Beautiful Autumn walks on the Celtic routes

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Autumn is now fully underway and with it, the leaves are slowly turning, the cold is setting in and we’re longing for those crisp colourful fall walks.

And how better to enjoy this vibrant time of year than on foot? There are some beautiful Autumn walks on the Celtic routes to discover.

Why not wrap up warm and explore scenic destinations on foot this fall season?

Autumn walks on the Celtic routes

We’ve come up with a collection of Autumn walks in the woodlands, valleys and forests located in the Celtic Routes counties of Wales and Ireland.

These include Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in Wales, and Wicklow, Waterford and Wexford in Ireland.

Check out our guide to walks in glorious Autumn destinations in Wales and Ireland where you can enjoy super scenic walks.

Minwear Woods, Pembrokeshire, Wales

A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Minwear Woods is located in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, near Narberth.

Situated close to the Cleddau Estuary, the combination of salt and fresh water provides a varied habitat for wildlife.

Keep an eye out for waterside birds like herons and kingfishers from the viewpoint over the estuary and woodland birds like great spotted woodpeckers and tree creepers.

The woodland also sustains a wide range of flora. In autumn, the burnished colours of the red oaks and beech, plus the strange-shaped fungi provide a feast for the eyes.

It’s a fabulous place for some autumn photography in Wales.

Cors Caron, Ceredigion, Wales

Wander the boardwalks at Cors Caron National Nature Reserve, a 2,000-acre area of internationally important wetland near Tregaron in the Cambrian Mountains.

The reserve includes 3 raised bogs, areas of deep peat that have built up over 12,000 years. It’s one of the finest raised bog systems in Britain.

Whilst you might baulk at the idea of a bog tourism attraction, it’s actually a beautiful and unique eco-system.

Nature walks Ceredigion

The untamed reed-beds, wet grasslands, woodland, rivers, streams and ponds sustain a variety of wildlife.

The ever-changing colour-scheme of red, yellow and brown is in complete contrast to the surrounding green hills.

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The vast wetland is a dramatic sight at any time of year but its colours really come into their own in the autumn.

Wildlife you might be able to expect at this time of the year includes otters and polecats.

There’s also a range of overwintering birds including sandpipers and snipes, as well as hen harriers and sparrowhawks.

Tywi Valley, Carmarthenshire, Wales

The Tywi Valley packs in a number of heritage and cultural attractions, set in some of the most breath-taking scenery in Wales.

Perched on a 90-metre limestone crag, Carreg Cennen dominates the skyline for miles. It’s one of the most scenic autumn walks on the Celtic routes.

Dryslwyn Castle sits on another rocky hill, forever associated with the princes of Deheubarth.

The Elizabethan gardens of Aberglasney in Llandeilo are a world away from the vast gardens of The National Botanic Garden, but just minutes apart.

Plus, there are several National Trust properties in the area, like the Neo-Gothic Paxton’s Tower and Newton House, in the heart of the Dinefwr Estate.

The valley itself comes alive in Autumn with the warm browns of the rolling hills and the oranges from the woodland. Look closely and you may also spot Red Kites along your way.

Pumlumon Fawr, Ceredigion

Hiking Pumlumon Fawr in the autumn is truly a wonderful way to escape modern life and connect with nature.

The first thing that strikes you as you summit Pumlumon Fawr is the sheer remoteness of this rugged landscape.

There are few spectacular day hikes in the UK that aren’t overrun with tourists, all desperate for a summit selfie.

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Unlike other tourist heavy, hiking hotspots, there’s no queues, no crowds and no litter at the most secret mountain in Wales.

You can find out more about challenging hikes and long distance walks in Wales on the Ramblers website for inspiration.

Remote hiking Wales

Pumlumon Fawr is located in Ceredigion near Ponterwyd. It’s around an hour from Aberystwyth and 30 minutes from Devil’s Bridge.

If you summit from the north side, you will need to drive towards Nant y Moch Reservoir and park in a small layby.

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There’s no parking or obvious signage, so you’ll need to rely on maps, or go with a local guide.

Pumlumon is part of the the Cambrian Way, Wales’ most scenically beautiful and challenging long distance trail from Cardiff to Conway.

Courtown Woodland Walks, Wexford, Ireland

Although mainly a seaside village, the 60-acre wood in Courtown provides a source of shady respite from the nearby beach. It’s the perfect place for an autumn walk in Wexford.

During the 1860s and 70s, James Stopford, the 5th Earl of Courtown, established a pinetum in the grounds of Courtown House.

In the Victorian era, an arboretum or Pinetum was regarded as a supreme symbol of wealth and status.

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Courtown woodlands

Other species in his collection, inside this magnificent woodland, include a Californian redwood, swamp cypress and Japanese cedar.

Look out for a yew tree planted as part of the collection, but felled years ago, continuing to grow adjacent to the River Walk.

In 1870, the woodland was planted with oak and ash at a greater distance from the house.

This was fairly typical for a Victorian estate woodland. The exotic conifers and redwoods were planted within view of the house and the oaks further away.

Glendalough Valley, Wicklow, Ireland

Glendalough (Gleann Dá Loch), meaning ‘The Valley of the Two Lakes’ is a glacial valley in Wicklow.

It’s renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the sixth century.

Boasting beautiful mountainous scenery with its deep moody lakes, rushing rivers and tumbling waterfalls. It’s a perfect place for an autumn walk in Wicklow.

Even as one of the tourism jewels in the crown of Ireland’s Ancient East, you won’t have to wander too far to find the peacefulness and spirituality that drew monks here centuries ago.

Autumn walks in Wicklow, Ireland

Autumn is one of the finest times to visit Wicklow as the deciduous trees and bracken turn rich shades of russet, orange and yellow.

Glendalough is situated along Ireland’s oldest marked walking trail, The Wicklow Way.

Known as the garden of Ireland, the trail follows coastline, woodlands, imposing mountains, lakes, and spectacular gardens, scattered with elegant 18^th century estates.

Ballysaggartmore Towers and Woodland, Waterford, Ireland

These imposing gothic style buildings are situated near Lismore in Ireland. They are surrounded by pleasant woodland walking and picnic areas. This area is the perfect place for a picnic and an autumn walk in Waterford.

The magical Ballysaggartmore Towers provide a fairytale-like setting, despite their sad history.

They were built in a period in Irish history where extravagance and starvation existed side by side.

Autumn walks in Waterfod Ireland

They were constructed for an Anglo Irish Landlord, Arthur Keily-Ussher no later than 1834. He held an estate of approximately 8000 acres, the majority of which was rented to tenant farmers.

However, he retained approximately 1000 acres as a personal demesne. The extravagant gate towers were the only part of the intended castle to be built, as money ran out soon after their completion.

The surrounding dense woodland provides a lovely walk to go alongside a visit to them landmarks.

Autumn provides a golden landscape of trees around the remarkable towers.

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What are the Celtic Routes?

Celtic Routes borne out of partnership between six Irish and Welsh counties encouraging visitors to ‘go deeper, stay longer’.

A cross-Irish Sea set of collaborative counties in Ireland and Wales has formed a partnership to deliver a new tourism heritage project known as the ‘Celtic Routes’.

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This partnership aims to bring Celtic culture, spirit and soul to a new audience.

The relationship between the two Celtic nations has been established on the basis of an unbreakable bond formed through their shared heritage of untamed landscapes, ancient crosses, chapel ruins and sacred stones.

Shared Celtic history

Irish migrants who settled in Wales in the 5th century left their mark through the Ogham stones that still line the Welsh coastline today. And in return, Wales gave St Patrick to Ireland – or so they say.

The Celtic Routes aim to showcase this primal relationship to new eyes and ears.

Visitors can discover untamed nature and roads less travelled, that still follow the pulse of the changing seasons and rhythms of the natural world.

And where legends of saints, giants and princes will transport visitors to whole new worlds.

How do I get to the Celtic Routes?

Road – Your Celtic Routes adventure is accessible by car, driving along the coast of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion before crossing to Ireland.

Sea – After exploring Wales’ Celtic Routes offering, you can catch a ferry from Fishguard in Wales to Rosslare in Ireland. And vice versa.

Air – Fly direct from Cardiff, Bristol or London airports to Dublin from which you can hire a car and drive south to Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford.

Thanks to Celtic Routes for partnering with me for this content. To start planning your trip across the Celtic Routes, go to celticroutes.info for more information and inspiration.

Be sure to also follow Celtic Routes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

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What do you think of our collection of autumn walks on the Celtic routes? Are you planning any scenic walks this fall? Let us know in the comments below.

Celtic Routes Travel Planning

• Join our Wales Travel Planning Facebook Group
• Book an Airbnb and have £25 towards your first booking
• Search for hotel deals on Booking.com
• Get recommendations from TripAdvisor

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