By Richard Neale.
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![Southgate, Pwll Du, Wales © Sian Musgrave]( "Southgate, Pwll Du, Wales © Sian Musgrave")
The perfect combination of dramatic sea views, a hidden beach and a cosy cafe to warm up over a cream tea. Make sure you've got boots or wellies for the puddles. This is one of my favourite circular walks on the Gower. Dyma fyhoff daith gerddedararfordirGŵyr.
![Tw Coch has been an inn for about 200 years © National Trust]( "Tw Coch has been an inn for about 200 years © National Trust")
This sheltered village-on-the-beach is a must for anyone looking for a winter walk on the Llyn peninsula. If the tide's in, you'll have to use the golf road, otherwise, the beach is the perfect way to approach the village. Remember to check out the opening times of the wonderful Ty Coch Inn. Take a look at how the work is progressing on the new lifeboat station. Lle gwell i fwynhau peint, nag yn bar clyd y Tŷ Coch.
![Once a place for industry, now a place for recreation and sport © Andrew Tuddenham]( "Once a place for industry, now a place for recreation and sport © Andrew Tuddenham")
One of the attractions of this popular Pembrokeshire cliff-top walk is the wonderful Sloop Inn at Porthgain. When you peer into the depths of the Blue Lagoon, spare a thought for the world cliff diving competitors as they took the plunge here in September. Explore the evocative ruins of the quarrymen's houses between the beach and the lagoon, known as The Street. Yn ddi-os, y Slŵp yw un o dafarnau gorau ein harfordir!
This Pembrokeshire walk is one of the county's hidden gems. Tucked amongst the inlets of the mighty Cleddau estuary, this short but sometimes steep walk goes through some of the most undisturbed woods in West Wales. If you enjoy this walk, why not return in the summer to enjoy a bite at the Quayside Cafe?. Dewchifynd am droymysg rhaio'rcoetiroeddunigryw'rCleddau.
![The coast path at Dinas Island © Joe Cornish]( "The coast path at Dinas Island © Joe Cornish")
This is one of my favourite Cardigan Bay walks. The 2 hour walk takes in breathtaking views of the coast of North Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion and the pretty, secluded hamlets of Pwllgwaelod and Cwm yr Eglwys. View the ruins of St Brynach's church, which was badly damaged in a great storm in the great 'Royal Charter' storm of 1859. YnysDinas-uno drysoraucuddCeredigion.
![Looking down onto the Whistling Sands, which squeak underfoot © National Trust]( "Looking down onto the Whistling Sands, which squeak underfoot © National Trust")
Llyn's famous Whistling Sands only whistle when the sand's dry, so don't expect to sample this curious phenomenon on this bracing winter walk. But there's plenty more to make this walk really worthwhile. The summit of Mynydd Carreg, with its curious circular structure is a fine viewpoint. Download the walk to find out what the structure was, and the story of the semi-precious stone that was quarried here. Lle gwychi ddodi fwynhau'rtonnaupanmae 'nastormchwythuo'r gogledd.
![One of the massive concrete structures built by the army in the 1940s © National Trust]( "One of the massive concrete structures built by the army in the 1940s © National Trust")
Burn off the calories on the steep steps up from Pendine and descend to one of Carmarthen Bay's hidden gems, Morfa Bychan beach. Can you work out what the curious concrete structures are at the back of the beach? They're covered in the impacts of artillery shells, why? Get the story on the downloadable walk. Golygfeydd godidogar draws BaeCaerfyrddin.
![View across the beach of Rhossili Bay with Worms Head in the distance © John Millar]( "View across the beach of Rhossili Bay with Worms Head in the distance © John Millar")
This classic walk-for-all-seasons is deservedly one of Wales' most popular. Walk out to the coastguard lookout to enjoy views of Worm's Head or extend the walk by also heading up to Gower's highest point, Rhossil Down. Its not recommended that you attempt to cross to the tidal island of Worm's Head at this time of year, so why not make a date in your diary to join one of our Walk to the Worm guided walks. PenPyrodyw'r enw Cymraegar gyfer yr ynys.
![The coast at Garn Fawr © Sid Howells]( "The coast at Garn Fawr © Sid Howells")
Another personal favourite of mine, this short walk takes you to one of the most spectacular views on the entire Welsh coast. And if the view wasn't enough, where else can you see a combination of Iron Age and Second World War archaeology side by side? A great place to see the rare chough. Rwy'n credubodyr olygfa oyma yw'rgorau yng Nghymru.
![High tide, March 11 2008. Sea level higher than lake level! © Richard Ellis]( "High tide, March 11 2008. Sea level higher than lake level! © Richard Ellis")
These amazing man-made freshwater lakes are the crowing glory of the wonderful Stackpole estate. They're one of the best places in Wales to see otters in the wild. A small detour will take you to the amazing beach of Broadhaven, which like its neighbour Barafundle is one of the very few sandy beaches in Wales which is untouched by development. Tybedbeth yw'renw Cymraegar gyferBarafundle?
![The Deer Park, Marloes Peninsula © Sid Howells]( "The Deer Park, Marloes Peninsula © Sid Howells")
A short but spectacular walk around the end of the Marloes peninsula. No deer to see, but lots of seals. You may be lucky to spot seal pups before they take to the sea. Enjoy spectacular rocks and sea views. From the top you'll see most of Pembrokeshire's islands. Mwynhewchyr olygfaar drawsy Swntdwyllodrusi Sgomer.
![Bird hide at Glan Faenol on the banks of the Menai Strait © National Trust]( "Bird hide at Glan Faenol on the banks of the Menai Strait © National Trust")
Last but not least, this is one of North Wales' best kept secrets: the walled woodland that is Glan Faenol. Look out for winter wading birds from the hand-made greenwood hides and platforms. Explore varied native woodland and ancient parkland with views of the house and gardens at Plas Newydd and the hills of Snowdonia. Gallaf warantuy byddwchyn cael ylle i chi eich hun!
For loads more great Welsh walks, visit our Walking in Wales web pages.
At the special request of my colleague Paul Boland, I am also including this BONUS WALK:
Walk 13. Stargazing Walk at Penbryn
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One of the best places for enjoying the nights sky is Penbryn, Ceredigion. With the lights of no big towns nearby to pollute the night sky, you can get amazing views of the stars here. Bring torch and if you've got a smartphone, why not download a free sky map app and learn your constellations. Bendigedig!
The best thing about Christmas for me is coastal walks with friends and family.
They're the ideal antidote to the excesses of the season and provide the perfect opportunity to reflect on the past year in the company of your nearest and dearest.
They're the ideal antidote to the excesses of the season and provide the perfect opportunity to reflect on the past year in the company of your nearest and dearest.
I'm lucky to have a job that takes me to some of the most outstanding bits of our amazing coast - those in the care of the National Trust.
I've compiled this selection of my favourite easy circular walks - all of them perfect for your coastal Christmas stroll.
I've compiled this selection of my favourite easy circular walks - all of them perfect for your coastal Christmas stroll.
Click on the highlighted walk title for directions, map and points of interest.
Walk 1. Pennard Cliffs & Pwlldu
Walk 2. Porthdinllaen
Walk 3. Abereiddi & Porthgain
Walk 4. Lawrenny Woods
Walk 5. Dinas Island
Walk 6. Porthoer & Mynydd Carreg
Walk 7. Ragwen Point
Walk 8. Rhossili Headland
Walk 9. Garn Fawr
Walk 10. Bosherston Lily Ponds
Walk 11. Martin's Haven and Deer Park
Walk 12. Menai Strait & Glan Faenol
For loads more great Welsh walks, visit our Walking in Wales web pages.
At the special request of my colleague Paul Boland, I am also including this BONUS WALK:
Walk 13. Stargazing Walk at Penbryn
One of the best places for enjoying the nights sky is Penbryn, Ceredigion. With the lights of no big towns nearby to pollute the night sky, you can get amazing views of the stars here. Bring torch and if you've got a smartphone, why not download a free sky map app and learn your constellations. Bendigedig!