Imagine standing on a windswept ridge in Snowdonia National Park, the clouds swirling around jagged peaks clouds swirling around jagged peaks, the wind tugging at your jacket, and hearing the distant chatter of red squirrels. Or stepping into a moss-draped Celtic rainforest, where every tree seems to whisper stories of centuries past. Or sailing gently across Cardigan Bay, watching dolphins leap playfully from the waves.
As an official Wales tourist guide and hill & moorland leader, I lead guided tours across all of Wales—hiking mountains and moorlands, wandering ancient forests, spotting wildlife, and exploring coastal ecosystems. For those who prefer a more relaxed pace, these landscapes can also be explored by panoramic drive, offering sweeping views without missing the stories behind every hill, valley, and coastline. Every tour combines adventure with sustainable tourism Wales, leaving visitors inspired, informed, and connected with nature.
Imagine hiking—or even driving along—a ridge in the Glyder mountains, the peaks of Eryri ( Snowdonia ) stretching endlessly before you. As you take in the view on one of my guided hill and moorland walks or panoramic tours in Wales, you’re following in the footsteps of Esmé Kirby.
In the 1960s, Kirby campaigned to stop a youth hostel being built here, understanding that some landscapes are too wild to lose. She co-founded the Snowdonia National Park Society in 1967, protecting these peaks, valleys, and forests for future generations. Her campaigns didn’t stop there—she fought the Cwm Dyli hydroelectric pipeline, protected the Cromlech Boulders in Llanberis Pass, and worked tirelessly for the native red squirrel population on Anglesey.
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During World War II, women from the Women’s Land Army worked tirelessly across Wales—planting crops, milking cows, and keeping rural communities alive while men were away at war.
On my wildlife spotting tours, farm visits, or panoramic countryside drives, you can still feel the Land Army’s legacy: local, seasonal, sustainable food production that nourished communities and taught visitors how humans and nature can thrive together.
Another modern conservation story unfolds when night falls in Snowdonia.
Dani Robertson became the first Dark Sky Officer for Snowdonia National Park, the first dark sky officer in the UK , helping protect one of the UK’s most spectacular Dark Sky Reserves.
Her work reduces light pollution, supports nocturnal wildlife, and allows visitors to experience breathtaking stargazing after a day of hiking or exploring the mountains. She has also published a book called All through the night.
Dani has recently been nominated for an Environment Champion Award, recognising her efforts to protect the night skies and promote sustainable tourism in Wales.
On clear nights after a guided hike, it’s easy to see why this work matters — the Milky Way stretching across the mountains above.
Stargazing in Eryri (Snowdonia) International Dark Sky Reserve – one of the darkest, least light‑polluted places in southern Britain. , Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) International Dark Sky Reserve – the first dark sky reserve in Wales and one of the earliest in the world. And Elan Valley Dark Sky Park – a beautiful quieter star‑gazing area in mid‑Wales, perfect for night tours and astrophotography are among the top sustainable tourism experiences in Wales,. Protecting dark skies also supports wildlife, saves energy, and preserves natural night rhythms.
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A must-visit on guided coastal and marine tours in Wales is Anglesey Sea Zoo. Founded by marine biologist Frankie Hobro, the zoo focuses on native British marine life and hands-on conservation. The only seazoo that showcases exclusively marine life in British Waters .
Frankie recently made headlines for repatriating a rare turtle, showing how marine conservation and education can make a real difference. Visitors can also meet lobsters, seahorses, and native fish while learning sustainable practices to protect Wales’ seas.
At Wales Trails, we are proud to be a female-founded guided tour business in Wales, inspired by the women who have helped protect and shape the country’s wild landscapes. As an official tourist guide and Hill & Moorland Leader, I lead immersive guided tours across Wales that combine adventure, local knowledge, and sustainable tourism.
Our tours are designed to help visitors experience the landscapes highlighted in this blog—places shaped and safeguarded by generations of passionate conservationists.
Join us to discover some of the most spectacular nature and wildlife in Wales:
Every tour—whether a guided hike or a scenic driving tour in Wales—is created with responsible and sustainable travel in mind. We help visitors connect with nature while understanding how these landscapes have been protected and why they matter for future generations.ponsibly.
From Esmé Kirby protecting mountains to the Women’s Land Army supporting sustainable farming, Dani Robertson safeguarding dark skies, and Frankie Hobro protecting marine life (including the rare turtle repatriation), women have shaped Wales’ environmental story.
When you explore Wales with us , you’re not just hiking or sightseeing—you’re walking through living history, sustainable adventure, and wildlife conservation.
Experience Wales sustainably: wild, magical, and full of stories waiting to be discovered on guided tours, hill walks, wildlife spotting, Celtic rainforest hikes, and marine adventures.
