The Llyn Elsi circular walk was rated the best in the entire country – but one writer found it while looking another Welsh landmark altogetherAndrew Forgrave Countryside and tourism editor and Liam Ryder Digital Production Editor
03:00, 02 Sep 2025
Discovering Llyn Elsi by complete accident was the highlight of a trip to North Wales for journalist Liam Ryder(Image: Liam Ryder)
It would be challenging to discover a corner of North Wales that doesn’t provide excellent walking opportunities.
Selecting the region’s finest routes, appropriate for both experienced ramblers and casual strollers, is a daunting challenge. The landscape in North Wales is breathtaking, spanning from peaks to coastline, and paths are frequently dotted with monuments, heritage and folklore.
However, one firm has attempted this task, utilising a blend of Instagram hashtags, Google search data and information from AllTrails and the Ramblers. Leading the rankings, assembled by online fashion retailer Damart, was an “easy” two-hour stroll around a picturesque mountain lake nestled in woodland that provides vistas across to Eryri (Snowdonia).
The Llyn Elsi circular route, situated above Betws-y-Coed, not only dominated the North Wales rankings but was deemed the finest in the entire nation, reports North Wales Live. Llyn Elsi is a relatively obscure reservoir within Gwydyr Forest that was created from two smaller bodies of water, Llyn Rhisgog and Llyn Enoc.
In 1914, with approval from Lord Ancaster, a 20ft dam was constructed to supply water to Betws-y-Coed in Eryri National Park. Despite this, the lake only reaches a maximum depth of nine metres.
A trail around the lake offers stunning views towards the mountain ranges of the Carneddau and the Glyderau. The lake itself is home to a small island that serves as a breeding ground for its most infamous inhabitants, black headed gulls, once accused of contaminating the local water supply.
‘An incredible, tranquil place’
Llyn Elsi’s small island is home to a breeding population black headed gulls(Image: M Cleary/Wiki)
Journalist Liam Ryder spoke of his experience while scaling the challenging walk to Llyn Elsi with his partner during a visit to North Wales: “Llyn Elsi is an incredible spot that my partner and I actually found by complete accident. When in holiday in North Wales, we set out with the aim of climbing Yr Wyddfa itself.
“But of course, a lack of planning on my behalf meant I’d overlooked the need to book the Snowdon train up the mountain. I’d also managed to get us in the complete wrong place thanks to a mixture of ignorance and naivety, so we settled with a shorter hike and make the most of an entirely avoidable situation.
“In some ways, it worked out for the best. While Snowdon remains on our bucket list as adults, we’ll never forget climbing and walking through the clearing to see Llyn Elsi and the surrounding peaks in all their glory.
“Despite visiting Eryri in the peak of the school summer holidays – which meant the weather while climbing was absolutely punishing – the place was deserted. It made for the most tranquil, peaceful experience of my life to date.”
How to get there
The lake’s tranquility was only aped by its stunning surroundings(Image: Liam Ryder)
Walks typically commence from behind the Grade II-listed St Mary’s Church in the village. Along the dog-friendly path, you’ll find benches and woodland streams.
It’s a bridleway, making it suitable for cycling, though some parts can be steep. The 6.5km (4 miles) circular walk to and from Betws y Coed has garnered 1.7 million Google searches and 63,073 Instagram hashtags.
It boasts a 4.4 rating on AllTrails and despite its length, the route is deemed “easy”, being “ideal” for hiking and mountain biking.
Other high-ranking walks
A spectacular sunset view from the New Precipice Walk above Llanelltyd, near Dolgellau(Image: Snowdonia Creations)
Joint fourth on the all-Wales ranking are two additional Eryri routes – Precipice Walk (Llwybr Cynwch) and Aber Falls (Rhaeadr Fawr). Precipice Walk, situated above Llanelltyd near Dolgellau, provides sweeping vistas of the mountains and Mawddach Estuary – with sunsets described as a “slice of heaven”.
The 5.8km path actually receives higher ratings on AllTrails. It welcomes families and dogs alike, boasting 38,570 Google searches and 1,588 Instagram hashtags.
Aber Falls, located near Abergwyngregyn in Conwy, offers a shorter yet equally spectacular walk with stunning panoramas across Anglesey and the Carneddau mountains. The 4.2km trail is described as “ideal for spotting birds, mountain biking and wild swimming in the Aber Falls”.
This route also accommodates families and dogs. Remarkably, it maintains a smaller digital footprint with merely 1,006 Instagram hashtags and 2,840 Google searches – despite the waterfall previously earning the title of “most Instagrammable in Wales”.
Vehicle parking is available for £5 at Bont Newydd bridge.