The Best National Trust Winter Walks in North Wales

If you fancy a break from the festive season, or simply need to walk off your hearty lunch – then why not go for a fresh frosty winter walk in North Wales! The National Trust have plenty of walks – short or long – that need exploring this Christmas.

This blog posting will take you through our favourites, although there are hundreds of routes to choose from!

For more information on visiting and staying in North Wales, please visit our accommodation page.

Cwm Idwal Walk in Snowdonia
The Cwm Idwal walk offers some of the most dramatic mountainous scenery, at the oldest National Nature Reserve in Wales. Taking approximately 3 hours, this 3-mile walk takes you into normally inaccessible upland territory. This site is also world famous for its rock formations, and its rare and fragile plant life.

The route starts from Ogwen Cottage Ranger Base and follows a footpath up to Llyn Idwal (lake); here you can decide whether to walk clockwise or anti-clockwise around the nature reserve. The walk is easy to navigate, as a large collection of fractured rocks – known as Darwin Idwal Boulders – mark the start and end of the circular route!

The Legendary Trail of Dinas Emrys
The Dinas Emrys walk is legendary for a number of reasons. Not only does it venture through beautiful oak woodland and past stunning waterfalls; but legend has it, a dragon sleeps beneath.

Starting at the Princess of Gwynedd centre, this 2.2 mile walk takes you to the top of Dinas Emrys. From here, you can experience stunning views of the local scenery and learn more about the dragon beneath!

Rhaeadr Ddu and Coed Ganllwyd Walk
This great waterside walk takes you along the turbulent River Gamlan and past the stunning Rhaeadr Ddu waterfalls. Taking approximately an hour and a half, this 2-mile walk starts in the village of Ganllwyd and takes you through the Coed Ganllwyd Nature Reserve.

The reserve itself, is a magnificent island of broadleaved trees amidst a sea on conifer plantations. The woodland forms part of a larger Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), as it is one of the richest sites for moss and liverworts in Europe. This is due to the continuous river spray creating such a wet climate.

Gelert’s Grave Walk
This short river walk gives you an insight into why Beddgelert became popular with early travel writers such as Thomas Pennant. Starting at the footbridge over the River Glaslyn, just south of the village, the route follows part of the ‘clawdd’ (boundary) which is one of the earliest boundary markers.

You will then reach Gelert’s grave, where you will learn about Gelert, the faithful hound of Prince Llwelyn. Further along the path, you will find a bronze cast of Gelert. Before the path takes you back along the riverbank.