Photo: Vouliagmeni (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Planning the The Coastal Way
The Coastal Way runs the whole sweep of Cardigan Bay, from Caernarfon's castle walls to the cathedral city of St Davids — 180 miles where the mountains of Eryri fall into the sea and dolphins patrol the harbours. It's the middle third of the Wales Way, and the best of it.
Take it slowly: three days minimum, five properly. Each stage below lists places to stay nearby, from harbour-town cottages to farm campsites with the bay at the bottom of the field.
The route
The Coastal Way
🚦 Before you set off
Single-track roads and holiday traffic change fast — check conditions on the day.
Stage by stage
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1
Caernarfon
Start beneath the mightiest of Edward I's castles, a World Heritage Site.
Explore Anglesey →📸 Been here? Share your photo
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2
Porthmadog
Harbour town with two heritage railways steaming into Eryri (Snowdonia).
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3
Harlech
Castle on a crag, beach below, and the world's steepest street.
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4
Barmouth
Cross the wooden railway viaduct on foot for the best view in mid Wales.
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5
Aberystwyth
University town with a Victorian prom, cliff railway and red kites at Nant yr Arian.
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6
Aberaeron
Georgian harbour in ice-cream colours — try the honey ice cream on the quay.
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7
New Quay
Dylan Thomas's town, and the best bet in Wales for spotting bottlenose dolphins.
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8
Cardigan
Rebuilt castle, indie shops, and the Teifi gorge upstream.
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9
Fishguard
Harbour of the last invasion of Britain — the story's told in a 100-foot tapestry.
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10
St Davids
Finish in Britain's smallest city: cathedral in a hollow, whitewashed streets, coast path everywhere.
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Good to know
- How long does the The Coastal Way take?
- Around 3–5 days to do it justice — the stages on this page break the 180 miles into real days rather than a dash.
- Should I book accommodation in advance?
- Yes, especially May to September — beds along popular routes go early. Each stage lists places to stay nearby so you can book the whole trip before you set off.
- Do I book through this site?
- No — every listing links straight to the holiday operator and you book with them at their live price. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.