Cambria Sports Culture CIC Cymraeg

All walksConwy Valley and the North Coast

Conwy Valley and the North Coast

Llyn Elsi

A steady climb through forest from the village to a reservoir on the hill above, with a memorial at the water’s edge and the Carneddau laid out beyond.

Distance
3.7 mi / 6 km
Time
2 hr 15
Ascent
280 m
Difficulty
Moderate
Shape
Circular

Where it is

The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.

The route

Forest paths climb from the church to the lake, with a circuit of the shore and a return by a different track. Steady but never steep.

Worth knowing

  • Far quieter than the riverside walks and a much better view.
  • The memorial by the lake commemorates the opening of the water supply in 1914.
  • Good on a busy weekend when the village is full.

What you’ll see

The lake, the memorial, and a wide view over Eryri from the northern shore.

Background

Llyn Elsi was created to supply Betws-y-Coed with water and the surrounding forest was planted soon after.