The Wales Coast Path offers an unparalleled opportunity to walk a nation's coastline in its entirety. Stretching 1400km (870 miles) from Chester to Chepstow, including Anglesey, the waymarked trail takes 2-3 months to complete but can easily be broken into shorter sections.

The walking is generally not difficult, although there are occasional rugged sections, steep ascents and descents and more remote stretches with fewer facilities.

Promising fantastic scenery and a unique insight into local history and culture, what better way to experience the diversity and beauty of Wales' captivating coastline?

The route is presented in 57 stages, ranging from 16 to 32km, each featuring clear route description illustrated with 1:100,000 mapping, overview statistics and notes on the availability of accommodation, facilities and public transport links.

You'll find plenty of helpful advice for planning your walk, plus background information on Welsh history, geology, plants, wildlife and local points of interest. A facilities table, Welsh glossary and useful contacts can be found in the appendices.

Passing through the Snowdonia and Pembrokeshire Coast National Parks, as well as numerous AONBs and sections of Heritage Coast, the Wales Coast Path takes in seaside resorts, attractive fishing villages, sandy beaches, rocky coves and striking cliff coastline.

Highlights include the picturesque Llyn and Gower peninsulas, 13th-century 'Iron Ring' castles and frequent opportunities for wildlife spotting. The route can be linked with Offa's Dyke Path National Trail (covered in a separate Cicerone guide) to complete a full circuit of Wales.

Stage 1 Chester to Flint
Stage 2 Flint to Prestatyn
Stage 3 Prestatyn to Colwyn Bay
Stage 4 Colwyn Bay to Conwy
Stage 5 Conwy to Bangor

2 Isle of Anglesey

Stage 6 Bangor to Glan-yr-afon
Stage 7 Glan-yr-afon to City Dulas
Stage 8 City Dulas to Cemaes
Stage 9 Cemaes to Llanfachraeth
Stage 10 Llanfachraeth to South Stack
Stage 11 South Stack to Fourmilebridge
Stage 12 Fourmilebridge to Aberffraw
Stage 13 Aberffraw to Dwyran
Stage 14 Dwyran to Menai Bridge

3 Llŷn Peninsula

Stage 15 Menai Bridge to Dinas Dinlle
Stage 16 Dinas Dinlle to Nefyn
Stage 17 Nefyn to Methlem
Stage 18 Methlem to Rhiw
Stage 19 Rhiw to Abersoch
Stage 20 Abersoch to Llanystumdwy
Stage 21 Llanystumdwy to Penrhyndeudraeth

4 Meirionnydd

Stage 22 Penrhyndeudraeth to Llandanwg
Stage 23 Llandanwg to Barmouth
Stage 24 Barmouth to Tywyn
Stage 25 Tywyn to Machynlleth

5 Ceredigion

Stage 26 Machynlleth to Borth
Stage 27 Borth to Llanrhystud
Stage 28 Llanrhystud to New Quay
Stage 29 New Quay to Aberporth
Stage 30 Aberporth to St Dogmaels

6 Pembrokeshire

Stage 31 St Dogmaels to Newport
Stage 32 Newport to Goodwick
Stage 33 Goodwick to Abercastle
Stage 34 Abercastle to St Justinian
Stage 35 St Justinian to Newgale
Stage 36 Newgale to Martin’s Haven
Stage 37 Martin’s Haven to Sandy Haven
Stage 38 Sandy Haven to Pembroke
Stage 39 Pembroke to Freshwater West
Stage 40 Freshwater West to Freshwater East
Stage 41 Freshwater East to Saundersfoot

7 Carmarthenshire

Stage 42 Saundersfoot to Laugharne
Stage 43 Laugharne to Llansteffan
Stage 44 Llansteffan to Ferryside
Stage 45 Ferryside to Burry Port

8 The Gower

Stage 46 Burry Port to Pen-clawdd
Stage 47 Pen-clawdd to Rhossili
Stage 48 Rhossili to Penmaen
Stage 49 Penmaen to Swansea

9 South Wales

Stage 50 Swansea to Margam
Stage 51 Margam to Ogmore
Stage 52 Ogmore to Limpert Bay
Stage 53 Limpert Bay to Cadoxton
Stage 54 Cadoxton to Pengam Green
Stage 55 Pengam Green to Newport
Stage 56 Newport to Rogiet
Stage 57 Rogiet to Chepstow