Cwm Idwal is one of my top family friendly walks in North wales, its a nice easy route that offers some of the best views in snowdonia. Our route follows an easy cobbled footpath and fun boulder steps up to, and around a beautiful glacial lake.
👣 Walk info... 👣
LENGTH: 4.5km
TIME IT TOOK US TO COMPLETE: 3 hours with lots of stops to play and explore, and a hangry 3 year old
PARKING: Ogwen cottage (or any of the car parks on the road up to the cottage car park as this can get busy)
TOILETS: Ogwen Cottage
FOOD & DRINK: There is a little snack hatch at Ogwen Cottage, but the beach at the lake is a perfect picnic spot
PRAM FRIENDLY? No
❤️ What we love about this walk ❤️
Spectacular views over the Eryri (Snowdonia)
A crystal clear (and haunted) Lake with a beach for paddling
Waterfalls and lots of places to stop for a play and a splash
Big boulders and small child friendly crags to play on
The chance to see low flying jets
Legend has it that the Lake is named after Prince Owain Gwynedd’s son “Idwal”. Idwal was said to be “beautiful and scholarly” but did not have the makings of a warrior and was sent away to stay with his Uncle Nefydd, while his father was at war.
Unfortunately uncle Nef wasn’t too keen on Idwal – especially as his own son was “witless and dull”. And so he decided to throw Idwal into the lake. Prince Owain banished Nef from his lands (every fable needs a good banishing in it!) and named the lake after his son.
But the most poetic part of this Legend is that the birds that inhabited the lake flew away in sorrow at the terrible deed done there. And to this day the birds are believed to maintain that vow not to fly over the water in respect of the memory of the dead prince.
Fantastic stuff!
Route can be find here:
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/21269132/llyn-idwal-?lat=53.117463&lon=-4.026267&zoom=15.5862&style=Standard&type=2d¶ms=21269132¶ms=llyn-idwal-
