Welsh Coastal Path — Wales

The Wales Coast Path runs 870 miles along the entire Welsh coastline, making it the first country in the world to have an unbroken walking trail around its entire coast. You don't need to walk all of it (though some people do). The appeal is that you can pick any section — from the wild Pembrokeshire sea cliffs to the serene Llŷn Peninsula — and find yourself on a world-class coastal walk with almost nobody else on the trail.

This is a pub-to-pub walk. Welsh coastal villages sit roughly a day's walk apart, and most have a pub, a B&B, and a view that makes you want to cancel your return flight. The combination of sea cliffs, sandy coves, headland scrambles, and green farmland rolling down to the water is uniquely Welsh — gentler than Scotland, less manicured than Cornwall, and significantly less crowded than both.

The Welsh don't oversell their coastline, which is part of its charm. You'll walk past Iron Age forts, medieval castles, and wild beaches where the only footprints are seabirds'. If you time it right (May–June), the cliff tops are carpeted in wildflowers — sea thrift, bluebells, and wild garlic — and the light stays until 10 PM.

Pembrokeshire Coast section (5–7 days): The crown jewel — limestone cliffs, sea stacks, hidden beaches, and puffin colonies on Skomer Island (boat trip from Martin's Haven, $15). The stretch from St Davids to Fishguard is the highlight.

Llŷn Peninsula (3–4 days): The quiet, Welsh-speaking peninsula that juts into the Irish Sea. Pilgrim's path to Bardsey Island, empty beaches, and some of the best sunsets in Britain.

Snowdonia to coast connection: Combine a mountain day on Snowdon (Wales's highest peak, 1,085m) with the coastal path in Caernarfon or Porthmadog.

Budget:: YHA hostels and camping — $15–30/night.

Mid-Range:: Coastal B&Bs — $50–80/night. Often the best option — home-cooked breakfasts, local knowledge, and walking distance from the trail.

Splurge:: Twr y Felin Hotel, St Davids — Wales's first contemporary art hotel in Britain's smallest city. $150–220/night.

Welsh rarebit: Not just cheese on toast — a savory blend of aged cheddar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and ale, grilled until bubbling. The pub classic that's better than it sounds.

Laverbread with cockles: Seaweed puree served with cockles and bacon for breakfast. Looks alarming. Tastes of the sea in the best way.

Welsh cakes: Small griddle cakes with currants, sugar, and spice. Every bakery, every village. The perfect trail snack.