Llyn Ogwen hike
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Llyn Ogwen hike
Difficulty Rating:
This walk has stunning, mountainous views; the iconic summits of Tryfan and Glyderau will tower above you as you hike. Some scrambling is involved to begin with but, overall, it’s a relatively easy, and most definitely enjoyable, hike.
Getting there
From Bangor travel on the A55 then turn onto the A5 towards Bethesda, continue on A5 to Ogwen Lake, upon arriving at the lake turn right into the car park at the Ogwen Cottage Ranger base, park costs £2.50 for 4 hours.
About
| When to do | April - October |
| Backcountry Campsites | No |
| Toilets | At trailhead |
| Family friendly | Yes |
| Route Signage | Poor |
| Crowd Levels | Low |
| Route Type | Loop |
Llyn Ogwen
Elevation Graph
Weather
Route Description for Llyn Ogwen
From Ogwen Cottage car park head down to the main road, turn left to walk along the pavement following the road over the bridge before turning right on to a small footpath that cuts through a small gap in the wall.
Follow the river away from the road heading towards the lake, the footpath is camouflaged in a scramble of boulders and can be tricky to navigate, keep ahead towards the lake and the path will soon become clear. From here the footpath is well marked and follows the shoreline. After a 0.6mi the path bears slightly left and up a slope towards a stile. After climbing the stile it again continues close to the shoreline. At the far end of the lake the footpath crosses a second stile and heads uphill towards a small footbridge.
After crossing the stream continue ahead to a further stile, turn immediately right onto a path dropping down to a small farm track. Turn left away from the farm buildings and follow the track down to the main road.
At the main road turn right and use the pavement to follow the shoreline back to Ogwen Cottage. At Ogwen Cottage there are good facilities, a small café and the Ranger base offers further information about the local area.
Want to find more amazing walks in Snowdonia? Check out the Pyg Track to Snowdon, or the Moel Siabod walks.
Insider Hints
Some scrambling is required to navigate the north side of the lake so good footwear is essential.
Get an overview of the route before setting out and it is an easy route without having to worry about navigation (but take a map just in case!).
Plas Curig Hostel is just a few miles east and is a great place to stay for all the family (5* hostel).
Maps and forecast available from the Ranger Base should you wish before you head out.
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Jorge Mulls 4 years ago
This hike is short and exciting. We had a wonderful dayhike here. Awesome hike.
Felix Legrand 4 years ago
A beautiful lake and a great spot for hiking in Wales
Tom Nahl 4 years ago
Wonderful trail. We enjoyed the beautiful views. It required some scrambling, but overall it was a great hike.
Byron Hermes 5 years ago
Honestly, I wasn't disappointed I did this hike. We started at 9am and the weather was wonderful. Wandering around was fun. Felt years younger after doing it.
colormylife 5 years ago
Marvelous views! We enjoyed our short day tour here.
Danielle v. 5 years ago
It was a bit challenging initially but eventually, become easy. Nice views of nature, farms, and buildings! Very peaceful.
Mustafa Subbaraya 5 years ago
I was genuinely surprised by the amazing views along the way. A truly magnificent hike in Snowdonia. Surely not to be missed!
Terrance Gyro 5 years ago
What a stunning hike! A nice diverse hike, that is not challenging at all, even the kids find this one easy.
Mustafa Subbaraya 5 years ago
Fairly easy hike, but totally rewarding. The lake was so beautiful. Highly recommended.
Queen Coleman 5 years ago
Nice hike with a myriad of scenery. We love the hidden lake and the numerous waterfalls. It's very easy too. I think we hit the jackpot when we did this hike.