Craflwyn, Cwm y Bleiddiaid Valley and Llyn Dinas Walk

Starting from Craflwyn, the route climbs steadily into Cwm y Bleiddiaid — the “Valley of the Wolves” — a dramatic hanging valley steeped in local legend and once said to be the hunting ground of ancient Welsh princes.

The walk then joins the Watkin Path, one of the most historic and scenic routes on Yr Wyddfa, created in the 1890s by Sir Edward Watkin. Although famed as a summit route, its lower sections offer a rewarding walk in their own right, combining open mountain scenery with traces of Snowdonia’s industrial and Victorian past.

A short detour leads to the Watkin Pools, a series of clear waterfalls and plunge pools formed by the Afon Cwm Llan. Hidden among rock and woodland, these pools are a striking natural feature and a popular resting place on warm days.

From here, the route descends towards the shores of Llyn Dinas, a tranquil glacial lake set beneath steep valley sides. Long associated with Welsh legend and folklore, the lake provides a peaceful contrast to the higher ground above before the walk returns through forest paths and open pasture back towards the starting point.

This circular walk brings together myth, mountain, water, and woodland, offering one of the most varied and memorable routes in the Beddgelert area without committing to a full summit ascent.

“This is a hidden gem and genuinely one of my favourite walks near Beddgelert — you get the quiet solitude of Cwm y Bleiddiaid at the start, the famous Watkin Pools, and Llyn Dinas all in one route. If you want a longer day you can add Dinas Emrys at the beginning and you’ve essentially covered all the big sites close to the village in one go.” — Delyth, Perthi Holiday Cottages