Cambria Sports Culture CIC Cymraeg

All walksEryri: Yr Wyddfa and Llanberis

Eryri: Yr Wyddfa and Llanberis

Llyn Gwynant

Lake in a green valley with mountains at both ends, popular for open water swimming and one of the most photographed views in Eryri.

Distance
3.1 mi / 5 km
Time
1 hr 40
Ascent
100 m
Difficulty
Moderate
Shape
There and back

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

A path runs along the eastern shore from the campsite end. Rocky in places with some scrambling over roots. Retrace your steps.

Worth knowing

  • A well-known wild swimming spot with a shallow beach at the northern end.
  • Parking is very limited; the laybys fill early on any warm day.
  • The lake stands in for various fantasy landscapes in films, and the valley is regularly closed for filming.

What you’ll see

The lake, Yr Aran at the head of the valley, and oak woodland along the shore.

Background

Nant Gwynant carries the old road between Beddgelert and Capel Curig and was one of the earliest tourist routes into the mountains.