You do not need to climb Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) to show children the best of Eryri (Snowdonia). Some of the most memorable family days here are short walks to a waterfall, around a llyn (lake) or along a river, with a café or picnic spot at the end. These are routes we would happily do with little legs in tow, with the distances, path surfaces and facilities checked against the people who look after them.
Only you know what your children can manage, and Welsh weather can turn an easy stroll into hard going. Good shoes, a waterproof each and snacks make every walk below more enjoyable. For bigger-picture planning, see our first-time visitors guide and the parking and transport guide. Our family guide to Eryri has more ideas for children.
Gelert’s Grave and the Aberglaslyn Pass, Beddgelert
Distance: about 1.6 km (1 mile) circular. Buggies: yes, the National Trust says it suits pushchairs and wheelchairs.
This is as easy as it gets, and it comes with a story. From the footbridge over the Afon Glaslyn just south of the village centre, a level riverside path leads to Gelert’s Grave, where a stone tells the legend of Prince Llywelyn’s faithful hound. Children usually want to hear it twice. A few hundred metres downstream the river squeezes into the Aberglaslyn Pass, a wooded gorge worth a look even if you do not walk through it.
There are no National Trust car parks in Beddgelert itself (the nearest are at Craflwyn and Nantmor), and public toilets are on the lane near the bridge. The village has cafés, ice cream and plenty of places to sit by the river. See our villages guide for more on Beddgelert.
Llyn Crafnant, near Trefriw
Distance: about 4 to 5 km circular. Time: 1 to 2 hours. Buggies: manageable with a sturdy, off-road style pushchair.
Tucked into the hills above Trefriw in the Conwy valley, Llyn Crafnant is one of the prettiest lakes in Eryri and an easy circuit for families. Natural Resources Wales grades the route as easy, mostly on wide tracks, forest roads and a quiet lane, with some rougher stretches beside the water. The kissing gates are designed to take prams and off-road wheelchairs. There are toilets at the car park at the north end of the lake, and a lakeside café that opens in summer. It is a short drive from Betws-y-Coed, so it pairs well with a day there.
Aber Falls (Rhaeadr Fawr), Abergwyngregyn
Distance: about 3.7 to 4.5 km there and back. Time: around 1 to 1.5 hours. Buggies: most of the way, but expect a rough surface and some steep stretches.
On the northern edge of the National Park, close to the A55 between Bangor and Llanfairfechan, Aber Falls is one of the easiest big waterfalls in North Wales to reach. It sits inside the Coedydd Aber National Nature Reserve, within Eryri National Park. The path climbs gradually by about 100 m along a wide, compacted track with benches along the way, and ends in front of the falls dropping off the Carneddau.
There are two small car parks either side of the bridge at the start, which fill quickly on busy days, plus a free car park on the edge of Abergwyngregyn village about a mile away. The upper car park has toilets, including accessible toilets. Natural Resources Wales says the trail may suit some wheelchairs and pushchairs, while the National Park notes some sections near the waterfall may be uneven.
Cwm Idwal, Ogwen
Distance: 5 km circular. Time: about 2 hours. Buggies: no.
For families with children who are steady on their feet, Cwm Idwal feels like real mountain country without a summit to climb. From Canolfan Ogwen (the Ogwen Centre) a stone path leads up to Llyn Idwal, ringed by cliffs, with about 140 m of ascent. The National Park grades the full circuit as moderate, with loose rock and large boulders on the far side and a tougher section near Twll Du (Devil’s Kitchen). A shorter path avoids Twll Du, or you can simply walk up to the lake and back.
Cwm Idwal is a National Nature Reserve and home to rare arctic-alpine plants such as the Snowdon lily (Lili’r Wyddfa), so keep to the path. Swimming and water sports are not allowed in Llyn Idwal. The Ogwen Centre car park is run by the National Park Authority and fills early; parking in the valley is very limited, so consider the bus.
Llyn Padarn, Llanberis
Distance: about 8 km (5 miles) for the full lake circuit. Time: allow 2.5 hours. Buggies: not for the full loop.
Llanberis makes an easy base for a family day, with the lake, Padarn Country Park and the Snowdon Mountain Railway all close together. The full Lake Walk from Gilfach Ddu takes in views of Dolbadarn Castle, the old Quarry Hospital and, on a clear day, Yr Wyddfa itself. It mixes cycle track, old road, meadows and woodland paths, with wooden steps and some steep drops, so keep children close. Toilets are near the start at Gilfach Ddu.
Please note: cable replacement work along the lake is expected to continue until early 2027, with a section of road between Brynrefail and Fach-wen closed and diversions in place. Shorter walks within Padarn Country Park, or a simple stroll along the lakeshore from the village, are good alternatives for younger children.
A taste of Yr Wyddfa: Llyn Llydaw from Pen y Pass
If the family wants to say they have been “on Snowdon”, the first section of the Miners’ Track from Pen y Pass follows a broad, gently rising track to Llyn Llydaw, with the summit towering above. Simply turn around when little legs have had enough. The Pen y Pass car park works on a pre-booking system through the busy season, so check before you travel, or use the Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus from Llanberis or Nant Peris. Plenty of young walkers have gone further; see our piece on small walkers and big days on Yr Wyddfa.
Making a holiday of it
Families who fall for Eryri tend to come back year after year. Our Easter in Eryri guide has seasonal ideas, and forest school and outdoor clubs run sessions for children. If that sounds like you, there are caravans for sale in Snowdonia that make regular visits easy, and our where to stay guide covers everything from campsites to cottages. In an emergency on any walk, call 999, ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue.
FAQ
Which family walks in Eryri are suitable for pushchairs?
Gelert’s Grave walk in Beddgelert is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Llyn Crafnant and Aber Falls are manageable with a sturdy, off-road style pushchair, though both have rougher sections.
Is Aber Falls in the National Park?
Yes. Aber Falls is within Coedydd Aber National Nature Reserve, on the northern edge of Eryri National Park, and is easy to reach from the A55.
Can children swim in Llyn Idwal?
No. Cwm Idwal is a National Nature Reserve, and the National Park asks people not to swim or take part in water sports in its lakes.
Where can we get a cup of tea after a walk?
Beddgelert and Llanberis both have cafés, and Llyn Crafnant has a lakeside café that opens in the summer months.
