Llyn Gwynant

Llyn Gwynant lies in the heart of Nantgwynant — a valley that many consider the most beautiful in Wales. The A498 runs along the northern shore between the lake and the oakwoods above it, providing a drive of extraordinary quality at any time of year. The lake itself is a popular destination for wild swimming, camping, and the reflection view of Yr Wyddfa that rivals even Llynnau Mymbyr on a still morning.

The Lake

Llyn Gwynant is roughly one kilometre long and 200 metres wide, sitting on the floor of a wide glacial valley flanked by steep, heavily wooded hillsides. The Afon Glaslyn flows through the lake from north to south, eventually reaching the sea at Porthmadog after passing through the dramatic gorge below Beddgelert. The valley floor is flat and fertile, with old oak and ash woodland clinging to the slopes above the lake and several small farms surviving in the traditional pattern of upland Welsh agriculture.

The view south from the northern shore towards the head of the valley takes in the slopes of Yr Wyddfa above the treeline, and on calm mornings a clear reflection of the mountain appears in the lake surface. The National Trust campsite at Bryn Gwynant, on the southeastern shore, occupies a beautifully situated terrace above the water and is one of the most popular and well-loved campsites in Snowdonia.

Getting There

The A498 between Beddgelert and Capel Curig runs directly alongside the northern shore of the lake. There are several small laybys for photography and lake access. The NT campsite at Bryn Gwynant (SH 642 512) has a car park for day visitors as well as camping. The Watkin Path — the longest and most dramatic route to the summit of Snowdon — starts from Pont Bethania at the southern end of the lake, 2 kilometres south of Beddgelert on the A498.

What You Will See

Wild swimming in Llyn Gwynant is popular throughout the summer and the water is generally clean and safe; the shallow entry points on the northern shore near the laybys are the most used. Goosanders and grey wagtails are regular on the river where it enters the lake. The woodland above the northern shore holds pied flycatcher, wood warbler, and redstart in summer — species that depend on the ancient sessile oak woodland of the Welsh valleys. In autumn the combination of turning oak leaves, calm lake water, and the first snow on the summit of Yr Wyddfa produces landscape photography conditions that attract visitors from across Britain.