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Best Wildlife Hikes near Swansea

There are 5 hikes near Swansea in our database that fit. They average 4.3 km and 94 m (308 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 9.0 km.

That is 10 percent of the 49 routes we map near Swansea. They are shorter than the local average, 4.3 km against 22.3 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 94 m (308 ft) against 491 m (1,611 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

These routes cross habitat where sightings are genuinely likely. Walk quietly, go early, and give animals room. Most of these are on the gentler end, which makes the list a good starting point if you are new to the area.

Trails

Easy

Wales · United Kingdom

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
105 m
Typical duration
1 hr 9 min
  • Wildlife watching
Easy

Wales · United Kingdom

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
53 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Wildlife watching

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Upper Tarell Valley Walk, East WalesWales9.0 km199 m2 hr 11 minModerateApril to October
North Gower Butterfly Walk, GowerWales0.9 km20 m13 minEasyApril to October
Dolaucothi Woodland Trail, DolaucothiWales4.2 km92 m1 hrEasyApril to October
Dinefwr Park Wildlife WalkWales4.8 km105 m1 hr 9 minEasyApril to October
Exploring Cwm Ivy, GowerWales2.4 km53 m35 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Upper Tarell Valley Walk, East Wales, North Gower Butterfly Walk, Gower, Dolaucothi Woodland Trail, Dolaucothi. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

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