Waterfall walks in Wales

Walks with a primary aim of visiting waterfalls. Mostly.

Looking for Waterfall walks in Wales? There are many to choose from, and I have many galleries here which double as partial route guides for the waterfalls I have visited. If you're just looking for somewhere to get started, I have prepared simplified route guides for the most popular waterfall walks in Waterfall Country (see the Four Waterfalls and Elidir Trail sections), part of the Fforest Fawr mountain range in the Brecon Beacons National Park, in South Wales - by far the most popular place for waterfall walks in Wales. For the others, pick an appropriate gallery or route guide, and get walking.

Specials

Ystradfellte

See the Four Waterfalls.

Pontneddfechan

See the Elidir Trail.

Four Waterfalls (including Sgwd Clun Gwyn, Sgwd Isaf Clun Gwyn, Sgwd y Pannwr, Sgwd yr Eira, Cilhepste Falls)

Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Elidir Trail (including Pump Pwll, Sgwd Gwladus/Lady Falls, Horseshoe Falls/Sgwd y Bedol, Sgwd Ddwli Isaf, Sgwd Ddwli)

Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Sychryd Gorge (including Sychryd Cascades/Sgydau Sychryd, Sychryd Waterfall, Pwll y Crochan)

Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Afon Mellte (including Sgwd Clun Gwyn, Sgwd Isaf Clun Gwyn, Sgwd y Pannwr, The Sheep Dip)

Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Afon Hepste (including Sgwd yr Eira, Cilhepste Falls, Ogof Tarddiant Hepste)

Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Nedd Fechan (including Horseshoe Falls, Sgwd Ddwli Isaf, Sgwd Ddwli, Cwm Pwll-y-Rhyd)

Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Afon Pyrddin (including Pump Pwll, Sgwd Gwladus, Sgwd Einion Gam)

Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Afon Llia

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Afon Dringarth (including V Falls)

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Nant Llech (including Sgwd Henrhyd, Needle Falls)

Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

South Black Mountain (including Sgwd Ddu, Joe's Waterfall, Nant Tawe Fechan Falls, Afon Twrch)

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Glynhir (including Glynhir Waterfall, The Cascade)

South Wales.

Nant Crew

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Nant Ddu

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Glyn Tarell and Blaen Taf Fawr

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Cwm Llwch (including Ffrwd-grech Waterfall)

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Taf Fechan (including the Pontsarn Blue Pool)

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Blaen-y-Glyn (including Caerfanell Falls, Nant Bwrefwr, Torpantau Falls)

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Dyffryn Crawnon (including Pistyll Crawnon, Pyrgad Falls)

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Usk River (including Mill Falls, Spuhler's Folly)

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Clydach Gorge (including Devil's Waterfall, Clydach Lower Waterfall, Pwll Rhys, Coal Tar Cave Resurgence Waterfall, Cwm Nantmelyn Waterfall, Ogof Clogwyn, Waterfall Cave Resurgence Waterfall, Button's Waterfall, Cwm Dyar Waterfalls, The Polo Mint)

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Llangatwg Escarpment (including Eglwys Faen Waterfall Entrance)

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Pwll-y-Wrach (including Pwll-y-Wrach, Pwll-y-Wrach Lower Waterfall, Cwm Trappi Waterfalls)

Brecon Beacons National Park, Mid Wales.

North Hirwaun (including Llech Sychryd)

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Cynon Valley and Ynysybwl (including Berw Ddu, Pwll-y-Gerwyn/Gadlys Falls, Pistyll Goleu)

South Wales Valleys.

Blaenrhondda (including Rhondda Fawr Waterfall, Nant Melyn Waterfall, Nant Carnfoesen Waterfall)

South Wales Valleys.

Blaencwm (including Pen Pych waterfall/Berw Wion, Berw Nant yr Ychen/Angel Falls, Nant y Gwair Falls)

South Wales Valleys.

Glyncorrwg (including Twyn y Crug Waterfall, Corrwg Fechan Falls, Corrwg Falls, Nant Meliorath Falls, Nant Cwm-cas Falls, Nant yr Allor Waterfall)

South Wales Valleys.

Melincourt Falls/Sgwd Rhyd-yr-Hesg

Waterfall Country, South Wales Valleys.

Aberdulais Falls

Waterfall Country, South Wales Valleys.

Neath (including Clydach Falls/Sgwd Clydach)

South Wales Valleys.

Lower Wye Valley (including Cleddon Falls)

Wye Valley AONB, South Wales.

Pembrokeshire Coast (including Dwfr Ddisgynfa Cwm-du)

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, West Wales.

Cardigan (including Tresaith Waterfall, Penbryn Waterfall, Y Gerwn, Cenarth Falls)

West Wales.

Llandovery (including Cwm Rhaeadr Waterfall, Rhaeadr Rhosan, Merchon Falls, Pwll Uffern-Gothi, Pwll-Uffern, Sgwd Wen, Pwll y March, Sgwd y Ffrwd, Nant Ystalwyn Waterfall)

Mid Wales.

Mynydd Epynt (including Ffrwd Wen)

Mid Wales.

Builth Wells (including Salmon Pool, Craig Pwll-du, Llanedw Falls)

Mid Wales.

Radnor Forest (including Water Break-its-neck - Black Brook, Water-break-its-neck - Llugwy, Washpool Falls)

Mid Wales.

Rhayader (including Rhaeadr Gwy, Nant Gwynllyn Falls, Nant y Sarn Falls)

Mid Wales.

Elan Valley (including Ciloerwynt Falls, Ciloerwynt Lower Falls)

Mid Wales.

Ystwyth (including Rhaeadr Peiran, Cavern Cascade, Mossy Seat Falls, Ffrwd Milwyn, Nant y Gwaith Falls, Nant Cwm-du Falls, Nant y Cae Falls, Bryn Mor, Ffrwd yr Ydfran)

Mid Wales.

Mynach (including Mynach Falls, Devil's Punchbowl, Gyfarllwyd Falls, Rheidol Falls, Nant Bwa-drain, Rhaeadr Myherin, Nant Chwarelmelyn, Rhuddnant Gorge Falls)

Mid Wales.

Hafren Forest (including Rhaeadr Blaenhafren, Severn Break-its-neck/Hafren-Torri-Gwddf)

Mid Wales.

Afon Tarennig

Mid Wales.

West Pumlumon (including Craig y Pistyll, Furnace Falls)

Mid Wales.

North Pumlumon (including Pistyll y Llyn, Dulas Gorge Falls, Rhaeadr Ddu, Rhaeadr Wen, Ffrwd Fawr)

Mid Wales.

Northern Berwyn (including Rhaeadr Cynwyd, Afon Ceiriog)

North Wales.

Pistyll Rhaeadr

North Wales.

Southwest Berwyn (including Pistyll Blaen-y-cwm, Pistyll Cablyd, Pistyll y Gyfyng, Pistyll Rhyd-y-meinciau/Rhiwargor Falls, Pistyll Eunant/Eunant Waterfalls, Pistyll y Graig-ddu)

North Wales.

Dinas Mawddwy (including Maesglase Waterfall, Rhaeadr y Carreg Wen, Llaethnant, Pistyll Gwyn - Afon Pumryd, Nant y Cafn Falls)

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

Cadair Idris (including Dolgoch Falls, Amarch Fall, Torrent Walk, Arthog Waterfalls)

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

West Bala (including Pistyll Henfynachlog, Rhaeadr Llechweddfwyalchen, Pistyll Gwyn - Nant-hir)

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

Coed-y-Brenin (including Pistyll Cain, Rhaeadr Mawddach, Rhaeadr Du - Afon Gamlan, Pistyll Dû, Pistyll Gwyn - Nant Llyn-du)

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

Nantcol Waterfalls (including Rhaeadr Nantcol)

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

Vale of Ffestiniog (including Rhaeadr Cynfal, Rhaeadr y Cwm, Rhaeadr Cymerau, Afon Du-bach, Rhaeadr Du - Afon Prysor)

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

Beddgelert (including Afon Croesor Waterfalls, Afon Cwm Llan Waterfalls)

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

Fairy Glen (including Conwy Falls/Rhaeadr y Graig Lwyd, Machno Falls, Pandy Falls, Pistyll y Pandy)

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

Lower Conwy Valley (including Grey Mare's Tail/Rhaeadr y Parc Mawr, Fairy Falls/Rhaeadr y Tylwyth Teg, Afon Dulyn Waterfall)

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

Afon Llugwy (including Cyfyng Falls, Swallow Falls/Rhaeadr Ewynnol, Pont-y-Pair Falls)

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

Llanberis (including Ceunant Mawr/Llanberis Falls, Pistyll Gwyn - Afon Las, Diffwys Dwr/Craig y Rhaeadr)

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

Afon Ogwen (including Rhaeadr Ogwen, Devil's Kitchen, Devil's Appendix)

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

Aber Falls (including Rhaeadr Fawr, Rhaeadr Fach/Rhaeadr-bach)

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

Llŷn Peninsula (including Pistyll y Gaseg, Pistyll Cim)

North Wales.

Afon Aled (including Rhaeadr y Bedd)

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

Rhaeadr Dyserth

North Wales.

To Do

Various places are still on the list to visit, including:

It may take me some time to collect that on here, but rest assured that I am working on it.

Waterfalls that are not included or missing

This page is intended to cover natural waterfalls, not weirs. As a result, sites like the Big Wood Weir in Plas Power Woods, the Horseshoe Falls on the River Dee, and Y Rhaeadr Dirgel/The Secret Waterfall on the Afon Barlwyd are intentionally ignored.

It is also intended to cover actual waterfalls, not rapids or waves in a river. As a result, sites that are relevant only to canoeists are intentionally ignored.

It is also intended to cover only places where significant amounts of water can be seen to fall, or smaller amounts manage to fall continuously for very long distances. As a result, many ice climbing routes are ignored, as are small streams that tumble down scarps for long distances without breaking into proper waterfalls (such as those in Cwm Idwal).

It is also intended to cover only surface waterfalls, or waterfalls that are on the surface for part of their descent. There are many hundreds of spectacular named underground waterfalls, ranging to at least 30 metres high for single drops (big examples include Swamp Creek in Ogof Ffynnon Ddu and Awe Chasm in Ogof Draenen), and at least 75 metres for multiple drops (such as Pwll Dwfn). These are all intentionally excluded from these listings.

Waterfalls are like fractals; the more detail you look in, the more little waterfalls you will see. Virtually every single mountain stream will have some little waterfalls. The idea of this page is to collect the waterfalls that are really worthy of notice. The general approach used for determining this was:

There are, of course, limitless possibilities, and several areas with many waterfalls have not been covered due to the constraints given above. Examples would include the streams draining the northern scarps of the Brecon Beacons.

Finally, yes, I may have missed important waterfalls that fall into these categories. If you know of one, please contact me using the details on the homepage.

Glossary

The following Welsh words are commonly used when naming waterfalls - they can also follow normal Welsh mutations:

Afon (plural; afonydd)
River.
Berw
Boiling.
Ddu, Du
Black.
Ffrwd (plural; ffrydiau)
Torrent.
Gwyn, Wyn, Gwen, Wen
White.
Nant (plural; nentydd)
Stream.
Pistyll (plural; pistylloedd)
Spout waterfall, horsetail waterfall or (rare) spring.
Pwll (plural; pyllau)
Pool.
Rhaeadr (plural; rhaeadrau)
Waterfall or cascade. Sometimes written as "rayadr", "rhayadr", "rhaiadr" or "rhayader", but all of these are now considered incorrect.
Sgwd (plural; sgydiau)
Waterfall or cascade. Sometimes written as "sgŵd" or incorrectly as "scwd" or "scŵd".