Llyn Crafnant & Llyn Geirionydd Circuit
North of Capel Curig, tucked inside the ancient Gwydir Forest, lie two of Snowdonia's most serene and least-visited lakes — Llyn Crafnant and Llyn Geirionydd. A moderate 7-mile circular walk links them through forest trails and open hillside paths, and at the head of Crafnant the view has been called one of the finest in all of North Wales.
Into the Gwydir Forest
The route begins in Capel Curig village and heads north, ascending through the Gwydir Forest — a vast, atmospheric woodland of oak, larch, and spruce that feels entirely different in character from the bare mountain terrain that defines the rest of the area. The transition from open valley to enclosed forest is almost immediate and deeply calming.
Llyn Crafnant appears after roughly 3 miles: a reservoir three-quarters of a mile long, set at the northern end of the forest and backed by open hillside. The stillness here is striking — it attracts a fraction of the visitors that the more famous lakes receive.
Llyn Geirionydd & the Return
From Crafnant the path continues to Llyn Geirionydd, another tranquil lake associated with the legendary Welsh bard Taliesin, whose monument stands on the eastern shore. The contrast between the two lakes — Crafnant broad and open, Geirionydd narrower and more wooded — gives the circuit a pleasing variety of landscape.
The return leg drops back through forest trails and open paths to Capel Curig, completing a loop that rarely exceeds moderate difficulty. The full circuit takes 3–4 hours at a comfortable pace.
Wildlife & Quiet Seasons
The Gwydir Forest is excellent for birdwatching year-round — red kites, peregrine falcons, and crossbills are all recorded in the area. In spring the forest floor is carpeted with bluebells and the streams run fast and clear with snowmelt.
Autumn is arguably the finest season for this walk: the mixed woodland turns gold and copper, the lakes reflect the surrounding colour, and the light through the canopy in the late afternoon is extraordinary.
Llyn Crafnant & Llyn Geirionydd Circuit on video
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