The best wild swimming locations in Snowdonia National Park

29 Jun

In its simplest sense, wild swimming is taking a dip into a natural body of water, be that a lake, river, or the ocean.

It’s a buzzword and hobby which has caught on in the UK in recent years (especially amongst middle aged and older women) and for good reason.

Wild Swimming is known to have huge physical and mental health benefits. Physically it can improve recovery by reducing inflammation, improving circulation, and boosting your immune system.

From a mental side of things it can help manage anxiety, stress, and depression, improve energy levels, release endorphins, and create a feeling of achievement through having a sense of will power.

Within this blog I have pulled together a list of some of my favourite, and what I would argue to be, the best wild swim locations in Snowdonia National Park.

I’ve also purposefully not included some secret locations in this list. Mainly because they just end up becoming inundated with people, ruined by litter, and quickly lose their charm.

With Snowdonia being home to around 250 lakes, alongside countless rivers and streams there are so many more wild swim spots to be found. You’ve just got to do your research and have the endeavour to go seek them out.

Things to consider before going wild swimming.

Choose your spot wisely - Don’t pick locations with fast flowing currents or stagnant water
Acclimatise first – Spend a minute or two with your legs in the water so your body gets used to the temperature. Cold water shock isn’t a myth and it is the cause of many wild swimming deaths.
Identify an easy and safe exit point – As you don’t want to get stuck in the water or injure yourself climbing out.
Don’t jump into murky or unfamiliar water -the water may not be as deep as you think or there could be a hidden dangers beneath the surface including fallen trees and branches, especially in woodland areas.
Pack some warm clothes to change into– If you don’t own a dry Robe then suggest a lightweight down jacket and a beanie to quickly warm yourself back up.
Invest in a mini foam mat - Usually used for sitting on, they make for a great padded and insulated item to stand on when getting changed. You can pick one up from £4.99 from Decathlon.

Watkin Pools

This is probably the most magical wild swim location on this list and the one I would recommend visiting.

Located on the Watkin Path, one of seven routes up Snowdon, the Watkin pools are a series of natural plunge pools connected by serval waterfalls

You could honestly mistake this place for Canadian Rockies as the water which flows through them is some of the clearest and most turquoise I have ever seen.

The most beautiful and popular part of the Watkin pools is behind the single stoned bridge which crosses above the largest part of the waterfall.

If you want some peace and quiet continue to wander upstream and you will find several other tranquil pools which you can easily take a dip in.

Pay and display parking is available in the village of Nant Gwynant, from here it’s a one-mile walk involving 440ft of elevation to the pools.

Penmancho Bridge

An idyllic and tranquil location, Penmancho bridge is an ancient roman archway covered in hanging vine leaves which looks like something out of a fairy tale.

The bridge dates back to the 16th century and was constructed as a convenient way for packhorses to cross over the river.

Beneath the bridge flows the crystal clear and very tranquil waters of the Afon Machno. In front of the bridge you’ll also find a number of deep pools which are easily accessible from its eastern shoreline.

There’s limited parking just off the B4406 as you drive over the newer bridge. From there you just have to make the short walk down to its banks.

Llyn Cau, Cader Idris

Situated beneath the southern slopes of the 893m Cader Idris, lies the beautiful Llyn Cau.

The lake is situated in natural bowl-shaped depression and is enveloped on three sides by 400m high imposing cliffs.

This crater-like shape which surrounds the lake has given rise to the mistaken claim that Cader Idris is an extinct volcano. However the lake is actually formed by massive a cirque glacier which used to sit in the chair shaped hollow. Hence the English translation of the mountain to ‘Idris’ Chair’.

You can reach this beautiful mountain lake by hiking up the Minfford Path, one of three routes which take you to the summit of Cader Idris. Parking is available at Dol-Idris car park, and the 2.4km route to the base of lake involves 380m of elevation gain.

Personally i’d make the effort to climb to summit and save the swim for the way back down.

Llyn Bochlwyd, Ogwen Valley

Situated in a hanging valley high above Llyn Ogwen, Llyn Bochlwyd is wild and rugged mountain lake, surrounded by heather clad, boulder strewn slopes.

The lake sits in the shadow of the Glyderau and the iconic Tryfan, offering panoramic views towards Y Garn, Pen yr Ole Wen, and the Nant Francon Valley.

As well as being able to take a dip in the lake, you can also bath in the river Bochlwyd which flows towards Pen yr Ole Wen and down into the Ogwen valley below.

Free parking is available beneath Tryfan on the side of the A5 and the 1km route to the lake involves 240 m of elevation gain.

Llyn Llydaw, Snowdon

Llyn Llydaw is the largest of the three lakes on Snowdon's eastern flank. It is also one of m three Welsh lakes which claim to contain King Arthur’s magical sword, Excalibur.

Back in 2009, the lake was chosen to feature in Robson Green's Wild Swimming Adventure because it is claimed to be the coldest lake in Britain. Green's website states that the water was 7° Celsius.

The lake is next to the popular Miners Track which begins at the Pen-y-Pass and is perfect for cooling off after climbing Snowdon. If you did want to just hike to Llyn Llydaws shoreline, the 2.3km one-way route which involves 80m of elevation gain, should take around 45 minutes.

Llyn Padarn, Llanberis

One of the largest and most accessible natural lakes in Wales, Llyn Padarn is magnificent glacially formed lake nestled amidst some of Snowdonia’s most spectacular scenery.

Linked to the neighbouring Llyn Peris at its south-eastern end, the lake is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) long and at its deepest point is 94 feet (29 m) deep.

Alongside being very accessible and close to the popular village of Llanberis, the water in Llyn Padarn is designated as bathing water by Gwynedd Council and meets the highest EU guidelines.

The lake is easily accessible from the centre of its southern banks. There is a free car park just in front of Snowdonia water sports and from here you can easily get in and out of the lake.

The southern shoreline also has a whole host of lakeside picnic areas alongside being the entry points for scuba diving, rowing, canoeing and sailing trips. You can also make a quick trip to visit the iconic photography hotspot which is the Lonely tree.

The iconic lonely tree sits on the shores of llyn Padarn

Llyn Gwynant

Probably one of the easiest locations to access on this list, Llyn Gwynant is another gorgeous glacial lake situated beneath the shadow of Snowdon.

Alongside having several beaches located just off the main road on its eastern shoreline, both ends of the lake are quite shallow allowing the water to become pleasantly warm in the summer and a make for an easy entry and exit spot for those with younger kids.

For those wanting a bit more excitement, you can swim across the lake to Elephant Rock where you will find a series of rock jumps of various sizes.

There is limited free parking spaces on A498 north of YHA Bryn Gwynant, alternatively you can pay to park in the Llyn Gwyant campsite on its northern shoreline.

So there we have it, my favourite wild swim locations In Snowdonia. If I was going to pick a favourite it would be the Watkin pools.

Like I have already mentioned these aren’t the only places to wild swim in Snowdonia. There’s around 250 lakes alongside countless rivers and streams which are home to some epic wild swim spots. You’ve just got to do your research and have the endeavour to go seek them out.

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For more travel, hiking, and photography inspiration around Wales check out my in-depth guides to each of my favourite regions below.