If you are looking for an easy, family-friendly hike to do in Eryri National Park, this is one hike to do!
Llyn Cwmorthin is a beautiful lake, buried in the Eryri mountains, not far from the village of Tanygrisiau. The area was once a major center for slate quarrying, operating from 1810 to 1939. Today, it makes it very an interesting walk, as you pass the reminds of what was once a working slate mine.
The walk to a lake is a beautiful walk! From the car park, it is a short but steep climb up to the lake. Once you reach a lake, you can take either one of the paths around one side of the lake, or both paths. Unfortunately, there isn’t a path which circles the whole lake.
If you are feeling more adventurous, you can head on and follow the path as it leads you up the valley, and onto the saddle. From there, you can head on to the summits.
This route I am sharing with you today, is the route we walked. A route just under 4 miles long, which leads you along both sides of the lake. You can either follow it step-by-step, or you can adapt it.
Location
Cwmorthin is located west of the village of Tanygrisiau, mid Eryri National Park. It’s just off the A470, aka The Cambrian Way, one of Wales’ main roads and the longest road in Wales.
Parking
There is a little carpark at the start of the trailhead. It does get full pretty quickly, so I recommend getting there early morning. If it is full, there are little places down the road towards Lakeside Cafe, or you can park at Lakeside Cafe too.
Please note: If you are coming in your campervan, drive to the car park via the road which leads you pass Lakeside Cafe. The road through the village of Tanygrisiau is too steep.
SatNav address for the carpark: End of Cwnorthin Road, Blaenau Ffestiniog, LL41 3SW
SatNav adress for Lakeside Cafe: Power Station, A496, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 3TP
The Route
Follow this map as you walk the route, and you shouldn’t get lost! Make sure your location is turned on and you should be able to see exactly where you are on this map. Or if you prefer, download the GPX file and use it on your choice of route tracker.
Walk along the right-hand side of the lake first, then the left-hand side!
1.
Starting from Cwmorthin Carpark, head through the gate located at the end of the road. Follow the slate path, steeply uphill until you reach Llyn Cwmorthin, passing Cwmorthin Waterfall on your left-hand side.
2.
At the lake, take the path going off to the right-hand side and follow it until the path ends.
3.
Return back on yourself until you reach a path going off to your right-hand side, leading you along the left-hand side of the lake.
4.
Take the path and follow it until you reach the top end of Llyn Cwmorthin, where you will see a well persesrved slate house.
5.
Turn back on yourself, and follow the path back along the side of the lake until you reach the bottom end.
6.
Here, take the path going off to your right-hand side, and follow it back down to the carpark, where you started the walk from.
Here is a Vlog of our day walking up to Llyn Cwmorthin: https://youtu.be/IuNaOok2xps
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Further Reading
Enjoyed this walk? Why not check out some of my other Welsh hiking guides: https://livingwiththewolf.co.uk/category/eryri-national-park/
