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Hard Hiking Trails near Rhondda

There are 8 hikes near Rhondda in our database that fit. They average 75.1 km and 1,651 m (5,417 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 182 km.

That is 29 percent of the 28 routes we map near Rhondda. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 75.1 km against 25.7 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,651 m (5,417 ft) on average versus 566 m (1,857 ft) across the wider area.

Hard routes mean sustained ascent, long descents and a real need to watch the clock and the forecast. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Expert

Wales Coast Path (South Wales)

Wales · United Kingdom

Distance
182 km
/ 113 mi
Elevation gain
4,010 m
Typical duration
49 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Beacons Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
155 km
/ 96.3 mi
Elevation gain
3,410 m
Typical duration
41 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Taff Trail

Wales · United Kingdom

Distance
101 km
/ 62.9 mi
Elevation gain
2,227 m
Typical duration
27 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Usk Valley Walk

Wales · United Kingdom

Distance
29.6 km
/ 18.4 mi
Elevation gain
650 m
Typical duration
7 hr 34 min
Hard

Black Mountains Fell Race

Wales · United Kingdom

Distance
18.3 km
/ 11.4 mi
Elevation gain
402 m
Typical duration
4 hr 31 min
  • Mountain
Expert

Penrhys Pilgrimage

Wales · United Kingdom

Distance
32.9 km
/ 20.4 mi
Elevation gain
723 m
Typical duration
8 hr 28 min
  • Pilgrimage route
Expert

South Wales Traverse

Wales · United Kingdom

Distance
36.3 km
/ 22.6 mi
Elevation gain
799 m
Typical duration
9 hr 24 min
  • Long-distance path

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
Wales Coast Path (South Wales)Wales182 km4,010 m49 hrExpertApril to October
Beacons WayEngland155 km3,410 m41 hrExpertApril to October
Taff TrailWales101 km2,227 m27 hrExpertApril to October
Rhymney Valley Ridgeway WalkWales45.0 km990 m11 hrExpertApril to October
Usk Valley WalkWales29.6 km650 m7 hr 34 minHardApril to October
Black Mountains Fell RaceWales18.3 km402 m4 hr 31 minHardApril to October
Penrhys PilgrimageWales32.9 km723 m8 hr 28 minExpertApril to October
South Wales TraverseWales36.3 km799 m9 hr 24 minExpertApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Wales Coast Path (South Wales), Taff Trail, Beacons Way. 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

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