Please see below information to help your business

The three Welsh National Trails are Glyndŵr’s Way, Offa’s Dyke Path and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

The Wales Coast Path is not a National Trail. You can find out about this fabulous coastal route which follows the entire Welsh coast on the Wales Coast Path website. 

Here are some ideas about what you can offer your customers that will appeal to National Trail walkers:

• Clothes Drying Facility: Provide a place for walkers to dry their clothes.
• Collection from Bus or Train Stops: Offer a pick-up service from nearby bus or train stops.
• Bus & Train Timetables: Provide up-to-date public transport timetables.

Make sure to offer contact details for useful local businesses, such as taxis, bike hire, and car hire services.

• Maps and Walks: Offer downloadable maps and information on walks from your website.
• Free Drinks and Snacks for Dogs: Provide refreshments for walkers’ canine companions.
• Free Dog Poo Bags: Help keep the path clean by offering free dog poo bags.
• Luggage Collection: Offer a luggage collection service for walkers.

Provide packed lunches and share your local knowledge about the best coastal walks and great places to go for a drink or lunch.

• Walking Sticks: Lend walking sticks to those who need them.
• Secure Bicycle Park: Provide a safe place for cyclists to park their bikes.
• Safety Information: Offer safety information, including tide timetables.

Consider joining the Cyclists and Walkers Scheme to obtain a welcome award and ensure you provide essential facilities and services for cyclists and walkers.

Maximising the potential of the National Trails can greatly enhance your business’s appeal and reach. By leveraging the unique opportunities these iconic trails offer, you can attract a diverse range of visitors, from avid walkers to casual explorers. Here are some top tips to help you make the most of the trails, ensuring your business stands out and provides an exceptional experience for all who visit.

You can use the business insights on the Visit Wales website to increase awareness. Link to itineraries and ‘plan your visit’ resources on the  National Trails and Wales Coast Path websites.

Home | Visit Wales Brand Hub

Wales Coast Path / Plan your visit

You can also order National Trails and Wales Coast Path leaflets from the websites

You can use National Trails images on your website, in brochures, or via social media such as X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. These images can also illustrate hotel and Bed and Breakfast bedroom browsers and make information you send to customers more interesting.

When building custom, remember to retain existing customers. Here are some ideas:

• Run a competition on your website linked to an event on the trail.
• Offer walkers discounts on your products and services.
• Provide a special “Walker’s breakfast” showcasing fresh Welsh produce.
• Offer free maps, lifts to walk starting points, and contact numbers for taxis.
• Advertise that your hotel or B&B has special facilities for walkers, such as a room for drying wet walking gear.
• Create a loyalty card to reward repeat custom from National Trail walkers.
• Provide guests with free maps and put up tide timetables for them to read.

Media familiarisation visits (FAM visits) are a great way to promote your company. Visit Wales and your local authority tourism team may organise media FAM visits. Get in touch to see if your business can take part. Working with such partners takes care of much of the worry of organising a FAM visit, and you can be assured that great thought will have been given to devising an interesting and varied programme for the visitors.

Keep Visit Wales posted with your news and developments by emailing productnews@gov.wales.

To easily increase the reach of your marketing, send your information out to a range of outlets, including:

• Social Media: Use platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram to interact with potential customers. Use hashtags such as #NationalTrails, #LlwybrauGenedlaethol, #OffasDykePath, #LlwybrClawddOffa, #LlwybrGlyndwr, #WalkingWales, #CerddedCymru, #DiscoverGlyndwrsWay, #DargandofLlwybrGlyndwr, #PembsCoast, #GlynwdwrsWay

Encourage safe enjoyment of the coastline with hashtags like #RespectTheWater and #BeAdventureSmart. Follow and tag @walescoastpath on social media to engage with us.

• Newspapers, Radio, Magazines & TV:From community websites to regional or national publications or specialist magazines, there are many outlets that might carry information about your business.
• Influencers and Bloggers:Tap into the online community of people who write about walking, travel, holidays, or Wales as a place to visit. Contact bloggers who write for family, child, or dog-friendly markets.
• Specialist Networks:Target organisations and associations involved in walking, outdoor activities, food and drink, local history, and more.
• Local Community Partnerships:Work with tourism associations and business groupings to promote your local area. Develop joint promotional activities with complementary businesses.

People browsing websites to decide where to visit, stay, or eat are notoriously fickle. If they don’t like the look of your site or can’t find the information they want quickly, they will go elsewhere. Here are some tips:

• Get to the point:Use bite-sized chunks of information. Attention spans are short.
• Keep it clean and simple:Ensure your text is readable and not obscured by background images or distracting elements. Use a white background for clarity.
• Access from all devices:Ensure your website can be viewed on all devices, including smartphones and tablets.
• Link with your social media:Update your social media platforms with links highlighting new content on your site. The more engagement your site gets, the higher it will rank in search engines.
• Images and film:Use good quality images to attract web visitors.

Preparing for your guests’ arrival is key to ensuring they have a memorable and enjoyable experience on the National Trails. By offering thoughtful amenities and resources, you can enhance their visit and showcase the best of what the Welsh landscape has to offer. Here are some essential tips to help you get ready before your guests arrive, ensuring they have everything they need for a fantastic adventure along the path.

Tell your guests about the useful resources to help visitors plan their visit including an interactive map, distance tables, or temporary path diversions.

The National Trails website has an area where you can add information about your business. For example:

Add your information to Offa’s Dyke Path – National Trails

Walking Itineraries

Discover new and exciting ways to explore the Welsh landscape with our walking itineraries, shorter Rail to Trail walks and circulars. These itineraries are designed to help both locals and visitors make the most of their journey along the trails.

Find out more about these routes on the National Trails website.

Capitalising on the seasons

The National Trails offer a great opportunity to extend the visitor season. Early spring and late autumn are perfect times for walking, with dramatic natural scenery changes.

Involve your team

Get your staff involved in promoting your business. Ensure they share your business values and understand your ambitions and goals. Brief them on what the National Trails offers walkers, including details on walks, buses and trains. Encourage them to participate in the Wales Ambassador Scheme to help promote your business

You can also get your staff involved with the Wales Ambassador Scheme to help you to promote your business Ambassador Wales – Wales Ambassador Scheme

Ensuring your guests have a fantastic stay while visiting the National Trails is crucial for creating lasting memories and encouraging repeat visits. By providing thoughtful amenities and resources, you can enhance their experience and showcase the beauty of the Welsh landscape.

Here are some tips to help you make the most of your guests’ stay, ensuring they have everything they need for an enjoyable and safe adventure along the path:

• Walking books and maps:Offer walking books and maps for hire to help guests explore the area.
• Printed itineraries and timetables:Provide printed itineraries, bus timetables, and tide tables for easy reference.
• Services for walkers:Offer special services tailored to walkers’ needs.
• Social media influencers:Follow and engage with social media influencers in your area to stay updated and connected.

Social media offers great ways to interact with potential customers, post information and comments, and respond to what others are posting. You can tag the different National Trails on the following social media accounts:

• Offas Dyke Path: Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter)
• Glyndwrs Way: Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter)
• Pembrokeshire Coast National Trail: Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter)

Engage with us, for a share, comment, or like and we’ll do our best to reciprocate.

• Reels:Keep it authentic and tag us
• Facebook community:Introduce yourself and engage with the community.
• Follow Visit Wales:Stay updated with industry news by following Visit Wales and Visit Wales Business accounts.
• Cross-promote:Share content with National Trails social media accounts.
• Subscribe to our newsletter: Read latest news on the path https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKNRW/subscribers/qualify?lang=en
• Visit Wales Product Database:Sign up to promote your business.

https://traveltrade.visitwales.com/useful-information/contact-us/register-your-product

• Campaigns:Get in touch with Visit Wales to offer your business for campaigns.
• Local tourism department:Highlight your business for FAM visits.
• Inspiration:Follow accounts like Visit Wales, North Wales Tourism, Mid Wales Tourism, Cadw, National Trust, and Food & Drink Wales for inspiration.

Visit Wales https://www.visitwales.com/ North Wales Tourism https://northwalestourism.com/ Mid Wales Tourism https://www.mwtcymru.co.uk/ Cadw https://cadw.gov.wales/  National Trust https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ Food & Drink Wales https://food-drink.wales/

Facebook

Show off your business with pictures of the Offa’s Dyke Path, Glyndwrs Way or Pembrokeshire Coast Path or have visitors give video recommendations.

X (formerly Twitter)

Connect with other businesses and share special offers with your followers. Follow Visit Wales and other relevant organisations to stay connected.

Instagram

Use Instagram to showcase your business with images of the National Trails and what your customers can see and enjoy along the trails. Invite people to come and enjoy the path and stay, eat, or visit your business. Use hashtags such as #NationalTrails, #LlwybrauGenedlaethol, #OffasDykePath, #LlwybrClawddOffa, #LlwybrGlyndwr, #CerddedCymru, #DiscoverGlyndwrsWay, #DargandofLlwybrGlyndwr, #PembsCoast, #GlynwdwrsWay and to walking in general #coastofwales, #walescoast, #coast, #coastal, #walking, #Welshcoast, #walkingwales, #longdistancewalking

YouTube

The National Trails in Wales have wonderful films from across Wales. Visit our YouTube channels and share the content on your social media channels.

Offa’s Dyke Path / Llwybr Clawdd Offa

Glyndwrs Way

Pembrokeshire Coast Path (part of the Wales Coast Path YouTube channel)

Travel trade

Visit Britain offers a wide range of tools to support you in marketing your business internationally. For more information, visit their website.

https://www.txgb.co.uk

https://www.visitbritain.org/travel-trade

Remember to follow:

@VisitWalesBiz https://x.com/visitwalesbiz

@CroesoCymruBus https://x.com/croesocymrubus

@VisitWalesTrade https://x.com/VisitWalesTrade

@MeetinWales https://x.com/MeetInWales

@VisitWales https://x.com/visitwales

@VisitBritainBiz https://x.com/VisitBritainBiz

@VisitBritainPR https://x.com/VisitBritainPR

@VisitBritain https://x.com/VisitBritain

Use Google Street View to check the parking, viewpoints, and for any facilities needed for a great day out. Local teams are continuously improving access to the path.

It’s important that everyone using the trails enjoys them responsibly. The Countryside Code is a guide to enjoying parks, waterways, coast, and countryside. Visitors can familiarise themselves with the Countryside Code’s messages before setting out. The countryside is a living and working environment for many, so it’s crucial to respect everyone, protect the environment, and enjoy the outdoors.

The Countryside Code helps achieve this.

• Respect everyone
• Protect the environment
• Enjoy the outdoors

For more information, visit the Countryside Code page.

Countryside Code

Countryside Code YouTube playlist

Countryside Code Toolkit

#CountrysideCode / #CodCefnGwlad

Top tips for dog walkers

The Coast Path is a perfect place to take your four-legged companion. Here are some tips to ensure visitors and their dogs stay happy, responsible, and safe:

• Ensure your dog is under effective control, which means having a short lead with you to use when needed (e.g., around livestock, near cliff edges, or fast-flowing rivers, or where signage requests it). Do not let your dog off the lead unless you keep it in sight and close enough to come back to you on command.
• Prevent your dog from approaching horse riders, cyclists, or other people and their dogs uninvited.
• Never let your dog worry or chase wildlife or livestock. Follow advice on local signs to reduce disturbance to plants and animals.
• Always bag and bin your dog’s poo wherever you are. You can use any public waste bin or your bin at home.
• If you’re worried about your dog’s safety, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

For more guidance, visit the Dog Walking Code page Dog Walking Code

Top tips for walking around livestock

Remember to stay SAFE when walking around animals and horses:

1. Stop, look, and listen before entering a field; be aware of any animals present.
2. Always keep your dog on a short lead if you cannot rely on it returning to you on command.
3. Find the safest route around animals, giving them plenty of space and using paths or access land where possible.
4. Exit the area calmly and quickly if threatened, releasing your dog to make it easier for you both to reach safety.

Remind your customers of the importance of staying safe and being adventure smart when walking the National Trails. Showing that you care about their safety is crucial. Include these top tips on your website, in your marketing leaflets, or in your bedroom browser.

1. Know your route:Check maps and websites, look out for any warning signs, and ask about local risks.
2. Check weather and tides:Always check the weather and tides just before you leave.
3. Plan ahead:Plan your route and let someone know when to expect you back. Ensure your mobile is charged.
4. Stay energised:Keep your energy levels up by taking food and water with you.
5. Wear the right gear:Wear good quality, dry, waterproof clothing. Take spare socks and tops, even if the weather looks good. Wear shoes or boots designed for walking.
6. Carry sunscreen:Remember, strong winds can cause sunburn too.
7. Be cautious:Take care not to slip, trip, or fall. Stay away from edges and overhangs along the Coast Path. Do not climb cliffs or sit under them.
8. Road safety:Be careful when walking along or crossing roads and railways.
9. Respect wildlife:Discover the wildlife on beaches but remember to look and not touch.
10. Know how to get help:In an emergency, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

Respect the water

If you fall unexpectedly into cold water, fight your instinct to thrash around or swim hard. Instead, relax and float on your back to catch your breath. Once the cold water shock has passed, call for help, find something buoyant to hold on to, or swim for safety if you’re able to. For more information, get in touch with your local RNLI lifeboat station or RNLI lifeguard team #RespectTheWater  Read about Water Safety Advice And Tips – Know The Risks

Adventure Smart Wales

Help your visitors experience their unique moments in the great outdoors in Wales safely. Adventure Smart Wales offers useful hints and tips to enjoy outdoor adventures like coasteering, hill walking, and open water swimming safely. Find out more about Adventure Smart Wales

Maps and Walking Itineraries

We recommend carrying a map (paper or digital version) and recognising the National Trails waymarking to help visitors stay on the path. The National Trails Find your perfect trail, and discover the land of myths and legend – National Trails website has lots of useful information to help visitors make the most of their time, including suggested walking itineraries.

 Tide timetables

Provide your customers with details of tide times to make sure they don’t get stranded on their walks.  View Tide Tables BBC Weather

Useful links

• Countryside Code
• Adventure Smart Wales https://www.adventuresmart.uk/coast/
• Respect the Water https://respectthewater.com/

RNLI https://rnli.org/safety

Using the various resources available for the National Trails can significantly enhance your business’s offerings and appeal. By tapping into these valuable tools and materials, you can provide your guests with a richer, more informed experience while showcasing the best of the Welsh landscape. Here are some essential resources to help you make the most of the trails, ensuring your business stands out and delivers exceptional service to all visitors.

The National Trails shop

Official merchandise, maps and guidebooks for the National Trails are available to buy online. The Trails Shop | The Official National Trails UK Shop

Promoting Wales

The Cymru Wales brand hub offers a wealth of digital assets representing the best of Wales. You can search an extensive library of high-quality photographic imagery, videos, illustrations, infographics, logos, and other supporting materials. These assets can be used for editorial, promotional, or marketing purposes within the terms of use. For access to brand logos, complete a simple request form.

Find out more about the Cymru Wales brand Home | Visit Wales Brand Hub

Our unique language is a tremendous asset. Using Welsh can make your business distinctive. Access the Hello Blod translation service for free translations up to 500 words, with a same-day service.

Welcome to Helo Blod | Helo Blod

Walkers Welcome message in key foreign languages

• Welsh: Croeso i gerddwyr
• French: Marcheurs bienvenus
• German: Wanderer willkommen
• Italian: Camminatori benvenuti
• Dutch: Wandelaars welkom
• Spanish: Caminantes bienvenidos

Images

High-quality photographs of the Welsh National Trails are free to download from the Visit Wales assets website. A quick registration is required to access the images.

Visit Wales asset library Assets | Visit Wales Brand Hub

Film

Our YouTube accounts features a diverse range of high-quality films and interviews with people from all walks of life talking about what the path means to them. Feel free to link to these videos from your websites and social media channels.

Offa’s Dyke Path / Llwybr Clawdd Offa

Glyndwrs Way

Pembrokeshire Coast Path (part of the Wales Coast Path YouTube channel)

Marketing materials

Cut and paste or download resources for your website, social media activity, leaflets, and bedroom browsers to give your customers valuable information that will enhance their visit.

Logo use

You can request our logos to use in your marketing for the positive promotion of the path. Visit the National Trails website for brand guidelines. NATIONAL_TRAILS_BRAND_GUIDELINES_V4_Dec23_web.pdf

Reduce single-use plastic

Refill Cymru is an award-winning campaign to prevent plastic pollution by making it easier to reuse and refill bottles. Businesses with publicly accessible taps can register as refill stations on the Refill app, benefiting from increased exposure and footfall. Blue window stickers show commitment to reducing single-use plastics and welcome people who may be unsure about asking for a free water refill. Refill stations can be any business, not just cafés or restaurants. Sign up to Refill Cymru scheme https://www.refill.org.uk/refill-wales/

Be a green business

The demand for sustainable living has increased, and tourism businesses should prioritize reducing/recycling waste, supporting local produce, and significantly reducing single-use plastics. Visitors to the path provide economic benefits to the local area. Business Wales offers a marketing handbook with guidance on being more eco-friendly with water, waste, travel, supply chain, and energy. Find out more information on sustainable tourism in Wales.https://businesswales.gov.wales/tourism/sustainable-tourism-wales

Welsh food and drink

Wales has a strong tradition of living off the land, with organic farmers’ markets, artisan producers, food festivals, and award-winning restaurants. Welcome your guests with traditional Welsh fare such as cawl, leeks, Bara Brith, Glamorgan sausages, Welsh cakes, and local artisan cheeses, meats, biscuits, and beverages. Mentera can help you connect with local suppliers in your area.

https://mentera.cymru/

Find out more about traditional Welsh food and drink.

https://www.visitwales.com/things-do/food-and-drink/welsh-food-and-recipes/famous-welsh-food-and-drink

Getting involved and encouraging your staff to participate in promoting the National Trails can significantly enhance your business’s appeal and visitor experience. By fostering a team that shares your enthusiasm for the path, you can create a welcoming atmosphere that resonates with guests.

Here are some tips to help you and your staff get involved, ensuring you maximise the potential of visitors to the National Trails and provide an exceptional experience for all.

Wales Ambassador Scheme

The Wales Ambassador Scheme (WAS) launched in 2019 as a set of free online courses introducing different areas and attractions in Wales. The scheme continues to grow, welcoming a range of Ambassadors including local people, accommodation and attraction providers, shops, pubs, students, library staff, tourism information staff, tour guides, and volunteers. Access the scheme online for great content on the National Trails and the Wales Coast Path, as well as business advice.

Sign up to the Wales Ambassador Scheme Ambassador Wales – Wales Ambassador Scheme

Tourism trade

For those in the tourism and leisure business, there are dedicated sites with ideas on promotions and how to work with professional marketers. Contact your local tourism team for a tourism trade site in your area. A good example to look at is Swansea Council tourism team www.swansea.gov.uk/tourismtrade

Stay updated

Our regular newsletters feature updates on what’s happening along the path, new developments, and plenty of useful information to help you make the most of your time on the path. Sign up to the Visit Wales Product database. Email details of your business to product@visitwales.gov.uk. Get in touch with your local tourism team to highlight your business for press visits. Follow relevant accounts for inspiration and ideas for reasons to visit.

Collaborate with local businesses

Work together with other local businesses to maximise resources. Speak to other business owners along the trails to explore joint marketing initiatives. These initiatives can help you reach a larger audience by combining customer databases and extending your product and service range.

TXGB

TXGB is a digital platform that brings together tourism businesses to drive sales and boost productivity by connecting the market in a new and unique way. Contact the Travel Trade team at Visit Wales for more information.

TXGB https://www.txgb.co.uk

Visit Britain

Visit Britain offers a wide range of tools to support marketing your business internationally. Find out about any FAM visits you could take part in and link to local events.

Visit Britain https://www.visitbritain.org/travel-trade

Staying updated with the latest developments and resources is essential for effectively promoting your business to visitors of the National Trails. By keeping abreast of new initiatives, campaigns, and tools, you can enhance your marketing strategies and attract more visitors. Here are some of the latest updates and resources to help you promote your business and make the most of the opportunities presented by the trails.

Year of Croeso 2025

Visit Wales launched the Year of “Croeso” (Welcome) in early 2025 – a national and global marketing tourism campaign to promote Wales’ iconic experiences, products, destinations, and culture.

• Their flagship campaign is Hwyl (the Welsh word for fun) will deliver the key message of feelings of fun and joy that you can experience “Only in Wales”
• The trails are the ideal way to convey this message – as an unforgettable way of feeling, tasting and seeing what the path has to offer, – iconic vistas with great places to stay, drink and eat, intertwined with our unique culture and the Welsh language only in Wales.
• Visitors to the path need business like yours to enjoy the path. Visit Wales is inviting all stakeholders to work with Visit Wales on this exciting theme. We’ll be closely with tourism and destination management groups with Visit Wales to ensure all our visitors have their moments of hwyl on the path.

Get involved in Visit Wales’ Year of Croeso and Hwyl https://industry.visitwales.com/get-involved/visit-wales-themed-year-campaigns/year-croeso

Year of Croeso Toolkit – free to download, professional images and campaign logos. https://assets.wales.com/pages/toolkits

Business Survey 2025

A survey of businesses along the path and the National Trails in Wales (Offa’s Dyke Path, Glyndwr’s Way, and Pembrokeshire Coast National Trail, also a part of the Wales Coast Path) assessed the support needed to maximize local business opportunities.

It revealed the benefits that businesses gain from their location and the information they think would be most useful to their customers. The survey results are available for the entire path and are broken down by geographical region.

View Business Survey Results

To help you plan, this toolkit provides details on where to stay, and top tips on walking itineraries from those who look after the Trails, coach parking facilities, attractions, things to do, information on the food and drink of Wales and where to eat out, plus much more.

Group Travel Toolkit (ENG)

Download the Events on National Trails Guidance for Event Organisers.

These guidelines provide important information for organisers of events held on National Trails.

Download Defra’s information note on general restrictions on land with coastal access rights, which covers open air recreation, organised games and commercial activities.

Some trails have produced guidance specifically aimed at events on their trail.

Pennine Way events guidance 2024

Pennine Bridleway events guidance 2024

Ridgeway events guidance 2021