Conwy Falls in Eryri National Park

Sight · Eryri National Park

Conwy Falls

A rushing gorge waterfall wrapped in ancient woodland

Photo: Public Domain
Type
Sight
Nearest trail
1.8 km
Audio stories
7 nearby
  • Scenic viewpoint
  • Parking
  • Restrooms
  • Food

Hear the audio tour

Conwy Falls and its woodland gorge

Overview

About Conwy Falls

Why stop

  • Dramatic cascades in a genuinely atmospheric ancient woodland
  • Easy to pair with a café stop and a Betws-y-Coed driving day

Heads up

  • Short route with steep, slippery natural sections
  • Can feel busy on fine weekends
Conwy Falls, also known as Rhaeadr y Graig Lwyd, is a short, atmospheric woodland stop on the River Conwy. The water pushes through a narrow gorge and splits around mossy rock, with several viewpoints along the route. The falls are the main event, but the surrounding 10 acres of SSSI-designated ancient native woodland give the visit its character and make it feel wilder than a simple roadside lookout.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy stop

Map

Where it is

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SightConwy Falls53.06523, -3.77869
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Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Go after a spell of rain if you want the strongest water flow, but take extra care on the descent and at the viewpoints. Early morning or later afternoon is calmer for photographs and gives the gorge softer light; weekends and pleasant summer days are more likely to feel busy. Keep to the paths and viewpoints. Do not enter the water, swim, or kayak because the gorge and current are dangerous even when the surface looks calm.

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone
Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Eryri Tour Guide

Your drive to Conwy Falls, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Eryri National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

Recorded for this place

Conwy Falls and its woodland gorge
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“You're coming up on Conwy Falls, where the River Conwy squeezes through a rocky gorge below ancient woodland.”

Plays as you drive up to Conwy Falls in the Parkwolf Eryri Tour Guide.

More stories near here in the app

  • Water the Colour of Tea
  • Fairy Glen Gorge
  • The Age of the Woods
  • The Otter’s River Messages
  • 298 audio storiesacross Eryri’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
  • Wildlife heatmapsfor Grey Heron, Tawny Owl, Common Raven, and 9 more
  • Works offlinemaps, 120 trails, 82 places, and audio download before you lose signal
  • CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
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Guide

More about Conwy Falls

Walk and practical detailsThe usual start is Conwy Falls Café on the A5 between Betws-y-Coed and Pentrefoelas.

The usual start is Conwy Falls Café on the A5 between Betws-y-Coed and Pentrefoelas. From there, the woodland path descends through natural ground to the gorge and viewing points. The falls circuit is short enough to add to a driving day, with most visitors allowing roughly 30 to 60 minutes depending on stops and conditions. A longer public footpath from the café follows the River Conwy toward Fairy Glen.

This is not a smooth, accessible promenade. Expect exposed rocks, tree roots, uneven ground, and steep sections; wet weather makes the rocks and muddy patches slippery. Wear shoes with good grip and leave buggies behind. The café has food, public toilets, free parking, and Wi-Fi, and well-behaved dogs and picnics are welcome.

Why stopThe café at the entrance is a worthwhile part of the stop in its own right.

The café at the entrance is a worthwhile part of the stop in its own right. Its Clough Williams-Ellis design gives you a small piece of the same architectural story associated with nearby Portmeirion, while the meadow provides open views before you head into the trees.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Eryri

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Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Eryri. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.

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Near Conwy Falls

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Parkwolf’s Eryri ranking

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