At a glance
Forest reservoir 2 miles above Betws-y-Coed — a waymarked return walk through Gwydir Forest, gaining 150m to a peaceful lakeshore with Conwy Valley views. Dogs welcome. 2–3 hours return. No facilities at the lake. Accessible by train (Conwy Valley Railway). LL24 0AB.
About Llyn Elsi
Llyn Elsi is a reservoir in the forest above Betws-y-Coed — 2 miles by waymarked trail from the busy village below, gaining 150 metres through Gwydir Forest to a lake with a contemplative, secluded character far removed from the tourist bustle of the Conwy Valley village. The reservoir was built to supply Betws-y-Coed and the surrounding settlements, and its catchment in the forested upland above the valley gives it clear, cold water and a natural woodland shoreline. A small memorial at the lake commemorates writer T. E. Lawrence, who had connections to the Snowdonia area; the lake was also used as a location in the 1981 film Excalibur.
The walk itself is the main attraction — a well-marked forest path that climbs steadily from the valley floor, passing through a mixture of conifer plantation and older mixed woodland, before emerging at the reservoir with views back down the Conwy Valley and across to the Snowdonian mountains. The forest is quiet, the path is manageable for most walkers in good boots, and the lake provides a satisfying objective with room to sit and eat lunch before the return. A circular alternative adds further forest walking.
Llyn Elsi is one of several good walks from Betws-y-Coed that reach upland or lakeside settings from the valley floor — the Swallow Falls (2 miles south-west), the Fairy Glen, and the Llugwy gorge walks are the others. Betws-y-Coed has a Conwy Valley Railway station, making the combination of train journey and forest walk a natural car-free option from Llandudno Junction (25 miles) or Llanrwst (8 miles).
Find it on the map
Frequently asked questions
The most direct route to Llyn Elsi from Betws-y-Coed begins at the St Mary's Church car park or from the main village car parks. A waymarked footpath ascends through the forest above the village — the route climbs steadily through Gwydir Forest for approximately 2 miles, gaining around 150 metres in height. The path is well maintained and waymarked but requires good walking boots, particularly in wet conditions. The return journey follows the same route or a circular alternative that adds extra forest walking. Allow 2–3 hours for the return walk at a comfortable pace.
The lake itself is a quiet reservoir with a contemplative character very different from the busy village of Betws-y-Coed below. The surrounding Gwydir Forest gives the lakeshore a secluded feeling despite its proximity to the village. A small memorial at the lake commemorates writer and artist T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), who had connections to the area. From the high ground around the lake, there are views back over the Conwy Valley and across to the mountains of Snowdonia. The lake was used as a location in the film Excalibur (1981), filmed partly in this area of North Wales.
Llyn Elsi is a reservoir — Welsh Water property — and swimming is technically not permitted, unlike some of the natural lakes in the area. The water is cool and clear, and wild swimming does take place informally, but this is not officially sanctioned. For wild swimming in the Betws-y-Coed area, the natural river pools on the Conwy and the Llugwy, and the designated wild swimming spots at Llyn Geirionydd (above Llanrwst, 10 miles north) and Fairy Glen (2 miles south of Betws) are better options.
The forest above Betws-y-Coed is part of Gwydir Forest — a large Forestry Wales managed forest covering much of the hillsides on both sides of the Conwy Valley. The walk to Llyn Elsi passes through a mixture of conifer plantation and areas of older, more varied woodland. The forest has a range of other marked walking trails and the Marin Trail mountain bike route. In autumn, the woodland at the edge of the forest above the valley has good colour. The quiet of the forest after the busy tourist village below is a significant part of the appeal of the Llyn Elsi walk.
Yes — Betws-y-Coed has a station on the Conwy Valley Railway (the line between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog), and the walk to Llyn Elsi begins in the village a short walk from the station. Using the train from Llandudno Junction (journey approximately 25 minutes) or Llanrwst (10 minutes) gives a car-free approach to the walk. The Conwy Valley Railway is in itself one of the most scenic branch lines in Wales, following the valley through wooded gorges and past viewpoints. Arriving by train also avoids the summer parking problem at Betws-y-Coed, where the village car parks fill early.