Swallow Falls Walk

A waymarked circular walk of 2.2 miles / 3.6 km, and that figure is the total loop distance, not a one-way leg. The walk is graded Strenuous / Anodd, with an official time of 1.5 to 2.5 hours and around 660 ft / 201 m of climbing packed into a small area. Follow the yellow waymarkers throughout.

Start and finish at the Ty'n Llwyn car park in Gwydir Forest Park. The path drops through woodland toward the Swallow Falls viewpoint, with the river audible well before you see it. A narrow stretch then runs beside a small cliff and a fenced drop above the water. After that comes the hard part: a steep pull through trees and rocky outcrops to a second viewpoint looking toward Moel Siabod and the Yr Wyddfa Horseshoe, before the trail loops back to the car park. The walk is built around the waterfall viewing corridor rather than any access down to the water.

Do not judge this one by the mileage. Paths are steep, rough and narrow, under 70 cm wide in places, on unmade and uneven ground with mud, rocks and tree roots, plus several flights of steps. There are unprotected drops in places, so keep to the waymarked trail and keep children and any less steady walkers close. Boots with grip are worth having, especially when the ground is wet. Resting posts break up the climbs and there are benches at both viewpoints.

The setting is dense woodland, river noise and rocky outcrops, with the falls as the centrepiece and the second viewpoint delivering the wider mountain skyline. After heavy rain the falls are at their most impressive, so wet spells reward the effort even if the footing gets messier. Bare winter trees open up more of the woodland and river; summer leaf cover closes the views in and shades the climb.

Ty'n Llwyn sits 3.5 miles west of Betws-y-coed. Take the A5 toward Capel Curig, pass Cae'n y Coed, turn right onto the narrow minor road immediately before the Ugly House (Tŷ Hyll), then continue 1 mile to the small car park on the right. Use OS grid reference SH 765 583, since postcode LL24 0DH covers a broad area and will not bring you to the entrance. Parking is free and overnight parking is not permitted.

The car park has Blue Badge spaces and an accessible picnic table, but the trail itself is not wheelchair accessible: the steps, gradients and narrow rough sections rule out wheels and make it a poor choice for pushchairs. It is a small car park, so arriving early gives you the best chance of a space. If you are planning to bring a dog, check the on-site signs at the trailhead before you set off.

Rating 68/100, difficulty 7/10. A short, genuinely demanding woodland circuit that pairs a famous waterfall view with a proper mountain outlook, best suited to walkers who are happy with steep, uneven ground and steps.