KEYSTONE TRAILS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL HIKING TRIP
Wales
August 3-14, 2025
Experience Welsh culture with KTA on a hiking adventure through the rugged mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) and the eclectic island of Anglesey. Spend three days exploring Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in North Wales. Hike to the top of Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales.
Not feeling up for the hike? Take the Snowdon Mountain Railway to the top! The second half of the trip will be spent exploring the Anglesey Coastal Path. The path traverses a landscape that includes farmland, coastal heath, dunes, saltmarsh, cliffs, and woodland.
We’ll fly as a group from Washington Dulles (IAD) in the early evening of August 3rd and arrive in Manchester the next morning after a brief layover in Dublin. There is an optional transport option to and from Dulles at an additional cost. We’ll spend our first day exploring the historic and cultural city of Manchester.
Over the next three days, we’ll explore and hike the rugged mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) while staying at a basecamp location in Llanberis. Hikes during this portion of the trip will range from 5-9 miles, but will be slightly more rugged with some elevation change.
The latter part of the trip will be spent on the island of Anglesey. Hikes will range from 9.5-12 miles and will be fairly mild as we explore the Anglesey Coastal Path. A rest day is included in the transition day from Eryri to Anglesey and we’ll have some time to explore the town of Menai Bridge.
The trip will wrap up back in Manchester with another half day to explore the city.
Not feeling up for the hike? Take the Snowdon Mountain Railway to the top! The second half of the trip will be spent exploring the Anglesey Coastal Path. The path traverses a landscape that includes farmland, coastal heath, dunes, saltmarsh, cliffs, and woodland.
We’ll fly as a group from Washington Dulles (IAD) in the early evening of August 3rd and arrive in Manchester the next morning after a brief layover in Dublin. There is an optional transport option to and from Dulles at an additional cost. We’ll spend our first day exploring the historic and cultural city of Manchester.
Over the next three days, we’ll explore and hike the rugged mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) while staying at a basecamp location in Llanberis. Hikes during this portion of the trip will range from 5-9 miles, but will be slightly more rugged with some elevation change.
The latter part of the trip will be spent on the island of Anglesey. Hikes will range from 9.5-12 miles and will be fairly mild as we explore the Anglesey Coastal Path. A rest day is included in the transition day from Eryri to Anglesey and we’ll have some time to explore the town of Menai Bridge.
The trip will wrap up back in Manchester with another half day to explore the city.
Participants must be competent hikers in good physical condition. The hikes range in difficulty from easy to moderately challenging. The hike to the peak of Snowdon will be the most challenging, with approximately 3,000 ft of elevation gain over 4.5 miles. If this seems too challenging, there is an option to reach the peak via a roundtrip train ride or a one-way train ride to the top and a hike back down. All other hikes will be significantly more mild and the Anglesey Coastal Path is relatively flat.
The trip organizer and guide is Julie Queen. Julie is the Appalachian Trail Museum Manager and this will be her fifth trip to Wales. She enjoys backpacking/hiking, kayaking, biking, snowboarding, xc skiing, and international and domestic travel. Julie is a Wilderness First Responder and Leave No Trace Master Educator. Julie will be assisted by Al Germann, Keystone Trails Association Regional Trail Care Coordinator: PA Wilds. Al was a part of the Harrisburg Young Adult Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps crew. Prior to joining KTA, Al held a role at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as Deputy Digital Director, helping to administer the agency's website, and social media, and create video content.
This is a fundraising hiking trip with all net proceeds benefiting Keystone Trails Association. You are not required to be a KTA member to register
The trip organizer and guide is Julie Queen. Julie is the Appalachian Trail Museum Manager and this will be her fifth trip to Wales. She enjoys backpacking/hiking, kayaking, biking, snowboarding, xc skiing, and international and domestic travel. Julie is a Wilderness First Responder and Leave No Trace Master Educator. Julie will be assisted by Al Germann, Keystone Trails Association Regional Trail Care Coordinator: PA Wilds. Al was a part of the Harrisburg Young Adult Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps crew. Prior to joining KTA, Al held a role at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as Deputy Digital Director, helping to administer the agency's website, and social media, and create video content.
This is a fundraising hiking trip with all net proceeds benefiting Keystone Trails Association. You are not required to be a KTA member to register
How to Apply:
This trip is limited to 12 participants who will be preliminarily selected by a lottery. The trip is double occupancy only. To submit your name for the initial drawing, please complete the interest form below.
On March 5th, we will randomly select 12 forms from the interest submissions. Your roommate (if listed) is automatically included if you are selected. Selected single applicants without a roommate will be matched with another selected single applicant of the same gender, assuming one is available. If not, your spot will be forfeited, and another form drawn.
The people drawn will be asked to submit full applications and deposits (by check only) by April 1st. Those not selected will be notified that they have been added to a waiting list.
Failure to submit applications and/or deposits by the deadline, or a review of an application that finds that a person lacks hiking experience or may be a poor fit for the trip will forfeit that individual’s spot. Any deposit made will be refunded and a substitute name will be drawn from the waiting list.
This trip is limited to 12 participants who will be preliminarily selected by a lottery. The trip is double occupancy only. To submit your name for the initial drawing, please complete the interest form below.
On March 5th, we will randomly select 12 forms from the interest submissions. Your roommate (if listed) is automatically included if you are selected. Selected single applicants without a roommate will be matched with another selected single applicant of the same gender, assuming one is available. If not, your spot will be forfeited, and another form drawn.
The people drawn will be asked to submit full applications and deposits (by check only) by April 1st. Those not selected will be notified that they have been added to a waiting list.
Failure to submit applications and/or deposits by the deadline, or a review of an application that finds that a person lacks hiking experience or may be a poor fit for the trip will forfeit that individual’s spot. Any deposit made will be refunded and a substitute name will be drawn from the waiting list.
Cost: $4,495 per person double occupancy only.
Cost includes:
Cost includes:
- Round-trip airfare from Washington Dulles (IAD) to Manchester, UK on Aer Lingus with a brief layover each way in Dublin. Group seating is assigned by the airline. One checked bag per person is included.
- Accommodation for all ten nights in modern hotels/inns.
- Breakfast daily and lunches on hiking days.
- Guide services by KTA.
- All ground transportation while in the UK.
- Luggage transport while we’re hiking the Anglesey Coastal Path.
- One year membership in Keystone Trails Association.
- Travel insurance/trip cancellation insurance.
- Optional train ride to the top of Snowdon.
- Personal gear (gear list will be sent to you after you register).
- Meals not specified in the itinerary: lunch on non-hiking days and all dinner meals.
- Optional shuttle from Harrisburg to Washington Dulles at an additional cost.
- Parking at Washington Dulles (IAD) if group transportation is not used.
