I set out on an epic adventure to walk the full 870 miles of the Wales Coast Pathāand after 50 unforgettable days, I made it to the finish! This journey was more than just a physical challenge; it was an adventure filled with breathtaking views, wild weather, unexpected encounters, and moments of pure joy (and exhaustion!). Every step brought something newātowering cliffs, quiet beaches, winding estuaries, and the ever-present sound of the sea.
Now that the journey is complete, it's time to break down the final statsāthe miles covered, elevation climbed, standout moments, and biggest lessons learned. Whether you're dreaming of tackling this iconic trail yourself or just love a good adventure story, hereās the full rundown of my incredible experience.
This challenge was proudly supported by Cicerone @CiceronePress #ChallengeWithCiceroneābecause every great adventure deserves to be shared!
Total Days: 50
WCP: 870 miles / 1400 km
Fast Packed: 6
Rest Day: 1
Days walked with Alex @masonalexandra : 26
Total miles covered: 896
Avg. miles per day: 18
š„¾Boots: @inov_8 RocFly G 390 Ā£175 black/pink. Weight 390g. Sole: Graphene Grip. Use: Hard & Rocky, paths & trails, road. (DM me for a special discount code) #gifted.
Days 0-15 miles: 12
Days 15-20 miles: 17
Days 20-25 miles: 19
Days 25+ miles: 2
Longest Day - Day 42 - 27.6 miles / 56,978 steps. From Burry Port to past Llanmadoc
Shortest Day - (not including rest day) Day 17 - 9.6 miles / 19,816. From past Morfa to Aberdaron.
Earliest start time: 6.16am - Day 10 (wild camped the night before)
Latest start time: 1.06pm - Day 2 (only walking 13 miles)
Latest finish time: 9.09pm - Day 7 (trying to find a wild camping spot)
Earliest finish time: 1.16pm - Day 37 (like a half day as we were staying at gifted accommodation that evening and the following day)
š¦¶ Total Steps:Ā 1,903,773
Avg.Daily Steps:Ā 38,075
šāāļø River swims:Ā 1
ā“ Ferry journey:Ā 1
š Taxi rides:Ā 3
š Train rides:Ā 5
Subjective Experience Ratings
š¤© Overall Enjoyment Score:Ā 342/500Ā (the higher, the better!)
Daily Average:Ā 7/10
68% of the time, I was loving it!
32% was Type 2 Funātough in the moment, rewarding in hindsight!
š“ Fatigue Score:Ā 160/500Ā (the lower, the better!)
32% of the time, I felt exhausted.
68% of the time, I felt strong and capable.
Daily Average:Ā 3/10
š„¾ Ease of Terrain:Ā 158.5/500Ā (lower = easier felt to me)
Daily Average:Ā 3/10
Total Costs & Budget Breakdown
š° Total Costs:Ā Ā£1,600
š Gifted Accommodation:Ā Ā£490
š° Total Costs (excluding gifted accommodation):Ā Ā£1,110
šµ Daily Spending Average:Ā Ā£22
šø No-Spend Days:Ā 10
š” Accommodation:Ā Ā£782
Paid Accommodation:Ā Ā£292
Free/Gifted Stays:Ā 31 nights
Paid Nights:Ā 19Ā (Ā£15 avg. per night)
āŗļø Camping:Ā 20 nights
Campsite:Ā 14 nightsĀ (Ā£10 avg. per night, cheapest Ā£5 Day 35 & 40, most expensive Ā£14.50, Day 43)
Wild Camping:Ā 6 nights
š Sleeping Indoors:Ā 30 nights
My own bed: 2 nights (Day 1 & 50 - start & finish)
Stayed with friends:Ā 12 nights
Warmshowers host:Ā Day 5
Hostels:Ā 2 nights (YHA Conwy Day 4 & an independent hostel Day 30)
B&Bs:Ā 3 nights (Day 2, 20 & 21)
Hotels:Ā 6 nights (Days 17, 22, 34, 37, 38, 49)
Pod/Airbnb:Ā 1 night (Day 14)
Boat:Ā 2 nights (Day 47 & 48)
š Most Expensive Stay:Ā Ā£125Ā (hotel, included a 5-course dinner & breakfastā#gifted) Day 22
Weather RecapĀ āļøāļøš¦šØ
š§ Rainy Days:Ā 10Ā (3 were torrential!)
āļø Sunny Days:Ā 18
āļøšØ Sunshine & Windy Days: 11 days
š„ Hot & Sunny Days:Ā 3
šØ Very Windy Days:Ā 2
āļø Normal/Grey/Dry Days:Ā 2
š§āļøšØ Rain + Sun + Wind Days:Ā 2
ā³ Overall:Ā 20% rain : 80% sunshineāpretty good odds!
Spending Categories
š„ Total Food Costs:Ā Ā£607
Most expensive resupply:Ā Ā£52 (Day 30)
š Total Travel Costs:Ā Ā£90.50
š Trains:Ā Ā£58
š Taxis:Ā Ā£27.50
ā“ Ferry:Ā Ā£5
š Miscellaneous:Ā Ā£147
Sunglasses:Ā Ā£40 (x2)
Donations:Ā Ā£20
Clothing:Ā Ā£19
Electronics:Ā Ā£24.50
Hair:Ā Ā£12
Tip:Ā Ā£5
Guidebook š
š Guidebook: Walking the Wales Coast Path
āļø Author:Ā Paddy Dillon
š° Cost:Ā Ā£16.95 (Printed)
š Pages:Ā 368 |
šļø Weight:Ā 400g
š Published:Ā 27th April 2022
šŗ Path Breakdown:
Stages:Ā 57 (ranging from 16 to 32km)
Sections:Ā 9
North Wales
Isle of Anglesey
LlÅ·n Peninsula
Meirionnydd
Ceredigion
Pembrokeshire
Carmarthenshire
The Gower
South Wales
I always find the stats really interesting. I hope you do to. Let me know if you have any thoughts about the info.
Where you shocked at any of the numbers? Did anything stand out for you?
Any questions about what I spend money on? Do you think this is normal, cheap, or excessive for a thru-hike of this length?
Is there anything in particular you would like me to track for future challenges and adventures?
Curious about how it all began?Ā Check out the start of my Wales Coast Path adventure here: Day 1-5: Walking the Wales Coast Path: 870 Miles in 50 Days! š„¾š“ó §ó ¢ó „ó ®ó §ó æ
Watch the vlog here:
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