Including Rhaeadr Du - Afon Gamlan.
From Cardiff, take the A470 past Dolgellau to Ganllwyd. After crossing the bridge, park in the dedicated parking area on the right, opposite a black church hall. SH 7268 2436.
While you're here, you may as well visit the Public Toilet Falls - a rapid in the river. The second part of the parking area (past the toilet block) has a path at the back heading down to the river. Bear left at the river to reach a footbridge. The Public Toilet Falls can be seen upstream from the footbridge. Prepare to be disappointed.
Now for the proper walk. Walk out to the road. Turn left to reach the black church hall (now the village hall). Turn right and follow the lane leading up the left side of the church hall. When it forks, keep left, until a path leads over to the river on the left. Take the path. A few cascades can be seen in the river, before a footbridge crosses it. Cross the bridge and continue upstream on the other bank, past the main Rhaeadr Du waterfalls, the bottom of which is a 4 metre drop into a large plunge pool. A short way upstream, a path leads off on the left, but you can continue for another 100 metres past more cascades before the path ahead dies. There are other routes through the forest, such as the previous path on the left. However, I have not followed these, and cannot give suggestions.
Experienced river walkers may choose to continue up the river for 1 km, fording it or scrambling as needed to get past the numerous little cascades, to reach a track at a bridge. Turn right on the track and follow it for about 600 metres, keeping right at each junction. Then go through a gate on the right into a walled path (the first proper path on the right), which leads back down to the road. Turn right to get back to the church hall, and the start of the walk.
| Waterfall | Grid reference | GPS coordinates | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhaeadr Du/Black Waterfalls | SH 72229 24430 | 52.802247°N, 3.896724°W | |
Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this description, neither the author nor his fellow walkers can accept responsibility for loss or injury arising from any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in this description. This description is intended as a guide only, and you should select a route to suit your own abilities, at your own discretion. Ability requirements are a guide only. Route maps are approximated. You follow this description at your own risk.