Our research has found there are at least 140,000 stiles on paths in England and Wales – on average, a stile every mile. Stiles and other barriers make walks difficult, or even impossible, for millions of people so, we’ve made sure this month’s walk is completely stile free. 

We’re taking you to Porthcawl in Wales for our October Walk of the Month, brought to you in partnership with Cuckoo Broadband. 

Porthcawl seafront stroll 

If you’re looking for an accessible walk that blends history, wildlife and stunning views, look no further than Porthcawl in mid-Glamorgan. Once a busy port, Porthcawl became a top tourist resort for miners from the Welsh valleys and it remains a popular destination today. 

Our 4 ½ mileout-and-back route follows the coastline on paved or boarded surfaces, making it perfect for wheelchair and pushchair users. The route is easy to follow and it should take around 2 hours, depending on how often you stop to explore. 

There’s varied plantlife to spot, including edible rock samphire, a branching, succulent plant that always grows above the tideline. Stranded sailors and fishermen would use it to locate a safe place to spend the night, away from the advancing tide. Make sure to keep an eye out for the visiting seabirds and seals along the shoreline too. 

Opposite the Seabank Hotel, areas of limestone pavement have become visible. These are more common in inland Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales, where they are formed by glacial erosion. Here, it is subaerial, or wind and weathering, rather than coastal erosion, that has made this unusual kind of rock formation visible. 

When you get back to the start you can walk further by following the breakwater up to Porthcawl Lighthouse, which only became electric-powered in 1997 and is still used as a navigational aid. Or continue past the lifeboat station to Porthcawl Marina and Sandy Bay – the site of an annual Christmas Day swim, which attracted more than 1,400 participants last year. 

Check out the full route here 

Find more stile-free walks here 

Thank you to Cuckoo Broadband for supporting this month’s walk. Find out more about their feel-good broadband here.