Accessible walking trails

What you need to know

There are walking trails suitable for all abilities in our woodlands and National Nature Reserves all over Wales. 

Some trails have sections of boardwalk which allow you to experience different landscapes from bogs to wetlands. Other trails follow level paths around lakes or alongside rivers and some take you to viewing areas over waterfalls.

All of our trails are waymarked from start to finish and there is an information panel at the start of each one.

How we grade our trails

Every walking trail in our woodlands and National Nature Reserves is graded to give an indication of its difficulty.

The grades take account of the trail surface, gradients and the level of fitness needed.

Trail grades are given on this website and on the information panel at the start of the trail.

Find out more about walking trail grades.

Accessible trails

Our accessible-graded walks are suitable for everyone, including people who use a wheelchair.

Please note that assistance may be needed to push wheelchairs on some sections.

All of the walking trails on this page have been graded as accessible.

Other trails

Some of the other trails in our woodlands and reserves may be suitable for users of adaptive equipment.

We have produced a series of films to help people who use adaptive equipment (adaptive cycles, adaptive wheelchairs and mobility scooters) work out how suitable some of our other trails may be before they visit.

To watch the films about some of our other trails go to Trails for users of adaptive equipment.

To find walking trails in our other woodlands and reserves go to Places to Visit.

Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre, near Aberystwyth

Barcud Trail

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: ¾ mile/1.3 kilometres
• Trail information: The trail first hugs the northern edge of the lake and then takes you through a mixture of woodland and open vistas. This circular, level route is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. It has a maximum gradient of 10%. 

Barcud coch means red kite in Welsh and you will get the best view of the daily red kite feeding spectacle along this trail, either from inside the hide or at the viewpoint. There are posts along the trail with fascinating facts about the red kite and there is information in the hide about wildlife on the lake.

Look out for sculptures and poetry along the path which bring local folklore and history to life – pick up an Elenydd Trail leaflet in the visitor centre.

The Animal Puzzle Trail follows the same route as the Barcud Trail - pick up an Animal Puzzle Trail leaflet from the dispenser or in the visitor centre and see how many animals you can find.

Find out more about visiting Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre

Cadair Idris National Nature Reserve, near Dolgellau

Dôl Idris Lake

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: ½ mile/0.6 kilometre
• Trail information: This circular route starts from the car park and goes all the way around the lake in the parkland. There are picnic benches along the path.

Look out for birds such as the dipper and grey wagtail, which breed on the lakeshore, and the fish ladder near the footbridge that helps salmon to reach the streams.

Find out more about visiting Cadair Idris National Nature Reserve

Coed Moel Famau, near Mold

Accessible Trail

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: ¼ mile/0.4 kilometre
• Trail information: There are accessible picnic tables along the route.

This short trail goes through the woodland and alongside a stream.

Find out more about visiting Coed Moel Famau

Coed y Brenin Forest Park, near Dolgellau

Afon Eden Trail (from Coed y Brenin visitor centre)

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 1 mile/1.7 kilometres
• Trail information: The blue-waymarked accessible trail is a linear two-way well-surfaced 2 metre wide route. It is suitable for wheelchairs with a gradient of no more than 10% (1 in 10). The total climb is 105 feet/35 metres. There are resting points at least every 100 metres. The optional yellow-waymarked loop has a gradient of no more than 17% (1 in 6). The yellow loop is suitable for pushchairs and users of adaptive equipment including off-road mobility scooters. It has resting benches at least every 150 metres. There are no steps or stiles along the whole trail. You can hire a Tramper off-road mobility scooter from the visitor centre. Please note that this must be booked in advance by contacting the visitor centre.

Follow the accessible trail down through woodlands to the riverside picnic site where the Afon Eden river rushes over the rocks.

Pick up an Animal Puzzle Trail leaflet from the visitor centre and let younger visitors follow the clues.

We have produced a film to help you work out how suitable this trail is for you before you visit.

The film is narrated by a disabled person as they negotiate the route using their own equipment. It shows the trail surface, uphill and downhill gradients and elevation and where you may need help on certain sections.

Find out more about visiting Coed y Brenin visitor centre

Forest Garden Accessible Trail (from Forest Garden car park)

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: ¼ mile/0.3 kilometre
• Trail information: The accessible trail is waymarked from the small car park at Forest Garden which is for the use of disabled visitors only. The trail follows a flat well-surfaced 2 metre wide path suitable for wheelchairs with resting places at least every 100 metres. 

The trail crosses over the bridge and through the lower part of the forest garden on its way to a viewpoint overlooking the waterfall.

The forest garden is home to trees from all over the world - look out for the special signs with fascinating facts about some of the trees.

Find out more about visiting Coed y Brenin Forest Park - Forest Garden

Glasdir Accessible Trail (from Pont Llam yr Ewig car park)

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: ½ mile/0.8 kilometre
• Trail information: The small car park at Pont Llam yr Ewig is for the use of disabled visitors only. The trail is suitable for wheelchairs. It is a 1.5 metre wide, flat, well surfaced path with passing bays every 50 metres and resting points every 150 metres. There is an accessible picnic table in the car park.

Follow the waymarkers from the Pont Llam yr Ewig car park along an old tramway to the viewpoint above the mine workings.

Find out more about visiting Coed y Brenin Forest Park - Glasdir

The King’s Guards Trail (from Ty'n y Groes car park)

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: ½ mile/0.8 kilometre
• Trail information: The trail follows a well-surfaced 2 metre wide route alongside the river and is suitable for wheelchairs. There are resting points at least every 100 metres.

See the magnificent Douglas firs, which are the biggest trees in Coed y Brenin.

The trail goes alongside the river to the tree with the widest trunk known as the King.

Find out more about visiting Coed y Brenin Forest Park - Ty'n y Groes

Coed y Cerrig National Nature Reserve, near Abergavenny

Alder Tree Boardwalk

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: ½ mile/0.6 kilometre
• Trail information: The trail starts over the road from the car park - please take care crossing the road. The wide and level boardwalk, with passing places, enables you to enjoy the wet valley bottom. There are wooden benches along the route. There is soft mud - do not wander off the boardwalk or path.

The multi-stemmed alders are evidence of coppicing (cutting to near the base and re-sprouting).

In spring, look out for showy marsh marigolds and the delicate pink umbrellas of valerian growing along boardwalk, and smell the fragrant bluebells growing along the path section.

Find out more about visiting Coed y Cerrig National Nature Reserve

Cors Caron National Nature Reserve, near Tregaron

Cors Caron Walk

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 1½ miles/2.6 kilometres
• Trail information: This trail is fully accessible with an all-weather surface and several benches. The hide is accessible.

The boardwalk takes you right out into this vast area of impressive wetland.

The trail goes past the large hide from where you can enjoy a peaceful (and weather-proof!) view of the landscape and wildlife.

Find out more about visiting Cors Caron National Nature Reserve

Cors y Llyn National Nature Reserve, near Rhayader

Cors y Llyn Walk

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: ¾ mile/1.3 kilometres
• Trail information: After going through the gate from the car park, the trail follows a level path and then a boardwalk. There is a gentle incline towards the end of the trail. Please keep to the boardwalk and paths – there are areas of deep open water and deep steep-sided pools covered with floating vegetation.

Visit in spring or summer and enjoy one of the best wildflower-rich meadows in Mid Wales at the reserve’s entrance.

The boardwalk then winds through the swampy woodland and past the forest of stunted trees.

Find out more about visiting Cors y Llyn National Nature Reserve

 

Dinas Rock, near Neath

Sychryd Trail

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: ½ mile/0.6 kilometre (there and back)
• Trail information: This trail winds its way alongside the river through a narrow wooded gorge. It is suitable for more robust wheelchairs and buggies. It returns to the car park along the same path.

On its way to the viewpoint over the Sychryd cascades the trail passes a huge rock known as Bwa Maen - look out for the information panel about this impressive geological feature.

Find out more about visiting Dinas Rock

Garwnant Visitor Centre, near Merthyr Tydfil

Willow Walk

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: ½ mile/0.8 kilometre
• Trail information: The trail allows easy access to explore the forest for visitors with wheelchairs, electric buggies and pushchairs. It follows a level gravel track with some gradual inclines and slopes.

The Willow Walk crosses bridges over several streams and goes through a willow tunnel.

Find out more about visiting Garwnant Visitor Centre

Gwydir Forest Park, near Llanrwst

Afon Crafnant Amble (from Llyn Crafnant car park)

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: ½ mile/0.6 kilometre
• Trail information: This well surfaced 1.2 metre wide trail has an easy gradient and is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The four picnic benches are less than 100 metres apart – three of them are wheelchair friendly.

This trail winds its way through a variety of trees, from tall conifers to young birch, and goes to an open grassy area next to the bubbling river.

Pause for a moment to listen and watch for wildlife, or find the ‘disappearing signs’ along the trail which have some fascinating facts about the trees and wildlife that live here.

Find out more visiting Llyn Crafnant

Hafren Forest, near Llanidloes

Cascades Walk

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: ½ mile/0.9 kilometre
• Trail information: The trail follows a sloping path from the car park to the boardwalk. It returns on a well surfaced wide path through the forest.

The Cascades Walk follows a boardwalk along the riverbank and onto the tumbling cascades.

Here there is a raised platform to enjoy the view before returning through the forest to the car park. 

Find out more about visiting Hafren Forest

Newborough National Nature Reserve and Forest, Anglesey

Lake View Trail (from Llyn Parc Mawr car park)

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: ¼ mile/0.3 kilometre
• Trail information: A flat 1.5 metre-wide well-surfaced trail from Llyn Parc Mawr car park with passing places and resting areas every 50 metres.

Follow the trail across the picnic site to the viewpoint over the hidden forest lake.

There you'll find information on the birds which live here, or stop at one of the picnic tables and you may be lucky enough to spot a red squirrel in the trees.

Find out more about visiting Newborough National Nature Reserve and Forest

Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve, near Newport

All of the paths around the reedbeds are accessible to wheelchairs and there are benches approximately every 200 metres. The paths are level with some gentle slopes and a zig-zag ramp to climb the five metres up to the raised reedbed levels.

Orchid Trail

• Distance: 1 mile/1.6 kilometres

Look out for orchids in late spring and early summer.

Sculpture Trail

• Distance: 1 mile/1.7 kilometres

Go through reedbeds, over the floating bridge and past the lighthouse.

Woodland and Estuary Trail

• Distance: 1½ miles/2.3 kilometres

Go through reedbeds, woodland, past open water and the estuary.

The Wetlands Experience

• Distance: 2½ miles/4 kilometres

This route combines the orchid trail, the woodland and estuary trail and part of the Wales Coast Path.

Find out more about visiting Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve

Pant y Sais National Nature Reserve, near Swansea

Pant y Sais Walk

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: ½ mile/0.6 kilometre
• Trail information: The trail starts from a pedestrian entrance behind some railings on the B4290 – please take care crossing the road. It follows an accessible circular boardwalk with passing places and benches. Please stick to the boardwalk when out on the fen as there is dangerous wet ground.

Follow the boardwalk into the heart of the fen and experience the reed and sedge beds which are home to a range of wetland plants, birds and insects.

Find out more about visiting Pant y Sais National Nature Reserve