Parking
Start and finish at Nantcol Waterfalls Campsite. From Llanbedr, follow the brown signs for the waterfalls and use the campsite parking. Do not assume roadside stopping is permitted.
Overview
About Rhaeadr Nantcol Waterfalls Circular
Why go
- Two waterfalls reached early in the loop
- Riverside and enclosed woodland sections in one short walk
Heads up
- Short steep, muddy and slippery sections
- Campsite access and parking are paid
Map & elevation
The route
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Eryri Tour Guide
Your drive to Rhaeadr Nantcol Waterfalls Circular, 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 trailhead
Nantcol Waterfalls0:00 / 0:25
“You're approaching Nantcol Waterfalls Campsite, where a short loop visits two falls beside the river.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Eryri Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Stripes Above Nantcol
- Why a Seal Stays Ashore
- The Tomb That Grew
- The Church the Sand Nearly Took
- 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
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Rhaeadr Nantcol Waterfalls Circular
The short versionA full circular loop of about 2.60 km (1.
A full circular loop of about 2.60 km (1.61 miles), starting and finishing at Nantcol Waterfalls Campsite. That distance is the total loop length measured once around the connected circuit, not an out-and-back figure. Allow about one hour at an ordinary walking pace.
The sequenceLeave the campsite car park and head south along the river.
- Leave the campsite car park and head south along the river.
- The two waterfalls come up shortly after you set off, so the main payoff arrives early: stepped dark rock with shallow cascades framed by grass and trees.
- Continue on the lower riverside section, then follow the river south and east.
- Turn north onto the Woodlands Walk, passing through enclosed woodland and a derelict farmhouse.
- A central return approach brings you back to the campsite.
Difficulty and footingRated 4/10, easy to moderate for most walkers who are steady on their feet.
Rated 4/10, easy to moderate for most walkers who are steady on their feet. The complication is not length but surface: some sections are short, steep, muddy and slippery, particularly where the path climbs and where the woodland holds damp. Boots with grip are worth having, and children or anyone unsure of footing will want a hand on the steeper pitches.
NavigationThe route is waymarked with blue-tipped posts and signage is described as good, so the circuit…
The route is waymarked with blue-tipped posts and signage is described as good, so the circuit is straightforward to follow once you know to start southward along the river from the car park.
Water, shade and the settingThe first half is riverside, so water is close company for much of the walk.
The first half is riverside, so water is close company for much of the walk. The northward return runs through enclosed woodland, which gives more cover than the open riverside stretch.
Parking, access and dogsPark at the campsite, reached from Llanbedr by following the brown signs.
- Park at the campsite, reached from Llanbedr by following the brown signs.
- Campsite parking and access are paid, and roadside stopping should not be assumed.
- Dogs are allowed on a lead or under close control.
Honest drawbackThis is a short loop and the waterfalls appear within minutes of the car park, so the walk…
This is a short loop and the waterfalls appear within minutes of the car park, so the walk front-loads its best view and the remainder is quieter in interest. Add the steep, muddy pitches and it can feel like more effort than the modest distance suggests, especially if you were hoping for a longer day out. A separate, longer riverside walk from the site toward Llanbedr exists as a different option and is not part of this loop.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Eryri
77 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
17 sightingsTawny OwlMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
32 sightingsCommon RavenMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
21 sightingsGreat Spotted WoodpeckerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
18 sightingsEuropean RabbitMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
161 sightingsViviparous LizardMost seen around 10 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Eryri. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
