Snowdonia Waterfalls: Which Are Worth the Walk and Which Are a Short Stroll?

Aber Falls is “particularly impressive during winter”, according to Natural Resources Wales, the public body that looks after the nature reserve there.

The Talyllyn Railway, whose Dolgoch station serves Dolgoch Falls, says those falls are “even more stunning” when the weather is wet.

Aber Falls (graded easy) and Rhaeadr Mawddach (graded moderate) are the short walks, each about 1½ hours.

The Swallow Falls trail from Ty’n Llwyn covers a similar distance but is graded strenuous. Rhaeadr Ddu is a four-mile walk.

The falls by walk length

Two of the falls put a turnstile between you and the water: Swallow Falls on the council side, and Conwy Falls.

Aber Falls charges for parking in its two small car parks. Dolgoch asks for donations rather than a fee.

Aber Falls

Aber Falls is Rhaeadr Fawr in Welsh, “big waterfall”, and it comes down from the Carneddau mountains into a deep basin in the river valley.

The waymarked trail starts from the lower car park.

The climb is 100 metres, gradual and continuous, on a compacted stone path 1.5 metres wide with some loose gravel.

You return the same way, and there are benches along it. Natural Resources Wales says the easy-graded trail may be accessible to some wheelchairs and pushchairs.

The Aber Falls walk also appears among the beginner-friendly walks in Snowdonia.

The two small car parks, either side of a stone bridge at the start, charge for parking, though blue badge holders park free. They fill quickly on busy days, especially weekends and school holidays.

A free car park lies on the outskirts of the village. From there, follow the brown and white “Rhaeadr/Falls” signs for about one mile, and watch for traffic because there is no pavement in places.

Swallow Falls from either bank

Swallow Falls can be reached two ways: through a turnstile, or on a free-to-park woodland trail from the far bank.

Betws-y-Coed Community Council, which lists the falls among its amenities, places them about 2 miles west of the village.

They are open all year, 24 hours, with admission by turnstile. The Snowdon Sherpa S1 and T10 bus services serve the site.

Wheelchairs and pushchairs can use that side only between April and the end of October, from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm.

Natural Resources Wales runs the other side from the Ty’n Llwyn car park, 3½ miles west of Betws-y-Coed. The circular trail goes through woodland to a viewpoint over the waterfall.

It is graded strenuous: 2.2 miles (3.6 km) in 1½ to 2½ hours.

Expect steep rough paths, some under 70 cm wide, with mud, rocks, tree roots and several flights of steps. Parking is free, and there is a bench at the waterfall.

Woodland walks to Rhaeadr Mawddach and Rhaeadr Ddu

The Rhaeadr Mawddach and Pistyll Gain trail starts at Tyddyn Gwladys car park, 7 miles north of Dolgellau. It is a circuit of 2.2 miles (3.6 km) in about 1½ hours, climbing 109 metres.

The circuit passes the Gwynfynydd goldmine, which closed in 1999.

There are no steps or stiles, and the trail is suitable for pushchairs and mobility scooters.

It is nearly all forest road. One section of very rough private track comes before the falls, and one steep but short climb of 1 in 5 comes after them.

Parking is free, and picnic tables stand under large trees beside the Mawddach river, next to the car park.

Rhaeadr Ddu, the Black Falls, is two separate waterfalls, “both spectacular in all seasons”, according to the National Trust, which publishes a walk past them on its Dolmelynllyn estate. The walk starts at Ganllwyd car park.

The full trail is 4 miles (6.4 km) and takes about 4 hours, graded moderate. The paths run over woodland, grass and some tarmac, and they can be muddy and steep in places.

Expect kissing gates, a ladder and step-over stiles. Dogs are welcome, under close control in woodland and on leads on farmland.

Conwy Falls and the walk on to Fairy Glen

Conwy Falls Forest Park and Cafe says the falls run through the deep gorge of the River Conwy. The ancient native woodland is laced with paths and viewpoints.

The meadow is free. For the woodland and gorge walk, you pay at a turnstile by the wooden kiosk.

The paths are natural tracks with exposed rocks, tree roots and some steep sections, and the walk is not suitable for buggies. Well-behaved dogs are welcome.

Parking is free, the public toilets are open, and the kitchen is open until 4pm in the busy season.

From the corner of the car park, a pathway leads to the Fairy Glen walk. It takes about 40 minutes along a natural public footpath beside the River Conwy.

Watkin Path falls and Dolgoch Falls

The Eryri National Park Authority, which runs the national park, describes a “Llwybr Watkin Path” sign and stone steps leading into the woods.

The sign stands beside Hafod y Llan, the National Trust farm. Walkers then pass “beautiful gushing waterfalls”.

These falls lie on the first stretch of the Watkin Path up Snowdon, which is a full ascent. The whole path is 8 miles (13 km), about 6 hours there and back, graded hard and strenuous.

According to the National Trust, the start is the national park car park at Bethania, where toilets are available. It lists Caffi Gwynant near the base of the path.

Dolgoch Falls are three sets of waterfalls in a wooded ravine. Many Talyllyn Railway passengers get off at Dolgoch station and rejoin the train later in the day, train service permitting.

The estate was presented to the people of Tywyn, and access is free, with donation boxes. Walks around the falls include a circular tour of all three levels.

Everything above the lower falls is steep, with a lot of steps.

Wet rock and the edge above a drop

Natural Resources Wales warns that there are unprotected drops at the waterfalls on its Aber Falls page.

Its Rhaeadr Mawddach page repeats the warning for the river gorges and asks walkers to stay on the waymarked trails.

Its general safety advice says to avoid cliff edges or walking on terrain where you feel unsure. The same advice says to stay out of the water if in doubt.

At Conwy Falls, access into the water is not permitted, and the site asks visitors not to swim or kayak.

AdventureSmart UK is a safety campaign whose pages cover hill walking, boating and other outdoor activities. Its forecast guidance lists slippery rocks and waterlogged paths among the effects of rain.

It adds that walking boots would assist in maintaining good grip.

On a wet day, keep to the path, stay away from cliff edges and stay out of the water. Rain makes the falls bigger, and it makes the rock around them slippery.

We compile and explain public route and safety information. We guide nobody and sell nothing on the hill.

Which waterfall for which day

With a pushchair, Rhaeadr Mawddach; with 1½ hours, Aber Falls; with up to 2½ hours, the Swallow Falls trail; with four hours, Rhaeadr Ddu.