6 Spectacular Waterfalls in Wales That’ll Blow Your Mind

Looking for cool waterfalls to visit in Wales? From breathtaking drops and crystal-clear pools to beautiful natural tiers and more, here are six to add to your bucket list. Three are located across North Wales, two in Mid Wales, and one in South Wales, so you can definitely find one closest to you no matter where you are in the country!

Psst, this post contains affiliate links. Read our disclosure.

With how popular waterfalls are around the world, there’s no doubt that there’s something about flowing water that just draws in humans.

Maybe it’s the biophilia? Or is it beauty? Or perhaps the natural release of negative ions as water collides with itself?

Its likely all of the above, but no matter the case, we all know that waterfalls are spectacular—and this is particularly true for those found in Wales, aka Cymru!

If you’re looking for some breathtaking and unique waterfalls to visit in Wales, here are six of my favorites to add to your list.

6 Spectacular Waterfalls in Wales (Cymru)

Note that this list starts with waterfalls in North Wales and works its way down, going through Mid Wales and then into South Wales. There’s a helpful map towards the bottom of this Wales waterfalls guide to help you better visualize the location of each one!

Rhaeadr Fawr (Aber Falls)

Tucked into the northern edge of Eryri (Snowdonia) near the village of Abergwyngregyn, Rhaeadr Fawr—or Aber Falls, if you’re not quite ready to wrap your tongue around the Welsh name yet—is one of those waterfalls that feels like it’s straight out of a postcard.

Surrounded by 360° views of the Snowdonia mountains, Aber Falls plunges around 37 meters (121 feet) straight down a sheer cliff face, and on a still day, you can hear it long before you see it.

What I particularly love about this North Wales (Gogledd Cymru) waterfall is how easygoing the journey is.

The walk in from the car park follows a gentle, mostly-flat path through a national nature reserve, which means you can absolutely bring along less mountain-inclined friends or family without anyone complaining the whole way. (Many visitors say it’s even pram-friendly!)

It’s about a mile and a half each way, and the path is well-maintained enough that you won’t need full hiking gear—though decent shoes never hurt.

Rhaeadr Ewynnol (Swallow Falls)

Just outside the picture-perfect village of Betws-y-Coed sits Swallow Falls, or Rhaeadr Ewynnol in Welsh, which translates to “foaming waterfall.” Once you see it in person, the name makes complete sense!

Rather than one big dramatic drop, the Afon Llugwy (River Llugwy) tumbles through a series of rocky tiers here, churning itself into white froth as it goes.

This is one of the most-visited waterfalls in all of Wales, partly because it’s so easy to access. There’s a small £2 fee to enter the viewing area (it’s privately owned, which is a bit of a rarity), but you’re rewarded with proper viewing platforms and a path that gets you up close without any real effort.

It’s a great quick stop if you’re already exploring the Snowdonia area, and Betws-y-Coed itself is well worth a wander for lunch or a coffee afterwards! I couldn’t recommend Hangin’ Pizzeria more—the vegan pizzas (and regular ‘zas) are sensational.

Watkin Path Waterfalls

Watkin Path used to be somewhat of a hidden gem but it’s definitely gotten more popular over the years, and I can totally see why… it’s GORGEOUS!

This place is a series of cascades and crystal-clear plunge pools tucked along the lower section of the Watkin Path, which is one of the six main routes up Yr Wyddfa, aka Snowdon.

The good news is that you don’t need to summit anything to get to the falls; they’re conveniently located near the start of the trail, so even casual walkers can manage it.

The pools here are genuinely stunning—deep, clear, and absolutely freezing, which doesn’t seem to deter the wild swimmers who pile in on warm days, like myself.

(I like to think of the Watkin Path Falls as an alternative to the very popular Fairy Pools in Scotland! They look so similar, yet the crowds are much smaller.)

The walk up takes anywhere from 20-45 minutes depending on your pace, and there’s a small pay-and-display car park at Pont Bethania that fills up shockingly fast in summer, so I’d really recommend arriving early.

Bring swimwear if you’re feeling brave, and prepare for the kind of cold that makes you yelp. (But it feels SO refreshing on a hot and sunny day!)

Pistyll Rhaeadr

If you’re only going to make it to one waterfall in Wales, please—please!—make it this one.

Pistyll Rhaeadr is often considered one of the “Seven Wonders of Wales,” and at roughly 73 meters (240 feet), it’s the tallest single-drop waterfall in the country (and arguably in all of the UK, depending on who you ask and how they’re measuring).

The water tumbles down in three distinct stages, and there’s a natural stone arch called the Fairy Bridge near the top that adds to the whole otherworldly vibe.

Psst, this insane Wales waterfall is on my list of 20 cool places to visit in Wales (Cymru). Check that list out here—it’ll open in a new tab!

The setting is half the magic here. Pistyll Rhaeadr sits in a remote valley deep in the Berwyn Mountains in Powys, and the drive in is a winding, hedge-lined affair that feels a bit like being slowly transported back in time.

There’s a lovely little tearoom at the base of the falls (because of course there is… this is Wales, after all hehe), so you can reward yourself with cake after taking it all in.

Though you can easily see the waterfall from the base (near the paid car park), I highly recommend walking to the top for a breathtaking view overlooking the valley.

I consider it a moderate hike/walk, since you basically walk up the entire time, but it’s short at under a mile out-and-back. And it’s well worth it!

• Hike: Up to the top of the waterfall for an exceptional view (click here)
• Type: Out-and-back
• Distance: 1.3 km (0.8 miles)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Parking: Paid OR Free
• Location: Paid car park here (close to the waterfall) // Free parking here (further away)

Devil’s Bridge Waterfalls

Devil’s Bridge Waterfalls, located inland from Aberystwyth in Mid Wales, has one of the most unique stories of any spot on this list.

Three bridges sit stacked one on top of the other, with the oldest dating back to the 11th century, and there’s all kinds of fascinating folklore tied to the site…

Including the legend of how the original bridge got its name. I won’t spoil it for you, but it involves the devil himself and a rather clever old woman! It’s genuinely such a cool piece of Welsh history and absolutely worth seeing in person. (You can read the legend here.)

That said, what really took my breath away wasn’t the bridges—it was the sheer scale of the waterfall itself. The water plunges around 90 meters (295 feet) through a wooded gorge in a series of dramatic drops, and it’s the kind of view that seriously makes you stop and just stare for a minute.

Not to mention, the surrounding landscape is absolutely breathtaking, with two deep valleys coming together to meet after numerous other waterfalls.

We also got really lucky and had the place almost entirely to ourselves when we visited, which made it feel even more magical!

A heads-up though: there’s a small fee to access the main trails, and while the shorter Punchbowl walk is family-friendly, the longer Nature Trail is a different beast entirely. The stairs down into the gorge are no joke. At points, it honestly felt like we were scrambling or scaling down rather than walking.

I wouldn’t recommend it for small, clumsy kids, and I’d think twice if you’ve got a nervous dog. We passed a couple coming up with their pup, and the poor thing was clearly uncomfortable with the sheer drops, so they were inching along at a snail’s pace.

The views from the bottom of the gorge looking up are absolutely worth the effort if you’re up for it, but go in with realistic expectations about the climb back out.

• Hike: Two options
  • Punchbowl and Three Bridges
    • Out-and-back
    • 15-20 minutes
    • 220 steps
    • Easy to moderate
  • Waterfalls and Nature Trail
    • Loop
    • 1.1 km (0.7 miles)
    • 45 minutes-1 hour
    • 675 steep and uneven steps
    • Difficult
• Parking: Free
• Location: Click here to view on Google Maps

Sgwd Yr Eira

Last but absolutely not least, Sgwd yr Eira—which translates beautifully to “Waterfall of Snow“—is the showstopper of South Wales’s famous Waterfall Country in Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons).

And here’s why it’s so special: you can actually walk behind the curtain of falling water. Not “look at it from a viewing platform behind the falls.” I mean genuinely walk along a natural ledge with the entire 50-foot (15-meter) waterfall thundering down right in front of your face.

It kinda feels like you’re in your own little fairytale… and yes, you will get wet! The path was apparently used by sheep farmers back in the day, which is a wonderfully mundane origin story for something so dramatic.

Sgwd yr Eira is part of the Four Waterfalls Walk, a popular circular trail that takes in three other gorgeous Welsh waterfalls along the way, but if you’re short on time, you can hike straight to Sgwd yr Eira and back in about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Just please wear proper footwear—the rocks behind the falls are seriously slippery, and this isn’t the place to test out your trainers.

Helpful Map of Wales Waterfalls

And there you have it, folks. Six of the most spectacular waterfalls in Wales, from those in the wild northern peaks of Eryri all the way down to the lush gorges of the south.

Whether you’re after a casual stroll to a single dramatic drop, a wild swim in icy mountain pools, or the once-in-a-lifetime thrill of walking behind a curtain of water, Cymru has you covered.

If you do end up visiting any of these, I’d genuinely love to hear about it! Drop a comment below and let me know which one stole your heart.

Sophie xx

Not sure what to check out next? Readers love these posts:

Love this post on 6 cool waterfalls in Wales? Pin it!

As mentioned above, this post contains affiliate links. Which means if you make a purchase through the links, this site receives a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our full disclosure here.