A guide to Aber Falls | the best waterfall in Snowdonia

6 Jun

Situated at the northern foothills of the Carneddau in the far north of the National Park, Aber Falls is one of Snowdonia’s most impressive and beautiful waterfalls.

Part of the Afon Goch, the the 37m waterfall dramatically spills down a sheer rock face and crashes into a shallow plunge pool.

The great thing about this walk is that it’s one of the shorter and more accessible walks in the Snowdonia national park. The 2km pushchair friendly path is perfect for those with families and means that it can be enjoyed by almost everyone.

Within this guide, I outline where to park, how to reach Aber falls and also talk you through an optional extension to a second waterfall, Rhaeadr Bach. I’ve also included a the vlog on the walk for those who dont like reading.

Key information

Route Length : 2.7 Miles / 4.2 Km
Hike Duration: 1-2 hours
Elevation Gain: 140m
Route Difficulty: Very easy
Parking & Start point: Aber Falls Car Park
What Three Words: https://w3w.co/resonated.walked.steaming

Where to park for Aber Falls

Parking is available in Aber Falls Car Park, costing £5 all day and is payable by coins only. There is an upper and lower section to the car park and both tend to fill up pretty quickly so get there early to snag a space.

Just to note, the single track road that leads from Abergwyngregyn up to the car park is very narrow and had very few passing places. This can create a backlog of traffic and long delays, especially on weekends and during busier times of the year.

if you dont want to get stuck in the chaos of reaching the main car park. Alternative free parking is available at the bottom of the village, this will add a further 2.4km to the walk.

Is Aber Falls an easy walk?

Yes, the route follows a well maintained pushchair friendly path as it rises gently through the valley . The walk is around 2km each way and involves around 140m of elevation gain.

How long is the walk to Aber Falls?

The walk from the car park to the base of Aber falls should take between 30 and 60 minutes depending on your fitness levels and ability.

Can you swim at Aber Falls?

There are number of pools at the base of Aber falls which you could take a ‘dip’ in however they are too small to do any swimming. Alternatively you can make the short walk from Aber falls across to Rhaeadr Bach, where you will find a larger selection of plunge pools to cool off in.

Are dogs allowed at Aber Falls?

Yes, however sheep roam the surrounding hillsides and valley so it is advised that you keep your dog on a lead at all times.

Are there toilets on route?

There are toilets located at the car park.

The Route

The route to Aber falls is extremely simple and really well signposted.

If you have parked in the lower car park you will need to get yourself onto the eastern (left) hand side of the river. This can be done by following the road towards the up[per car park.

Once on the left hand side of the river follow the wide path as it gently climbs up through the valley towards the waterfall. Aber Falls should come into view around 500m into the walk.

Alternative view point

The path will bring you to the base of the falls on the left hand side of the river. You can see the falls from a slightly higher viewpoint on the right hand side of the river.

To do so, cross the small wooden footbridge located 50m back down stream.

Optional extension to Rhaeadr Bach

From the upper view point at Aber Falls, you have the option to extend this walk to visit a second waterfall, Rhaeadr Bach.

Rhaeadr Bach means little waterfall in Welsh, this is because it’s the smaller neighbour to Aber Falls which is also known as Rhaeadr Fawr (big falls).

Although this waterfall isn’t as impressive as Aber Falls it is definitely worthy of a quick visit as it’s still a beautiful waterfall.

To reach Rhaeadr Bach, simply pass through the metal swing gate and follow the single track path that runs alongside the stone wall beneath the hillside for around 400m. The single-track path isn’t pushchair friendly but is very easy underfoot. Again the path will bring you to the base of the waterfall where you will find a quaint wooden footbridge.

For the more adventurous amongst you, you are able to climb up the path which runs up the left hand side of the Rhaeadr Bach. on the way up you’ll find a series of plunge pools which would make a great and peaceful (but rather cold) place to have a wild dip.

To get back to your car simply retrace your steps to Aber falls, then back down the valley to your car.