Celtic Trails Walking Holidays

19/11/2024

A huge thank you to George Brook & Doreen Mealing for sharing their stunning photos from their recent walking holiday along the Llyn Coast Path! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🥾
Their journey perfectly captured the beauty of this incredible trail, stretching across 110 miles of breathtaking Welsh coastline. 🌊✨

The Llyn Coast Path is a dream for outdoor lovers, offering:
🌅 Dramatic sea views and rugged cliffs
🏖️ Quiet, sandy beaches perfect for a rest stop
🏡 Quaint villages brimming with charm
🌿 Diverse wildlife and lush landscapes

George and Doreen’s photos are a testament to the magic of the trail, inspiring us to lace up our boots and hit the path!
📸 Feeling inspired? Contact Nathan our walking specialist to find out more
📧 [email protected]
📞 01291 689774

14/11/2024

🎁✨🎄With Christmas just around the corner, why not inspire someone you love with the gift of adventure? A Celtic Trails gift voucher is a thoughtful and flexible present for friends or family who cherish the outdoors. 🌿 Whether it’s the rolling hills of Wales, the vineyards of Italy, or the coastal paths of Cornwall, there’s a journey waiting for everyone 💌

Our Walking Holiday gift vouchers are available for any amount and can be used towards any of our destinations. They are valid for two years, so there’s plenty of time to research the options; Add your own thoughtful message and we’ll do the rest! 🎅🏼🎄

12/11/2024

A huge thank you to Olaf Schröter for sharing these breath taking shots from his journey along the Llŷn Coast Path! 🌊📸 This stunning Welsh trail is one of our favourites—winding 84 miles through the beautiful Llŷn Peninsula, it offers dramatic coastal views, sandy beaches, and a rich cultural history. We’re so glad to see others enjoying the beauty and adventure that the Llyn Coast Path brings. Diolch, Olaf! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🙏

If you would like to walk this stunning Welsh trail, you can contact our walking specialist Nathan to find out more:
📩 [email protected]
☎️ 01291 689774

11/11/2024

Congratulations to Karen & Mark Edwards on completing their incredible walk along the South West Coast Path! 🌊🏞️ Your photos beautifully capture the rugged coastal cliffs, golden beaches, and breathtaking sea views that make this trail so unforgettable. 👏🏼😃

Stretching 630 miles from Somerset to Dorset, the South West Coast Path is England’s longest National Trail, offering walkers a unique blend of dramatic coastline, charming villages, and diverse wildlife. Well done, Karen and Mark—thank you for sharing your journey with us! 📸🥾

10/11/2024

Huge shout out to Bronwyn Lewis for sharing her incredible journey with us! 🙌 Bronwyn completed not just one, not two, but FOUR back-to-back walking adventures with us —she took on the Hadrian’s Wall Path, which we shared last week, the Cumbria Way, The Cotswold Round and Portugal’s Rota Vicentina! 💪 What an incredible adventure!!!!!

In these photos Bronwyn is in Portugal and Cumbria. Each trail has its own charm: the Cumbria Way leads through the serene, dramatic landscapes of the Lake District; and the Rota Vicentina in Portugal is a stunning coastal trek, filled with cliffs, beaches, and Mediterranean beauty. Thank you, Bronwyn, for bringing us along on your epic journey! 🌄🌊

08/11/2024

This week we have been talking all things Hadrian’s Wall 🏛️🏰 - We have had a fantastic blog out by Celtic Trails’ Lisa, which you may have seen in this weeks Newsletter and we’ve also received this wonderful photograph from one of our walkers Bronwyn Lewis, from her own Hadrian’s Wall Path adventure! 🥾 📸 Here she is with the amazing Chris Castles, who, as some of you may have heard, walked the entire Hadrian’s Wall Path in 6 days, dressed as a Roman centurion! 🏛️💪 Wearing 40kg of armour!!!! Chris undertook this journey to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK and has already raised an incredible £11,893. Though his journey is complete, you can still support his cause by donating to his JustGiving page. https://www.justgiving.com/page/chris-castle-hadrians-wall-walk
Thank you Bronwyn for sharing this with us and keep an eye out for her other photos from not one, but two other walking holidays that she completed recently 😍 👏 🥾

wall

07/11/2024

Have you read our latest blog post? 👀📖🖋

If you have a spare 5-10 minutes and want to experience & know what the Hadrian's Wall path is like from a walkers perspective, then click on the link below and enjoy Lisa's wonderful story on her experience walking this beautiful, historical trail. 🥾

September Sunshine So many Celtic Trails customers choose a Hadrian’s Wall Path walking holiday and this September I too was lucky enough to spend a week on ‘The Wall’. Jon Snow jibes from colleagues aside, I am pleased to report the sun shone and winter was definitely not coming any time soon...

06/11/2024

📬✨Check your inbox! Our latest newsletter just dropped, packed with everything you need to know about Hadrian’s Wall 🏛️—from history to hidden gems along the way. Plus, we have a real treat in store for you, Lisa’s Hadrians Wall blog post is available to read on our website, where she shares all the highlights from her latest trip! The link is also in our stories 🌄📸 📖

Ready for an adventure? Give it a read and get inspired! 😊

04/11/2024

🌄✨📸 Thank you to everyone who shared their incredible photos from their walking holidays for our 2024 Photo Competition! We’ve been blown away by the beauty and inspiration in each submission—from breathtaking landscapes to unique moments on the trail. 🌍❤️
The winners will be announced in December, so stay tuned! Until then, we will continue to share the rest of the wonderful photos we’ve received and celebrate every step, every view, and every memory captured from this years walking season 🥾📸

02/11/2024

Snowdonia Slate Trail – Day 10: Capel Curig to Bethesda 🥾✨🏔️

“Our final day on the Slate Trail was a bit of a soggy one, with intermittent breaks in the weather. Despite the rain, the day was filled with memorable moments.

We began the day walking along the old turnpike road, which provided easy walking terrain. I even managed to snap a few photos, including one of a rather forlorn-looking sheep, who seemed to have given up and was attempting to shelter its head in a wall!

By the time we reached Llyn Ogwen, the rain and mist had set in. Instead of following the trail around the far side of the lake, we opted to take the roadside path along the pavement. It wasn’t the planned route, but it gives us a perfect excuse to return and explore that part of the trail in the future!

As luck would have it, the rain cleared towards the end of the lake, just in time for us to enjoy a delicious pasty at a café before continuing towards Bethesda. We eventually reached the far side of Penrhyn Slate Quarry, which we had passed near on day two. With mist rolling in over the slate tips, the landscape took on an atmospheric and fitting tone to conclude our journey.

Walking the Slate Trail has been a fantastic experience, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped create and maintain it. To mark the occasion, our final photo is of our trail passport and medal. 🙂

Thanks also to Celtic Trails for putting together the itinerary including arrangements for our accommodation and transfers.”

01/11/2024

Snowdonia Slate Trail - Day 9: Betws-y-Coed to Capel Curig 🥾🏔️✨

“Today’s walk began with a peaceful riverside stroll alongside the Llugwy River, offering breath taking views of the iconic Swallow Falls. After soaking in the scenery, we left the river behind at the Ugly House (Ty Hyll), where we enjoyed a delightful tea and cake break – a perfect mid-morning treat and collected our final trail passport stamp.

From there, we ascended the hill past The Towers Outdoor Centre, which brought back fond memories. Anyone who grew up in the Midlands might recognize the name. The centre was owned and operated by Wolverhampton Council for almost 60 years, hosting thousands of children before closing due to disrepair. Thankfully, it has since been rescued and now functions as an educational outdoor centre.

The trail then led us through serene woodlands, eventually opening up to vast, sweeping views of the central mountains. After taking in the stunning vistas, we descended into the village of Capel Curig to end the day.”

30/10/2024

Snowdonia Slate Trail Day 8: Cwm Penmachno to Betws-y-Coed 🌿🏔️ 📸

“After the previous challenging day, day 8 offered a much-needed, easier walk with the return of sunshine. The route was mostly through serene woodlands, beginning with a climb out of Cwm Penmachno, followed by a descent into Penmachno. From there, we continued through more woodlands, eventually walking along the road toward Conwy Falls. Though we skipped visiting the falls this time, we did take a break at the café for a refreshing drink and picked up another stamp for our passport.

The final stretch to Betws-y-Coed was a pleasant stroll along old tracks and quiet lanes. Looking back, I realised I didn’t take as many photos on this section of the trail—perhaps a sign of just how relaxed the day was.”

29/10/2024

Snowdonia Slate Trail – Day 7: Llan Ffestiniog to Cwm Penmachno 🏞️🥾 ✨

“Day 7 of the Slate Trail was undoubtedly the most challenging, with a mix of unpredictable weather, steep climbs, boggy terrain, and bracken trying its best to trip us up. Despite the difficulties, we’d do it all over again—thanks to the breathtaking views and historic sites that made the effort worthwhile!

The day started off sunny, with a beautiful walk alongside the Afon Cynfal gorge. The waterfalls here were stunning and set a perfect tone for the morning. However, as we climbed towards Llyn y Morwynion reservoir, the weather began to change, and by the time we reached the reservoir, it was too wet for photos. The path became increasingly boggy as we pressed on, eventually joining Sarn Helen, an ancient Roman road. Fortunately, the weather improved just in time to give us views of Drum Slate quarry.

Next, we descended down to an old quarry, passing a ruin with striking views down the valley—marked as Manod slate mine on old maps. We continued uphill past the entrance to the still-operational Cwt-y-Bugail open-cast slate quarry. Interestingly, during World War II, the underground caverns of this quarry were used to store valuable British paintings.

The route then led us through Blaen-y-cwm, and down a steep incline to the remains of the Rhiwbach quarry buildings. Standing at the top of the incline, we were reminded of the tough conditions the miners once endured. The wind was so strong that it nearly knocked us off our feet, though thankfully, we avoided rain at that point!

The final leg took us down through Penmachno quarry, eventually ending our walk in the quiet village of Cwm Penmachno. A tough day, but filled with memories that made every challenge worth it!”

28/10/2024

Snowdonia Slate Trail - Day 6: Tanygrisiau to Llan Ffestiniog ✨🏔️

“Today’s walk was a bit shorter, beginning at the lakeside café in Tanygrisiau, where we picked up another stamp for our trail passport. Big thanks to the café staff for the lovely cup of tea and the delicious takeaway sandwiches, which made for a perfect lunch later on!

We then made our way to Blaenau Ffestiniog, once known as “Slate City” during the late 1800s. The landscape here is dominated by the impressive Ffestiniog slate mines and quarry tips, which serve as a powerful reminder of the area’s industrial heritage.

Leaving Blaenau, we entered a lovely deciduous woodland, followed by stretches of open land offering sweeping views of the surrounding hills. The path then took us through more tranquil woodlands, crisscrossed by streams and rivers, before eventually descending into Llan Ffestiniog, where we settled in for the night.” ⛰️💪🏻

27/10/2024

Snowdonia Slate Trail - Day 5: Beddgelert to Tanygrisiau🚶‍♀️🌄

“Day 5 of the Slate Trail was the first of two more challenging stages, but the effort was well worth it. We started in Beddgelert, passing by St. Mary’s Parish Church, which was once part of an Augustinian priory, and followed the Glaslyn River. The path alongside the river became rocky and could be treacherous during high water, so it’s important to check conditions beforehand.

From there, we gradually ascended towards Croesor, surrounded by stunning landscapes. After reaching Croesor, the real challenge began with a climb to the Croesor slate quarry. Unlike the more visible open quarries, Croesor is an underground site so you only have the tips to imagine the size. We passed the remains of the ventilation fan house near the mine entrance, and the substantial mill building which had been powered by hydroelectric from the early 1900’s. (It is worth while looking up and reading about the innovative mine manager Kellow).

The trail then led us across bleak moorland, crossing the old Llyn Croesor dam towards the haunting remains of the Rhosydd Quarry buildings. As the mist rolled in, the scene became both atmospheric and eerie, giving us a sense of just how harsh life must have been for those working in such an exposed, isolated place.

Our final descent took us past the ruins of Conglog Quarry and the Cwmorthin Mine. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to stop for photos at Cwmorthin as we didn’t want to risk being late for our pickup at Tanygrisiau, marking the end of a challenging but unforgettable day on the trail.” ⛰️🥾



 

26/10/2024

Snowdonia Slate Trail - Day 4: Yfron to Beddgelert 🌿📸 🏔️

“Today’s forecast promised rain all day, but luckily, it only caught up with us in the latter part of the walk. Unfortunately, I left my camera behind, so I had to rely on my phone for photos—and none during the rainy stretches.
The day began with a trek through one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites—Dorothea Quarry and its surroundings, including the Cilgwyn and Pen Yr Orsedd slate quarries above Nantlle. These quarries are a stunning glimpse into the area’s industrial past.

One highlight along the route was the ruin of Pen-y-Bryn farmhouse and cottages. If you’re curious to learn more, Historypoints.org has great information about the site, and there are QR codes along the trail that offer further historical insights.

After leaving Nantlle, we enjoyed a beautiful viewpoint over Llyn Nantlle Uchaf before continuing down the valley. From there, we climbed towards Llyn Cwellyn, where the rain finally caught up with us. It stayed with us as we passed through Beddgelert Forest and continued all the way to Beddgelert, so sadly, there were no more photos from this point on.

Overall, despite the rain, it was another incredible day on the Slate Trail! “ 🏞️✨



 

25/10/2024

Day 3 of the Snowdonia Slate Trail: Llanberis to Y Fron 🏔️✨

Day three of our journey along the Snowdonia Slate Trail led us from Llanberis to the village of Y Fron. Along the way, we passed several slate mines and the ruins of old farmsteads, a reminder of the harsh and isolated lives once lived in these remote areas.

The trail also took us through stretches of moorland, dotted with vibrant gorse and heather, adding splashes of color to the rugged landscape. It’s hard to imagine the challenges of living in the small, weather-beaten homesteads we encountered, now reduced to crumbling walls and memories.

The final section of the walk descended through the old Bryn Fferam slate mine, where remnants of processing machinery hinted at later industrial activity. From there, we passed the disused, water-filled Braich Quarry, a hauntingly beautiful end to the day’s trek.” ⛰️💪🏻🥾



 

24/10/2024

🏔️ Day 2 - Heading from Bethesda to Llanberis where the slate mining becomes clear to see. 🏔️

“Initially passing by the outskirts of the Penrhyn Quarry where the slate heaps were blending into the mountains beyond (more on Penrhyn on day 10!)
Then dropping down into Llanberis and the large Dinorwic slate quarry.
The photo with the church & chapel shows how important religion was at that time, we passed many churches & chapels on the walk but the church and chapel at Deiniolen particularly stood out. Apparently the church held 600 and often was over that number attending. With an equally large looking chapel nearby.

Just to mention, you will see a common theme of mountains, rivers and woodlands on our walk! 🏔️🥾

We also popped into the national slate museum and collected a stamp for the Snowdonia slate trail passport.

Finally looking over to the 12th/13th century Dolbadarn Castle nestled in the trees in the evening sun.”