Eryri · Easy · Circular

Llyn Padarn, Dolbadarn Castle and the Llanberis falls

From Padarn Country Park to Dolbadarn Castle and the Llanberis falls, then along the shore of Llyn Padarn to Cei Llydan and back.

Distance
8.1 km (5.0 mi)
Ascent
246 m
Time
About 2 h 45 min
High point
169 m
Grade
Easy
Send on WhatsApp
Follow it in the app

Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), drawn by Global Adventurer.

0 km2 km4 km6 km8 km167 m104 m
Move along the height chart to see each point on the map.
Llyn Padarn, Dolbadarn Castle and the Llanberis falls
Meirion · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The walk

The walk starts from the car park at Gilfach Ddu in Padarn Country Park, beside the Welsh Slate Museum. Footpaths and a short lane lead to Castell Dolbadarn, whose round keep was built by Llywelyn the Great in the 1220s or 1230s, then up to the viewpoint over the Llanberis falls. After coming back through Llanberis, paths along the north-eastern shore of Llyn Padarn, beside the Llanberis Lake Railway, lead on to Cei Llydan, and the return runs back along the lake to the country park.

It is 8.1 km with 246 m of ascent; allow about 2¾ hours. The grade is Easy.

The old quarry workings and slate tips above the lake are unsafe: stay on the paths. There is some steep ground near the falls, short stretches of lane in Llanberis, and the lake railway runs beside the shore. Keep to the path above the falls and away from the edge.

The Gilfach Ddu car park charges. Llanberis has cafés and pubs, and Dolbadarn Castle is looked after by Cadw.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.

Good to know

  • Dolbadarn Castle was built in the 1220s or 1230s by Llywelyn the Great, and its round keep is 14 m high
  • Llyn Padarn is a glacial lake two miles (3.2 km) long and 29 m deep at its deepest
  • The Llanberis Lake Railway runs along the north-east shore, and Padarn Country Park lies on the lake's northern flank
  • J. M. W. Turner painted Dolbadarn Castle in 1800

Getting there

Start: Padarn Country Park car park, Gilfach Ddu · Pay and display. 53.12218, -4.11606

Directions to the start

Google Maps Apple Maps

Places to stay nearby

Rooms in and around Padarn Country Park car park: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →

Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.

Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line is drawn along OpenStreetMap paths and the figures are worked out from it; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.