the best waterfalls in North Wales
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North Wales is known for plenty of things, the history and castles, impressive landscapes and amazing walking trails.
But did you know there are also plenty of waterfalls dotted around North Wales that are worth exploring? These natural beauty spots are across the North Wales countryside and can offer everything from a family day out, a challenging hike or just an easily accessible beauty spot to enjoy when you’re in the area. We’ve done all the research for you and put together a list of six of the best waterfalls in North Wales.
Aber Falls
Abergwyngregyn, Llanfairfechan, LL33 0LP
Located just a short walk from the village of Abergwyngregyn in North Wales, Aber Falls is an impressive 120-foot waterfall in the Carneddau range. If you park at either of the car parks at the top of the village the walk is around 4.5km there and back and will take no longer than an hour to an hour and a half. It’s a popular walk for groups of all ages and abilities as overall it is a relatively flat walk with beautiful scenery the whole way along. Once you get to the waterfall there are plenty of places where you can sit and enjoy the views and if you carry on walking you will reach another smaller but still impressive waterfall.
Watkins Waterfalls
Plas Gwynant, Caernarfon LL55 4NH
You can find the Watkins Waterfalls along the Watkins Path which is one of the many routes you can take to climb up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). There is a car park directly opposite where the path starts and takes you through some woodland before it opens onto the mountain. The walk to get to the waterfalls isn’t too strenuous and takes around 30-40 minutes to reach from the start. There are plenty of incredible waterfalls, plunge pools for wild swimming and even a makeshift bridge using a stone slab that you can use to cross the river. And of course, if you wish you can continue along the path and climb to the summit of Yr Wyddfa.
Swallow Falls
Betws-y-Coed, Conwy, LL24 0DW
If you are planning a trip to the picturesque village of Betws-y-Coed during your time in North Wales then we would recommend incorporating a visit to Swallow Falls. It is located just 2 miles out of the centre and if you didn’t know it was there you would probably drive past it. You can park in the layby right near the entrance and then pay £2 fee to go through the turnstiles. From there the waterfall can be seen across various viewpoints, one includes steps leading down to a platform but you can get great views of the waterfall across all the viewpoints and platforms.
Conwy Falls
A5, Betws-y-Coed, LL24 0PN
Conwy Falls, also known as Rhaeadr Y Graig Lwyd is located amongst 9.5 acres of woodland. You can park at the Conwy Falls Café and enjoy around a mile walk to the impressive waterfall which will take no longer than 25 minutes. From there you can either head back the same way or continue walking through the woodland along the river for around half an hour and you will end up at Fairy Glen which is a famous beauty spot consisting of a tree-lined ravine, a winding creek and ancient tales.
Ogwen Falls
Bethesda, LL57 3LZ
Ogwen Falls is located in the valley of Ogwen in Snowdonia National Park. It is an incredible place to visit and the impressive waterfalls can be seen whilst making your way around the valley. There are various viewpoints you can enjoy the waterfall at, some by a wooden bridge and others give you the option to climb down closer to the waterfall. No matter where you find yourself near Ogwen Falls you will be able to enjoy the surrounding scenery and the impressive sight of the falls.
Rhiwargor Waterfall
Bala, SY10 0NE
Located on the northern end of Lake Vyrnwy in Bala, Rhiwargor Waterfall is a huge waterfall that stands over 300 feet high and is one of the highest waterfalls in Wales. Parking in the car park that is just a mile from the B4393 the walk to the waterfall takes no longer than 20-30 minutes and offers plenty of areas to sit and enjoy the view. Here is where you will find the base of the waterfall but if you cross the stepping stones along the stream you can continue your climb up to various levels of the falls.