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 (includes Animal Puzzle Trail)

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 0.8 miles/1.3 kilometres
• Max gradient: 10%
• Time: 30 minutes
• Trail information: This circular, level route is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

‘Barcud coch' means red kite in Welsh and you will get the best view of the red kite feeding along this trail, either from inside the hide or at the viewpoint.

The trail goes around the lake - look out for the posts with facts about the red kite, and the sculptures and poetry which bring local folklore and history to life.

The Animal Puzzle Trail follows the same path.

Find out more about visiting Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre

Cadair Idris National Nature Reserve, near Dolgellau

Dôl Idris Lake

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 0.4 miles/0.6 kilometres
• Time: 15-30 minutes
• Trail information: A 1.7 metre-wide well-surfaced accessible trail around the lake. There are resting places every 150 metres and no steps or stiles on the route. There are picnic tables by the lake. This trail is owned and managed by the Eryri National Park Authority.

This circular route starts from the car park and goes all the way around the lake in the parkland.

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.

Parkland Circuit

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 0.5 miles/0.9 kilometres
• Time: 30 minutes
• Trail information: A 1.4 metre-wide well-surfaced trail suitable for pushchairs and off-road mobility scooters. There is a gradual climb of 16% through the woods beyond the lake, before returning along an unsurfaced track to the car park. There are resting places every 300 metres and there are no steps or stiles on the route. This trail is owned and managed in partnership with the Eryri National Park Authority.

This circular route passes through the parkland with its exotic specimen trees.

Look out for the ruined building where Idris table water and ginger beer were first made and the bat boxes.

Find out more about visiting Cadair Idris National Nature Reserve

Coed Moel Famau, near Mold

Accessible Trail

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 0.2 mile/0.4 kilometres
• Time: 20 minutes

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.

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

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 Trail (from Forest Garden car park)

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 0.2 miles/0.3 kilometres
• Time: 20 minutes
• Trail information: The accessible trail is a flat well-surfaced 2m wide path suitable for wheelchairs with resting places at least every 100m. There are no steps or stiles.

Follow the waymarkers from the car park for Blue Badge holders over the bridge and through the lower part of the forest garden.

At the viewpoint overlooking the waterfall listen to the story of Pont Llam yr Ewig (Bridge of the Stag’s leap).

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

Glasdir Copper Trail (accessible section) (from Pont Llam yr Ewig car park)

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 0.5 mile/0.8 kilometres
• Time: 30 minutes
• Trail information: The accessible section of the Glasdir Copper Trail is suitable for wheelchairs. It is 1.5m wide, flat, well surfaced with passing bays every 50m and resting points every 150m.

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

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

The King’s Guards Trail (from Pont Ty'n-y-groes car park)

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 0.5 miles/0.8 kilometres
• Climb: Mainly level
• Time: 15 minutes
• 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 - Pont Ty'n-y-groes

Coed y Cerrig National Nature Reserve, near Abergavenny

Alder Tree Boardwalk

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 0.4 miles/0.6 kilometres
• Time: 30 minutes
• 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. You can do a circular walk by including the non-boardwalk section shown on the map. There are wooden benches along the route. There is soft mud - do not wander off the boardwalk or path.

Notice the multi-stemmed alders – evidence of ‘coppicing’ (cutting to near the base and resprouting).

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 Bodeilio National Nature Reserve, Anglesey

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 0.7 miles/1.2 kilometres (out and back)
• Climb: Mainly level
• Time: 30 minutes
• Trail information: Follow the blue waymarkers along the flat 1.4 metre-wide boardwalk, stopping to take in the views out across the reedbed and fens. There are resting benches every 300 metres. Return to the car park by the same route.

Enjoy the sight and sound of wetland birds in the reed bed.

There's always something to see or hear, no matter what time of year.

Find out more about visiting Cors Bodeilio National Nature Reserve

Cors Caron National Nature Reserve, near Tregaron

Cors Caron Walk

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 1.6 miles/2.6 kilometres
• Time: 1 hour
• Trail information: This trail is fully accessible with an all-weather surface and several benches. The bog hide is accessible.

The boardwalk goes over some of the most impressive parts of the bog to a large hide with views of the landscape.

Old Railway Walk

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 6.3 miles/10.2 kilometres (there and back)
• Time: 3 hours
• Trail information: The disused railway provides a firm surface suitable for wheelchairs. This is a part of the Ystwyth Cycle Trail and is a shared-use trail for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

This linear route follows an old railway track along the edge of the reserve to The Old Station Yard at Ystrad Meurig and gives good views over much of Cors Caron.

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: 0.7 miles/1.1 kilometres
• Time: 45 minutes
• Trail information: This is a level reserve with mesh-covered paths and boardwalks. The circular trail ends with a gentle incline back to the car park. There are seats and passing places for wheelchair users. Please keep to the boardwalk and paths – there are areas of deep open water and deep steep-sided pools covered with floating vegetation. You can also explore the fields within the reserve, but please keep to paths if there is a hay crop growing – or there may be grazing livestock. Waterproof shoes or boots are recommended for visits between autumn and early spring as water can seep up through the boardwalk.

Follow the path from the car park alongside the wildflower meadow to experience Cors y Llyn.

Seek out the Scandinavian-style dwarf pine forest and take in the swampy woodlands along the boardwalk.

Find out more about visiting Cors y Llyn National Nature Reserve

Cwm Rhaeadr Forest, near Llandovery

Woodland Walk

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 0.9 miles/1.5 kilometres
• Time: 30 minutes
• Trail information: This trail starts from the upper car park. It is suitable for wheelchair users but please note that it has a long climb with rest points. The steepest gradient is 1 in 20. The path is even with a compacted stone surface.

This woodland trail goes past a variety of different trees including huge Douglas firs planted in the 1940s.

It passes by a small pond with a short boardwalk over the water - look out for dragonflies here in summer.

Find out more about visiting Cwm Rhaeadr Forest

Dinas Rock, near Neath

Sychryd Trail

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 0.4 mile/0.6 kilometres (there and back)
• Time: 20 minutes
• Trail information: This trail is suitable for more robust wheelchairs and buggies.

The Sychryd Trail winds its way alongside the river through a narrow wooded gorge.

The huge rock known as Bwa Maen, an impressive geological fold, is on the other side of the river.

The trail reaches the Sychryd cascades before returning along the same path.

Find out more about visiting Dinas Rock

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