Waterfall walks in Wales

Walks with a primary aim of visiting waterfalls. Mostly.

Looking for waterfall walks in Wales? There are 144 route guides to choose from below, and there are also galleries covering each of the waterfalls I have visited. If you're just looking for somewhere to get started, I would suggest the Four Waterfalls and Elidir Trail walks in Waterfall Country, 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 a route guide or gallery, and get walking.

Specials

KML files can be opened in Google Earth, Google Maps, GPX Viewer, and some other mapping services.

Ability requirements

Each route guide may be graded either completely or in parts, using the following grading system:

None
May be visited without needing any countryside walking ability at all, such as where waterfalls are clearly visible from a road, or have a specially prepared all-access trail.
Beginner
Route follows established paths (or roads), without any major hazards. Suitable for most beginners, but may not be suitable for mobility impaired visitors. Some level of countryside walking ability is required.
Moderate
Route follows established paths or walking routes that need additional ability, or may present some hazards, such as a path that ascends a small rock outcrop, passes over exposed drops, or fords a large stream.
Experienced
Route may follow paths that have become badly overgrown, or not follow paths at all. River crossings may be required. Hazards may be significant.
Expert
Route presents extreme hazards, such as scrambles over unprotected drops, very tricky ascents/descents, or falling debris. Mistakes could easily have severe consequences.
Not graded
Route has not been graded.
Map reading
Map reading skills and an appropriate map are required (may be used in combination with any of the other grades).

Rivers and streams will always present some natural hazards (pools, small drops, etc.), and children should always be supervised. Icy conditions will always increase the severity of any hazard, and can turn even a beginner walk into an expert walk. Grades do not cover routes behind waterfalls unless specifically mentioned in the route guides. These grades are intended as a guide only, and you should always use your own discretion.

Ystradfellte

See the Four Waterfalls.

Pontneddfechan

See the Elidir Trail, Four Waterfalls or Sychryd Gorge.

Four Waterfalls - Afon Mellte and Afon Hepste

Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner Moderate Experienced

Elidir Trail - Nedd Fechan and Afon Pyrddin

Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner Experienced

Sychryd Gorge

Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideNone Beginner Moderate Experienced

North Ystradfellte

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Afon Llia and Dog PoolExperienced
Route guide for Afon Dringarth and V FallsExperienced

Nant Llech

Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner Moderate Experienced

South Black Mountain

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Llynfell Falls, Pwll-yr-Wydden and Sgwd DduBeginner Experienced
Route guide for Nant y Llyn, Nant Tawe Fechan Falls and Joe's WaterfallExperienced
Route guide for Afon TwrchExperienced

Glynhir

South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner Experienced

Nant-ddu

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Garwnant WaterfallNone Beginner
Route guide for Nant Crew and Nant DduExperienced

Glyn Tarell

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideNone Moderate Experienced

Cwm Llwch

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner Moderate Experienced

Taf Fechan and Merthyr Tydfil

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Pontsarn Blue Pool/Pwll GlasBeginner
Route guide for Pwll Annie and Cyfarthfa Pwll GlasBeginner Experienced Expert

Blaen-y-Glyn

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner Moderate Experienced

Dyffryn Crawnon

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideExperienced Expert

Usk River

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner

Clydach Gorge

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for main waterfalls; Pwll Crochan/Clydach Lower Waterfall, Waterfall Cave Resurgence Waterfall, Ogof Clogwyn, Pistyll Mawr/Coal Tar Cave Resurgence Waterfall, Cwm Nantmelyn Waterfall, Devil's Waterfall/Pwll Cwn and Pwll RhysModerate Experienced
Route guide for smaller waterfalls; The Polo Mint, Cwm Dyar Waterfalls, Button's Waterfall and Clydach Tributary WaterfallsExpert

Llangatwg Escarpment

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideModerate

Black Mountains

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner Experienced

Pwll-y-Wrach

Brecon Beacons National Park, Mid Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner Experienced

North Hirwaun

Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideExperienced Expert

Cynon Valley and Ynysybwl

South Wales Valleys.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Pwll-y-Gerwyn/Gadlys Falls and Berw DduBeginner
Route guide for Pistyll GoleuBeginner

Blaenrhondda

South Wales Valleys.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideExperienced
Route guide (combined with Blaencwm)Beginner Experienced Expert

Blaencwm

South Wales Valleys.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide (combined with Blaenrhondda)Beginner Experienced Expert

Lower Rhondda

South Wales Valleys.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideNone

Ogmore Valley

South Wales Valleys.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideNone Moderate

Glyncorrwg

South Wales Valleys.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideExperienced Expert

Glyn-neath

South Wales Valleys.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Cwm Gwrelych WaterfallsBeginner
Route guide for Blaenant y GwyddylExperienced
Route guide for Sgwd yr ArgoedExpert

Melincourt

Waterfall Country, South Wales Valleys.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner Experienced

Aberdulais

Waterfall Country, South Wales Valleys.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideNone

Neath

South Wales Valleys.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner

Lower Tawe

South Wales Valleys.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner Expert

Lower Wye Valley

Wye Valley AONB, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner

Vale of Glamorgan

Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideExperienced

Pembrokeshire Coast

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, West Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Dwfr Ddisgynfa Cwm-duExpert
Route guide for Pen Pistyll/Pistyll BrynachModerate
Route guide for Aber Fforest WaterfallBeginner Experienced
Route guide for Syfynwy FallsBeginner

Cardigan

West Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Y Gerwn, Penbryn Waterfall, Tresaith Waterfall/Gwalia Falls and Glangraig WaterfallModerate Experienced
Route guide for Cenarth Falls and Ffynone WaterfallNone Beginner

Llandovery

Mid Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Cwm Rhaeadr Waterfall, Rhaeadr Rhosan and Merchon FallsBeginner Experienced Expert
Route guide for Pwll UffernExperienced Expert
Route guide for Pwll Uffern-GothiExpert
Route guide for Nant Ystalwyn WaterfallBeginner Experienced
Route guide for Sgwd WenExperienced
Route guide for Pwll y March and Sgwd y FfrwdModerate Experienced

Mynydd Epynt

Mid Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideNone

Builth Wells

Mid Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Salmon Pool and Craig Pwll-duExpert
Route guide for Llanedw FallsBeginner

Radnor Forest

Mid Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Water Break-its-neck/Dŵr-Torri-Gwddf - Black BrookBeginner Moderate
Route guide for Washpool Falls and Water-break-its-neck - LlugwyExperienced

Rhayader

Mid Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Rhaeadr Gwy and Nant Gwynllyn FallsNone Beginner Experienced
Route guide for Nant y Sarn FallsNone Moderate Experienced
Route guide for Ffrwd Fawr - Nant FeinionExpert

Elan Valley

Mid Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Cwm Coel/Janet's FallsModerate Experienced
Route guide for Ciloerwynt Lower Falls and Ciloerwynt FallsNone Experienced

Western Elan Plateau

Mid Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideNone Experienced

Ystwyth

Mid Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Ffrwd yr Ydfran, Nant y Cae Falls, Nant Cwm-du Falls and Nant y Gwaith FallsNone
Route guide for Ffrwd Milwyn and Bryn MorExperienced
Route guide for Rhaeadr Peiran/Peiran Falls, Cavern Cascade/Robber's Cave/Lefel Lampwll/Rhaeadr y Ceunant and Mossy Seat Falls/Rhaeadr 'Mossy Seat'Moderate
Route guide for Nant y Berws Falls and Grogwynion FallsModerate Experienced
Route guide for Pwll Caradog/Caradog FallsExperienced

Mynach

Mid Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Rhuddnant Gorge FallsExpert
Route guide for Ffrwd Ferin/Rhaeadr Myherin and Nant ChwarelmelynExperienced Expert
Route guide for Devil's Punchbowl/Crochan y Diafol, Mynach Falls/Rhaeadr Mynach, Gyfarllwyd Falls and Afon TuenBeginner Experienced
Route guide for Nant Bwa-drain and Rheidol Falls/Ffrwd-dduModerate Expert

Hafren Forest

Mid Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Rhaeadr Blaenhafren/Blaenhafren Falls, Afon Hore Waterfall, Severn Cascades and Severn Break-its-neck/Hafren-Torri-GwddfNone Beginner Expert
Route guide for Craig y Ffrwd and Craig y LloExperienced

South Pumlumon

Mid Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner Experienced

West Pumlumon

Mid Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Craig y PistyllExperienced
Route guide for Furnace FallsNone Beginner

North Pumlumon

Mid Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Pistyll y Llyn/Cwm Rhaiadr Falls and Pistyll HengwmExperienced
Route guide for Dulas Gorge Falls, Rhaeadr Wen and Rhaeadr DduExpert
Route guide for Cwm Dwfn FallsExperienced
Route guide for Ffrwd Fawr - Afon Twymyn and Nant Ddeiliog FallsBeginner Experienced
Route guide for Trawsnant WaterfallExperienced Expert

Northern Berwyn

North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Glyn DiffwysBeginner Experienced
Route guide for Rhaeadr CynwydExperienced
Route guide for Afon CeiriogExperienced

Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant

North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner Moderate Experienced

Southwest Berwyn

North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Pistyll Blaen-y-cwm, Pistyll Cablyd, Pistyll y Gyfyng and Afon Eirth FallsNone Experienced
Route guide for Pistyll Rhyd-y-meinciau/Rhiwargor Falls and Pistyll Eunant/Eunant WaterfallsNone Beginner Moderate
Route guide for Pistyll y CeunantNone Expert
Route guide for Pistyll y Graig-dduExperienced Expert

Dinas Mawddwy

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. (Craig y Llyn lies outside the national park.)

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Craig y LlynExperienced
Route guide for Cwm Cerrig-duon FallsExperienced
Route guide for Rhaeadr y Carreg Wen and Maesglase WaterfallNone Beginner Experienced
Route guide for Pistyll Gwyn - Afon PumrydBeginner Experienced
Route guide for Llaethnant and Nant y Cafn FallsNone Experienced

Cadair Idris

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Dulas FallsBeginner
Route guide for Cadair Cataracts and Amarch FallNone Beginner
Route guide for Dolgoch Falls Rhaeadr Isaf/Pistyll Arian and Dolgoch Falls Rhaeadr UchafBeginner Experienced
Route guide for Arthog WaterfallsModerate Experienced
Route guide for Penrhyn-gwynExperienced
Route guide for Torrent Walk/Llwybr-y-TorrentBeginner
Route guide for Helygog FallsExpert

West Bala

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Pistyll HenfynachlogExperienced
Route guide for Rhaeadr LlechweddfwyalchenExperienced
Route guide for Afon LliwNone Moderate
Route guide for Pistyll Gwyn - Nant-hirExperienced

Coed-y-Brenin

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Llam yr EwigNone Beginner Experienced
Route guide for Rhaeadr Du/Black Waterfalls - Afon GamlanBeginner Experienced
Route guide for Pistyll Cain and Rhaeadr MawddachBeginner Moderate Experienced
Route guide for Pistyll DûExperienced
Route guide for Pistyll Gwyn - Nant Llyn-duBeginner

Southwest Rhinogydd

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Hirgwm WaterfallsModerate
Route guide for Rhaeadr NantcolModerate Experienced

Vale of Ffestiniog

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Rhaeadr Du - Afon PrysorModerate Experienced
Route guide for Rhaeadr CynfalBeginner Expert
Route guide for Rhaeadr y CwmNone Experienced
Route guide for Pistyll Gwyn - Nant y Pistyll-gwynExperienced
Route guide for Rhaeadr CymerauBeginner
Route guide for Cwmorthin Falls and Rhaeadr Tan-y-grisiauNone Beginner Experienced
Route guide for Afon Du-bachNone Beginner Experienced
Route guide for MaesgwmBeginner

Beddgelert

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Afon CroesorModerate
Route guide for Merlin's Pool/Craflwyn Waterfall and Hyrddod WaterfallsBeginner Experienced
Route guide for Afon Cwm LlanBeginner
Route guide for Rhaeadr Cwm DyliNone Beginner

Fairy Glen and Upper Afon Conwy

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Carreg Ddefod FallsNone Beginner Experienced
Route guide for Pistyll y PandyExperienced
Route guide for Conwy Falls/Rhaeadr y Graig Lwyd, Machno Falls and Pandy Falls/Penmachno FallsModerate

Lower Conwy Valley

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Grey Mare's Tail/Rhaeadr y Parc Mawr and Fairy Falls/Rhaeadr y Tylwyth TegModerate
Route guide for Afon DduModerate Experienced
Route guide for Rhaeadr Porth-llwydBeginner Expert
Route guide for Afon Dulyn WaterfallExperienced
Route guide for Fairy GlenExperienced Expert

Afon Llugwy

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Pont-y-Pair Falls and Rhaeadr GarthNone Beginner
Route guide for Swallow Falls/Rhaeadr EwynnolBeginner
Route guide for Cyfyng Falls/Rhaeadr Llugwy/Llugwy FallsNone Moderate

Llanberis

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Diffwys Dwr/Craig y Rhaeadr and Pistyll Gwyn - Afon LasNone Experienced
Route guide for Llanberis Falls/Ceunant MawrBeginner

Afon Ogwen

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideNone Moderate Experienced Expert

Aber Falls

Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideBeginner Experienced

Llŷn Peninsula

Llŷn Peninsula AONB, North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guide for Pistyll CimExperienced
Route guide for Pistyll y GasegBeginner

Afon Aled

North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideModerate Expert

Vale of Clwyd

North Wales.

WalkAbilities (key)
Route guideNone Moderate

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 (SJ 29837 49506) in Plas Power Woods, the Horseshoe Falls (SJ 19549 43352) on the River Dee, the Cup and Saucer Waterfall (SJ 32448 48392) at Erddig, Felin Newydd Falls (SN 69294 79417) on the Afon Rheidol, Dolanog Falls (SJ 06745 12660) on the Afon Efyrnwy, Pwll y Ddar (SN 88119 06205) on the River Neath, Sgwd Penllergaer/Penllergaer Waterfall (SS 62474 98958) on the Afon Llan, Y Rhaeadr Dirgel/Y Rhaeadr Gudd/The Secret Waterfall (SH 69924 47254) on the Afon Barlwyd and the rather impressive Bryn Eglwys Quarry Waterfall/Snowdonia's Secret Waterfall (SH 69587 05347) created by slate quarrying on the Nant Gwernol 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. Sites where a house has been named as a waterfall, perhaps due to its proximity to a minor feature in a nearby stream, are also ignored. Examples include Rhaiadr Wnion/Afon Rhaiadr (SH 77715 20299) near Rhydymain and Rhaeadr-du (SH 94698 08628) on Nant Rhaeadr near Llyn Gwyddior. Waterfalls that are merely coincidental to a nearby named feature are not covered, unless the waterfall forms a major part of the feature - this means that many named crags that have small waterfalls nearby are not covered. Examples include Graig Fawr (SH 92546 08236) above Clegyrnant near Llyn Gwyddior.

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.
Ceunant (plural; ceunentydd)
Gorge.
Carreg (plural; cerrig)
Stone.
Craig, Graig (plural; creigiau)
Crag or rock.
Cwm (plural; cymoedd/cymau)
Valley.
Ddu, Du
Black.
Ffrwd (plural; ffrydiau)
Torrent or stream.
Gwyn, Wyn, Gwen, Wen
White.
Llyn (plural; llynnoedd/llynau)
Lake.
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".

Some of these words change meaning in various Welsh dialects. For example, on the Llŷn Peninsula, "nant" generally means valley, "ffrwd" exclusively means stream, and "lli" or "llifeiriant" are used to mean torrent (elsewhere, those words generally mean flooding). The translations given here are the meanings typically intended in the naming of the waterfalls.

Map data terms of use

Route data for some routes may be supplemented with waypoints approximated from OS OpenData/OpenSpace (contains OS data © Crown copyright, derived waypoints subject to OGL and OS license), OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, derived waypoints released under ODbL), and Bing Maps aerial imagery (Bing license and Bing OpenStreetMap license).