Top Hay-on-Wye walks

When in South Wales, you should take a leaf out of Aerosmith’s book and Walk this Wye! Why? Because the beauty of the Hay-on-Wye walks on offer will leave you breathless and you won’t want to miss a thing. OK, enough classic rock references…

With a vast offering including numerous walks up Hay Bluff, along Offa’s Dyke and throughout the Wye Valley, finding and completing the walks in our guide is certainly one of the best things to do in Hay-on-Wye.

Keep scrolling to read about eight of the best walks in the region or tap the button below to find your perfect Hay-on-Wye basecamp.

Cottages in Hay-on-Wye

Skip to:

• Walking around Hay-on-Wye
• Hay Bluff and Offa's Dyke
• Riverside walk in Hay
• Black Hill via Cat’s Back circular walk
• Hay Bluff and Twmpa (Lord Hereford’s Knob)
• Black Mountains: Gospel Pass and Offa’s Dyke
• Dragon’s Back circular walk
• The Wye Valley: King Arthur’s Cave Circular

Walking around Hay-on-Wye

You’ve arrived in Hay-on-Wye and you’re a little weary from your journey, but you still want to get out and about and start exploring. You don’t have it in you to attempt Hay Bluff or Offa's Dyke yet, but that’s ok because walks around Hay-on-Wye are all you need on the first day of your holiday. The town has a fascinating story to tell, from its notoriety as the town of books to its history involving a medieval settlement and Hay Castle.

A short circular walk around the town will allow you to take in some of the historic sites, enjoy beautiful views of the valley, and glimpse the River Wye, all without having to cross over one single stile. The countryside immediately surrounding the town is wonderful and you can meander through a Woodland Trust area and around a motte and bailey defence mound, once used by the Normans. On this walk, you’ll not come across any steep hills or mountains, but it’ll be enough to build up an appetite which can be satisfied at one of the top Hay-on-Wye restaurants and pubs.

Hay Bluff and Offa's Dyke

The most popular walks in the region undoubtedly incorporate sections of Offa’s Dyke and take in parts of Hay Bluff. This challenging route combines one of the best sections of Offa’s Dyke long-distance path with ascents up Hay Bluff which will reward you with some spectacular views of the surrounding peaks and the town you’ll be calling home for the foreseeable. Starting in a lay-by by the Pen-y-Beacon Stone Circle, take the steep path that will lead you up to Hay Bluff. This path is well-trodden and will be easy to find.

The incline is sharp, to begin with, but it levels off and there are no stiles to contend with, just a few gentle streams, so be sure to bring your walking boots. Once you’re up onto Hay Bluff, enjoy the views over Cat’s Back, the Malvern Hills, and Lord Hereford's Knob across the valley. Now you’re on the main Offa’s Dyke Path and can follow a well-made track. You’ll pass a manmade pile of stones and you can continue along Offa’s Dyke for miles and miles, so go as far as you wish before returning to this stone marker. Take the right-hand path down when you reach the fork for a little variation.

View this Hay Bluff and Offa's Dyke walk in more detail with our partner, Ordnance Survey.

Riverside walk in Hay

This Hay-on-Wye river walk is another great one for those of you who don’t want to stray too far from your lodgings. One moment, you could be traversing the quirky narrow streets of the town and the next, you could be listening to a chorus of birdsong in the woods or paddling by the riverside meadow. Among some of the best river walks in Wales, this gentle stroll merges different landscapes which, themselves, change with the seasons.

Follow the old railway line to the woods that border the River Wye; in summer, the trees provide a dense canopy and are thick with foliage. You may catch glimpses of St Mary’s Church as you trundle your way towards the Warren, a resplendent river meadow that attracts families and couples in the warmer months. The water is shallow and slow-moving, making it perfect for little legs and dogs who want a paddle in the summer sun. Bring a picnic and a blanket along and make an afternoon of it. Who needs the coast when you have the Warren?

View this riverside walk in Hay-on-Wye in more detail with our partner, Ordnance Survey.

Black Hill via Cat’s Back circular walk

This is perhaps not a walk for those who suffer from vertigo or who don’t like adverse weather conditions, as you’ll be quite exposed at the top of the ridge. However, if this doesn’t faze you, strap on your walking boots and get ready for a hike that has all-comers commenting on how picturesque the views are. Do note that there are only two small car parks near the starting point, so if you are heading here at the weekend, perhaps arrive as early as possible.

Be prepared to put some effort in at the beginning as this walk starts off very steep and can be a little physically demanding. This doesn’t last long though and soon levels off to reveal rewarding panoramas once at the top. We’d recommend taking a hat and a windbreaker coat as, unless the day is perfectly clear, the unprotected location will welcome adverse weather conditions with open arms. Along the way towards Cat's Back, you’re certain to pass plenty of wild ponies and sheep as they graze amongst the heather, and the descent will have you splashing in streams and mini waterfalls.

View this Black Hill via Cat’s Back circular walk in more detail with our partner, Ordnance Survey.

Hay Bluff and Twmpa (Lord Hereford’s Knob)

There are a few Hay-on-Wye circular walks within this guide, with this one being amongst the most popular. Starting again at Hay Bluff and taking you up to the interestingly named Lord Hereford’s Knob (Twmpa in Welsh), this moderately challenging walk unveils the beauty of the Black Mountains and the eastern region of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Brecon Beacons). Like with Black Hill before, this walk begins by taking you up a steep escarpment. It may be a little hard going at the start, but you’ll be satisfied with the effort you’ve made once you’ve summited this first peak.

The path levels out after this and you’ll be able to catch your breath as you gaze out over the Wye Valley. When you’re ready, descend to Gospel Pass, take care crossing the road and prepare for your next ascent on the path towards Twmpa. Reaching this summit isn’t as arduous as the first, but the views of the neighbouring ridges will bring just as much joy. Continue along the escarpment’s edge and descend across the moorland where you might see wild ponies and free-roaming sheep. Take care on the way down as it can become very slippery when wet. If unsure, avoid this walk during or after rain.

View this Hay Bluff and Twmpa walk in more detail with our partner, Ordnance Survey.

Black Mountains: Gospel Pass and Offa’s Dyke

This is one of those Brecon Beacons walks that offers you a little dose of the many things that get hikers excited when walking in this part of the national park. Encompassing parts of Offa’s Dyke on the England-Wales border, dropping in on Hay Bluff and the Black Mountains before visiting Twmpa on the return journey, this challenging route is a long one but a good one.

Start at Gospel Pass and ascend Hay Bluff – this will be easy for you now if you’re doing these walks in order! Once the path levels out, join the Offa’s Dyke path and head towards the Black Mountains. As you trek along, you’ll be able to see the tip of Lord Hereford’s Knob across the valley. From here, descend the western slope and you’ll pass the hamlet of Capel-y-Ffin before beginning the next ascent to the peak of Twmpa. Take some time to soak up the views before following the steep path back down to the car park at Gospel Pass.

View this Gospel Pass and Offa’s Dyke walk in more detail with our partner, Ordnance Survey.

Dragon’s Back circular walk

This is a fantastic route if you have children who are obsessed with the mythical fire-breathing, barbed-tailed reptiles from their favourite stories. Granted, if you sell it to them like that, they might be a little underwhelmed on this walk, but the Dragon’s Back is still a sight to behold, so named because the undulating hills and ridges resemble a sleeping dragon.

Along this walk, you’ll climb Waun Fach which is the highest point in the Black Mountains and also the second-highest mountain in the south of Britain with a summit height of 811 metres. Wild ponies roam and livestock graze in amongst the hills so keep your eyes peeled for this as you meander along the ups and downs on the spine of this sleeping giant. You may spot Castell Dinas hill fort along the way too, the highest castle in England and Wales, standing at 450 metres. Although a little harsher on the legs, it’s worth keeping to the peaks of the ridges as the 360-degree views are out of this world.

View this Dragon’s Back circular walk in more detail with our partner, Ordnance Survey.

The Wye Valley: King Arthur’s Cave Circular

If you’re after outdoor activities in Wales to last you days, the Wye Valley will serve you up a smorgasbord of tempting strolls, hikes and rambles to keep you content. These walks near Hay-on-Wye are too numerous to go into in one small section but could include spectacular sights like Tintern Abbey, the Devil’s Pulpit, Brockweir and Cleddon Falls. For this article, we’ve decided to focus on one of the most popular walks in the Wye Valley, the King Arthur’s Cave Circular.

This walk in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty follows the winding River Wye and takes you to – spoiler alert – Arthur’s Cave. Follow the Peregrine Path along the river and through the valley all the way to Biblins Bridge, a renowned highlight on the River Wye. Cross the bridge, stop in at the delightful tea garden if you’re doing this walk on a weekend and then proceed to Lord’s Wood. You’ll leave the riverside eventually and begin a fairly tough ascent to the cave which is in the hillside. You can see immediately that the cave is shrouded in legend with some believing the name stems from the Arthurian legends of King Vortigern. Retrace your steps back or follow the hillside a little further for an alternate route that will still bring you back to Biblins Bridge.

View this King Arthur’s Cave circular walk in more detail with our partner, Ordnance Survey.

Self-catering cottages in Hay-on-Wye

With nearly 44 miles covered during these eight walks alone (and more to be had throughout the Wye Valley and along Offa’s Dyke), you’ll need a place to rest weary feet and plan further ambles, rambles and scrambles. Luckily, we have plenty of cottages to choose from in Hay-on-Wye, including cottages with hot tubs, accommodation with enclosed gardens, and plenty of properties that welcome four-legged friends. Get searching by clicking the button below.

Cottages in Hay-on-Wye