At a glance
Snowdonia and North Wales have an exceptional range of lakes — from the accessible Llyn Padarn at Llanberis (designated swimming area, kayak hire, accessible paths) to Glaslyn at 600m below Snowdon (emerald-green mountain tarn, Miners' Track approach) and Llyn Tegid at Bala (Wales's largest natural lake, 4 miles long, home of the unique gwyniad fish). The Cwm Idwal circular walk (2 miles) is the most family-friendly mountain lake experience in Snowdonia.
North Wales's Best Lakes
Llyn Padarn, Llanberis — 2.5km long; accessible swimming beach; Padarn Country Park lakeside paths; Llanberis Lake Railway along south shore; kayak hire; Dinorwig quarry backdrop. The most accessible and versatile lake in Snowdonia — immediately beside Llanberis village.
Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) — 4 miles long; Wales's largest natural lake; home of the gwyniad (unique Ice Age fish); sailing, canoeing, windsurfing; Bala Lake Railway along north shore. 42m deep; large enough for significant wave conditions in strong wind.
Llyn Gwynant, Nantgwynant — Wild mountain lake below the Snowdon massif; beach area for swimming; campsite on the shore; exceptional mountain reflections on calm mornings. Access from the A498 between Beddgelert and Pen-y-Gwryd.
Glaslyn — High mountain lake at 600m below Snowdon's eastern face; emerald-green colour from copper minerals; reached by Miners' Track (2.5 miles from Pen-y-Pass). Wild swimming for experienced swimmers with wetsuit; extremely cold (8–12°C).
Llyn Idwal, Cwm Idwal — Glacial lake in a National Nature Reserve; 2-mile accessible circular walk from Ogwen car park; Charles Darwin studied the geology here; spectacular cliff backdrop of Twll Du (Devil's Kitchen).
Llyn Crafnant, above Trefriw — Quiet Victorian lake in a hanging valley; 2-mile walk from Trefriw; café and kayak hire in season; forest and hillside setting.
Llyn Cwellyn — Lake on the western approach to Snowdon; Snowdon Ranger hostel on the shore; the Ranger Path up Snowdon begins from the lakeshore. Good walking and birdwatching; osprey recorded in recent years.
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Frequently asked questions
Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) is the largest natural lake in Wales — 4 miles long, 1 mile wide, and up to 42 metres deep. It lies at the foot of the Aran and Berwyn mountains near Bala town in southern Snowdonia. Llyn Tegid is the only lake in the world known to contain the gwyniad — a white-scaled freshwater fish found nowhere else on earth, isolated in the lake since the last Ice Age. The lake is used for sailing, canoeing, and windsurfing; the Bala Lake Railway runs along the northern shore.
Glaslyn (the Blue Lake or Green Lake) is the high mountain lake immediately below Snowdon's summit, at an altitude of approximately 600 metres. Its colour — an intense emerald green derived from copper minerals in the surrounding rock — makes it one of the most visually distinctive mountain lakes in Britain. Glaslyn is reached by the Miners' Track from Pen-y-Pass (2.5 miles, 1–1.5 hours) and is a popular destination for walkers who want to experience mountain scenery without going to the summit. Wild swimming in Glaslyn is practised by experienced swimmers; the water is very cold (8–12°C) and a wetsuit is recommended.
Yes — the Cwm Idwal circular walk (2 miles) from the car park on the A5 at Ogwen is one of the best accessible mountain walks in Snowdonia for families. The path around Llyn Idwal is well-maintained, the glacier-carved cwm is dramatic and educational (Charles Darwin studied the geology here in the 1840s), and the walk takes 1–1.5 hours at a comfortable pace. The National Nature Reserve has good interpretation boards. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead in the nature reserve. The car park (payable) is at Ogwen on the A5 between Capel Curig and Bethesda.
Yes — several lakes in North Wales are open for paddling. Llyn Tegid (Bala) is the most established paddlesports venue — the National White Water Centre on the River Tryweryn (1 mile north of Bala) also offers white water kayaking. Llyn Padarn at Llanberis has canoe hire available from operators on the lake shore. Llyn Crafnant near Trefriw (in the Gwydir Forest) is a quieter lake with a café and kayak hire in season. Paddlers should be aware of strong winds on exposed mountain lakes — Llyn Tegid and Llyn Cwellyn can have challenging conditions in westerly winds.
Llyn Padarn at Llanberis is the most versatile lake in Snowdonia — accessible, 2.5km long, and with a designated swimming beach, kayak and canoe hire, the Llanberis Lake Railway running along the south shore, and Padarn Country Park providing accessible lakeside walking paths. It is the best lake for families with young children (paddling, lake swimming in a safe area) and for those who want a gentle lakeside walk with mountain backdrop. The view from the north shore of the lake across to the Dinorwig quarry terraces and the Snowdon range beyond is one of the defining North Wales landscape photographs.
Llyn Crafnant is a quiet, 800-metre-long lake in a hanging valley above Trefriw in the Conwy Valley — reached by a single-track road from the valley, or on foot from Betws-y-Coed (5 miles). The lake is surrounded by forest and open hillside, and has a Victorian provenance: the 1874 inscription "This lake and land given to Llanrwst town for ever by Richard James Esq" records its donation as a public water supply. A farm café operates at the lake head; kayak hire is available in season. The walk from Trefriw to the lake (2 miles, 200m ascent) is a popular family half-day.