North Wales’ best waterfalls to visit
Emma Marshall, author of a new guidebook,‘Wild Swimming Walks Eryri/Snowdonia’ has shared with us her three favourite waterfalls from the book.
‘Wild Swimming Walks Eryri/Snowdonia’ leads you on 28 walk-swimming adventures in the soaring landscapes of Eryri National Park. As well as many stunning mountain lakes and dreamy rivers, the book features 21 waterfalls. Here are Emma’s favourite three all in one place.
Rhaeadr Afon y Cwm
A woodland trail, at the Craflwyn Estate, near Beddgelert, ribbons through impressive tall pines to reach a secret path up to this beautiful waterfall and emerald-green pool. The fall tumbles down into its sizeable pool in two strands from a crown of rhododendron and mountain ash, making your heart sing and beckoning you to dive into her clear green waters.
The six-mile walk beyond takes in Dinas Emrys, a rocky fortress and legendary home of Wales’ red dragon. Then, over beautiful heathland to meet the Watkin Path and her famous waterfalls and plunge pools, before skirting the lovely, tree fringed Llyn Dinas near the end. This six-and-a-half-mile circular walk is a joy to waterfall lovers and one I can guarantee you’ll return to again and again.
Rhaeadr Ddu
At Ganllwyd, we walk upstream, alongside the cascading Afon Gamlan, through groves of ancient woodland, to reach the mighty Rhaeadr Ddu (Black Waterfall). This broad, multi-stranded waterfall sparkles under a canopy of oak. A careful scramble down over rock brings you to a magnificent, large plunge pool. The twisted branches of the ancient trees and their mantle of green are captivating as you float in the black velvety water.
Beyond the waterfall and the roar of the river, the walk leads across magical hillsides to the ruins of a long-closed gold mine and onto tranquil lanes, passing old stone barns and blossom-laden hawthorn, thrumming with bees. This delicious walk is an easy and pleasant almost four-mile circuit.
Pistyll Gwyn
The wild, rugged and rocky Rhinogydd mountains are perhaps Wales’ best-kept secret and a visit to the remote Pistyll Gwyn (White Spout/Waterfall) might be the highlight of your waterfall-chasing year. This postcard-pretty waterfall tumbles four meters into a divine pool beneath. You’ll be tempted to take a Timotei-inspired shower under the elegant single-strand fall.
The walk on which this delightful waterfall can be found is a challenging 10-mile circular, cupped deep within the wild beauty of these secluded mountains. The route takes in two captivating and peaceful lakes as well as the heather-clad sister peaks of Rhinog Fawr and Rhinog Fach.