With a pushchair, Rhaeadr Mawddach; with 1½ hours, Aber Falls; with up to 2½ hours, the Swallow Falls trail; with four hours, Rhaeadr Ddu.
Natural Resources Wales calls Aber Falls “particularly impressive during winter”. The Talyllyn Railway says Dolgoch Falls are “even more stunning” when the weather is wet.
The four walks compared
Aber Falls and Rhaeadr Mawddach are the short walks, each about 1½ hours.
| Fall | Walk | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Aber Falls | 2.3 miles (3.7 km), 1½ hours | Easy |
| Rhaeadr Mawddach | 2.2 miles (3.6 km), 1½ hours | Moderate |
| Swallow Falls, Ty’n Llwyn | 2.2 miles (3.6 km), 1½ to 2½ hours | Strenuous |
| Rhaeadr Ddu | 4 miles (6.4 km), 4 hours | Moderate |
Aber Falls charges for parking. Parking is free at Rhaeadr Mawddach and at Ty’n Llwyn for Swallow Falls. Dolgoch is free to enter, with donation boxes.
Aber Falls
The climb is 100 metres, gradual and continuous.
Aber Falls is Rhaeadr Fawr in Welsh, “big waterfall”. 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 path is compacted stone, 1.5 metres wide, with some loose gravel. You return the same way, and there are benches along it.
The easy graded trail may be accessible to some wheelchairs and pushchairs. The 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. 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. There is no pavement in places, so watch for traffic.
Swallow Falls from either bank
You reach Swallow Falls through a turnstile, or on a free-to-park woodland trail from the far bank.
The falls are 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.
The other side starts 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. 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.
Rhaeadr Mawddach and Rhaeadr Ddu
The Rhaeadr Mawddach and Pistyll Gain trail is nearly all forest road.
It starts at Tyddyn Gwladys car park, 7 miles north of Dolgellau, and climbs 109 metres. One section of very rough private track comes before the falls, and one steep but short climb of 1 in 5 comes after them.
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.
Parking is free. 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. Its walk past them, on its Dolmelynllyn estate, starts at Ganllwyd car park.
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 puts a turnstile between you and the gorge, though the meadow is free.
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. You pay at a turnstile by the wooden kiosk for the woodland and gorge walk.
The paths are natural tracks with exposed rocks, tree roots and some steep sections. 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 Watkin Path falls lie on the first stretch of a full ascent of Snowdon.
The Eryri National Park Authority describes a “Llwybr Watkin Path” sign and stone steps leading into the woods, beside Hafod y Llan, the National Trust farm. Walkers then pass “beautiful gushing waterfalls”.
The Watkin Path up Snowdon is 8 miles (13 km), about 6 hours there and back, graded hard and strenuous.
The start is the national park car park at Bethania, where toilets are available. Caffi Gwynant is 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
On a wet day, keep to the path, stay away from cliff edges and stay out of the water.
Natural Resources Wales warns of unprotected drops at the waterfalls at Aber Falls and in the river gorges at Rhaeadr Mawddach. It asks walkers to stay on the waymarked trails.
In general, avoid cliff edges or walking on terrain where you feel unsure, and 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.
Rain makes the falls bigger, and it makes the rock around them slippery. Rain brings slippery rocks and waterlogged paths. Walking boots help to maintain good grip.
We compile and explain public route and safety information. We guide nobody and sell nothing on the hill.
