HikeMetrics
Global Hiking Index
HikeMetrics
Global Hiking Index
HikeMetrics // Comparison Engine
Route A

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path

united-kingdom/Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales
VS
Route B

Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern

austria/Gastein Valley, Salzburg

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path vs Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern: Intensity Score Comparison

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is unequivocally more demanding overall (+48 points). While Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern is a serious endeavor, The Pembrokeshire Coast Path pushes the limits further, particularly regarding sustained physical exertion.

Model-based (not a field report) · Evaluates overall route demand, not danger.

Intensity Difference
+48 The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is harder
Higher Physical Load
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Higher Technical Seriousness
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Greater Commitment
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Overall HikeMetrics Score
The Pembrokeshire Coast Pathwins 6 of 10 metrics
6
Route A
4
Route B
united-kingdom/Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path

EXPERT // HAZARD
Full Route Report

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a spectacular 186-mile (299km) National Trail that twists and turns entirely within Britain's only predominantly coastal National Park. Starting at Amroth in the south and finishing on the banks of the River Teifi at St Dogmaels in the north, the path explores every cove, jagged headland, and sweeping golden beach of the Welsh peninsula. While it never reaches mountain altitudes, the constant, strenuous undulations along the cliff edges mean walkers effectively climb the equivalent height of Mount Everest over the course of the journey. It is a stunning, windswept masterclass in marine biology, geology, and physical endurance.

austria/Gastein Valley, Salzburg

Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern

LOW // ACCESS
Full Route Report

Deep within the Hohe Tauern National Park, the Prossautal is a valley that branches off the Kötschachtal near Bad Gastein. This long but mostly flat trail follows the Kötschach Ache river into a classic glacial box valley. The rock walls on either side rise significantly, with multiple thin waterfalls cascading down the granite faces. The trail ends at the Alpengasthof Prossau, a traditional alpine inn positioned near the base of the Tischler glacier.

Head-to-Head Metric Analysis

Intensity ScoreHigher Overall Demand
74 WINNER
26
Physical LoadMore Physically Taxing
73 WINNER
32
Technical SeriousnessMore Technically Demanding
81 WINNER
23
DistanceLonger route
299 km WINNER
14 km
Elevation GainMore vertical
11,000 m WINNER
230 m
Highest PointHigher summit
175 m
WINNER1,278 m
DurationShorter commitment
14 days
WINNER1 days
Hazard LevelMore accessible
EXPERT // HAZARD
WINNERLOW // ACCESS
Crowd LevelLess crowded
4 / 5
WINNER2 / 5
RemotenessMore remote
3 / 5 WINNER
2 / 5

HikeMetrics Hazard Scale — Explanation

1
LOW // ACCESS
2
STANDARD // RT
3
MODERATE // CHLG
4
EXPERT // HAZARD
5
EXTREME // LETHAL

The HikeMetrics Hazard Scale is a proprietary 5-point classification system that evaluates hiking routes across five dimensions: physical demand, technical complexity, altitude exposure, weather risk, and rescue accessibility.

Unlike generic star ratings, the Hazard Scale is calibrated against altitude profiles, elevation gain per day, and logistical isolation factors — making it the most precise route classification system available.

Full Scale Documentation
Route A // Hazard Verdict
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path
EXPERT // HAZARD
gale force exposure: The peninsula juts out into the Atlantic and Irish Sea. In severe weather, the unshielded clifftop paths are battered by demanding winds capable of blowing a person over.
extreme knee strain: The thousands of irregular, often muddy or rocky steps required to navigate the coastal 'cwms' (valleys) destroy knee cartilage.
Route B // Hazard Verdict
Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern
LOW // ACCESS
length exhaustion: The 14km round trip is longer than it appears on a map, especially for families with small children.

Required Gear Comparison

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Lightweight, highly breathable waterproof jacket and trousersTrail shoes or boots with excellent grip for wet rock and mudTrekking poles (essential for the 11,000m total descent)OS Explorer map OL35 (North) and OL36 (South)Sunscreen and a wind-proof hat
Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern
Light hiking shoesSun protectionWater bottleCameraLight fleece (the valley is shaded and cool)

Compare with Other Routes

argentina
Mount Fitz Roy (Cerro Fitz Roy)
EXPERT // HAZARD
argentina
Perito Moreno Glacier Trail
EXPERT // HAZARD
austria
Highway Lakes — Blindsee & Weißensee
LOW // ACCESS
austria
Graukogel — Pine Forests & strenuous Ridges
EXPERT // HAZARD
austria
Hochkeil — The Hidden Panorama
LOW // ACCESS
austria
Liechtensteinklamm — The Helix Chasm
LOW // ACCESS