way to stop and soak in the vistas.

Watch out for seabirds soaring overhead and playful grey seals bobbing in the water below. You’ll also get a good look at the aptly-named Worm’s Head, a green-flanked tidal island projecting out into the sea like a giant sleeping serpent.

Distance: 1.6 miles (2.5km)

Surface: Tarmac path

Allow: 1-2 hours

This is just a small selection of the accessible rolls and strolls you can find all over Wales. If you want to feel the sea breeze and hear the waves crashing against the shore, try one of our accessible walks on the Wales Coast Path. There’s also a great selection of buggy-friendly walks around Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, and pushchair-accessible adventures for younger wildlife enthusiasts.

Visit Wales collaborates with the Changing Places, a national campaign working to ensure that accessible toilets and changing facilities are available everywhere they are needed. You’ll find Changing Places facilities in locations including The National Botanic Garden of Wales, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bannau Brycheiniog Visitor Centre and Wepre Country Park in Flintshire. More are being added all the time, so check the Changing Places website for up-to-date information before your visit.