Ceunant Mawr Waterfall In Llanberis - An Easy Walk In Eryri (2026)!

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One of the most gorgeous waterfalls in Eryri National Park is Ceunant Mawr Waterfall in Llanberis.

Also known as Llanberis Falls, this stunning cascade is a bit of a hidden gem so it’s a great way to escape the crowds.

What’s even better is that it’s a very easy and scenic walk on a flat path that requires minimal effort. My type of place!

I recently went in autumn and it was a breathtaking walk with all the orange foliage.

The entire scene was magical and looked like it had been plucked from the pages of a fairytale.

After a few days of heavy rain, I couldn’t believe the force of this cascade! It was immense.

That being said, it isn’t the most obvious to find. So, in this post, I’ll provide some detailed directions for Ceunant Mawr Waterfall and what to expect.

Table of Contents

Where is Ceunant Mawr Waterfall in Llanberis?

Ceunant Mawr translates as “waterfall of the great ravine” and it cascades in two stages.

It falls over 100 feet and eventually crashes into Afon Arddu at the foot of Mount Snowdon in Llanberis.

Luckily, you don’t have to traverse a long path to reach this waterfall at all.

Simply navigate your way to ‘Waterfall Vw’ and you’ll find a path to navigate to the lower falls under the trees in a stunning emerald gorge.

From the start of Waterfall Vw, it will take you around 5 minutes to locate the falls as it’s a very short and flat walk.

Ceunant Mawr Waterfall is address is 2 Waterfall Vw, Llanberis, Caernarfon LL55 4TH. Click here for a Google Pin!

Ceunant Mawr Waterfall Parking

There is no dedicated parking for the falls so you’ll need to park close by and walk to the start of the trail.

There is very limited off-road parking located near Ceunant Mawr Waterfall and ‘Waterfall Vw’ in Llanberis.

Most of the off-road parking areas here are double-yellow-lined or reserved for residents.

Make sure to park your car in a ‘safe spot’ to avoid a fine. There are plenty of signs that will let you know if you’re in the wrong spot.

There are a few free parking spaces outside the play park on ‘Dol Elidir’ Road close to the entrance of the walk.

This is where I parked and it took me around 5 minutes to reach the waterfall from here.

But, it may be easier to park in the paid car parks close to Dolbadarn Castle/Snowdon Mountain Railway car parks and walk over.

These car parks have an all-day fee and are £6 per day at the time of writing.

If you do decide to park here, it will bump your walk up to just under a mile or around 15-20 minutes.

The Lower Waterfall Walk

Once you’ve parked up, you need to make your way to the start of the waterfall on ‘Waterfall Vw’.

You’ll find a cattle grid at the start of the walk with a pedestrian gate that has a sign pointing to the upper and lower falls, keep following the path.

After the cattle grid entrance, you’ll follow a path with a brown wooden fence.

You’ll eventually reach a tree that has a hand-made ‘Ceunant Mawr Waterfall’ sign pointing towards the lower falls route.

It’s a small path to the left of the sign that will lead you underneath the Snowdon Mountain Railway viaduct.

You may get to see the train passing by. I was lucky enough to see the train passing over this twice on my visit. It was so cool!

Walk under the viaduct and you’ll eventually reach the river. There’s only one way to go so you can’t get lost.

Turn right and follow the well-laid path into the narrow emerald-green gorge.

Approaching Ceunant Mawr Waterfall

The walk to the lower waterfall is very short but incredibly scenic.

Gnarled trees cover the walkway and green moss and foliage can be found all over the crevices.

The water from the river babbles as it cascades on the jagged rocks in its path. It creates such a roar.

When I visited in autumn, amber leaves were falling everywhere like snowfall and they eventually landed and covered the flagstone walkway.

The colourful scene was utterly magical and took my breath away. It looked like something from a fairytale and I couldn’t help but stop for a few photos.

Once you reach the end of the walkway, some craggy steps lead to a small platform that allows you to get closer to the falls.

You can then see the water tumbling over the ravine and cascading into the small pool below.

Just mind your step here as the platform is rocky and uneven and can get very slippery.

This is a great spot to get some photos of you with the waterfall but prepare for you and your phone/camera to get soaked from the spray!

Luckily, iPhones are pretty waterproof these days but I did keep having to wipe my lenses.

My tripod also kept falling due to the breeze produced by the power of the waterfall but I got there in the end.

Prepare to get wet!

I visited this waterfall after a few days of heavy rain and storms and I cannot tell you how powerful the water was on my visit.

As soon as you got close to the cascade, the force of the water was so strong and emitted so much spray!

I didn’t mind getting wet. I just loved standing there and letting the water hit me. It was wild but so much fun and I couldn’t stop laughing.

You may not know this but waterfalls produce large amounts of negative ions known as “air vitamins”.

These improve your mood, allow you to breathe easier and become more alert.

So, I was more than happy to allow Mother Nature to heal me for a spell! Why not give it a try?

Can you swim in Ceunant Mawr?

No, you’re not allowed to swim or bathe in Ceunant Mawr Waterfall as the water current is simply too strong making it dangerous.

When I visited in November, the cascade was so powerful it caused violent waves in the river and the water levels were very high.

I could barely stand in front of the waterfall for a few minutes from the force!

There are some alternative wild swimming spots you can find around Llanberis and Eyri though that are much safer.

Why not visit the famous ‘infinity pool’? You can park near Nant Peris to locate it.

The Upper Waterfall Viewpoint

Once you’ve finished admiring the Lower Falls, you can then make your way to the Upper Falls viewpoint.

There is a scramble path you can take from the lower falls to the upper falls but this can get quite slippery and dangerous in the wet.

I wasn’t wearing appropriate clothing or footwear for that so I turned back the way I came under the viaduct to the ‘Ceunant Mawr Waterfall’ sign.

I then turned right and followed the well-laid cement path to the upper falls viewpoint.

Although it’s a flat cement path, it’s very steep! So, have a decent pair of shoes on.

Keep heading up the serpentine walkway until you see a cottage.

Opposite the cottage, there’s a gate that takes you over the Snowdonia Mountain Railway line to a small viewpoint area to see the falls.

I shouldn’t have to say this (and there are warning signs) but proceed with caution here as trains do use these tracks regularly throughout the day.

Ceunant Mawr upper falls viewpoint — *Ceunant Mawr Upper Falls viewpoint*

Although it was a bit of a steep walk, it was well worth the effort and I was blown away by the views, especially with all the autumn foliage.

The water force was so strong and I couldn’t believe how tall the waterfall was either.

You can’t see the true height of this cascade from the bottom so viewing the falls from this perspective was mind-blowing.

You can head further around and stand by the very top of the falls but it requires a bit of a steep climb over craggy terrain and looked a little dodgy to me.

So, after I was done taking photos at the viewpoint, I simply turned back and went to my car!

My top tips for visiting Ceunant Mawr Waterfall

Park safely – there are off-road spaces but most are for residents and come with heavy fines, it may be easier to park at the Snowdonia Mountain Railway car park and walk over.

Wear sensible footwear – It’s a very short walk and you don’t really need walking boots but trainers are necessary.

Prepare to get wet – after days of heavy rain, this waterfall can be very powerful. You will get very wet from the spray. Come prepared if you don’t like getting soaked or accept it and enjoy!

Be careful – be cautious around the water. Don’t swim or enter the current. Be mindful when climbing close to the upper falls. Keep dogs on a lead etc. Better to be safe than sorry.

Is Ceunant Mawr Waterfall worth visiting?

Yes, absolutely! I couldn’t believe how easy it was to access this spectacular waterfall in Llanberis.

Usually, most waterfalls in Eryri National Park require a hike of some sort. But, Ceunant Mawr can be accessed in just a few minutes on a stunning well-marked trail.

Not to mention that it’s a hidden gem and a great way to escape the crowds.

I especially recommend visiting in autumn with all the orange foliage, it honestly looked magical and like a scene from a storybook.

Are you looking for more things to do in Llanberis?

There are so many amazing things to do in and around Llanberis.

It’s the hub of Eryri National Park and it’s your gateway to the Snowdonia Massif range.

You can take the Snowdonia Mountain Railway to the top or visit the National Slate Museum to learn about Welsh history.

How to Visit Dinorwic Quarry Wales — *Dinorwic Quarry*

Talking of slate, one of my favourite attractions in Llanberis is Dinorwic Quarry.

It’s a great walk that takes you through a disused slate quarry and has a spectacular viewpoint over the area.

You can also visit the Anglesey Barracks, known as Snowdonia’s Forgotten Street.

Anglesey Barracks Snowdonia forgotten street

After, you can take a scenic stroll around Llyn Padarn and Padarn Country Park.

The most famous spot is the Lonely Tree which sits on the lakeside. I have a post with directions.

You can see the Blade of the Giants on your way. Or, why not take in the sights with a Scenic Lake Railway journey?

As a history lover, the majestic Dolbadarn Castle was a personal favourite of mine.

This scenic ruined castle in the mountains was a symbol of Welsh identity and power! It’s completely free to visit and the scene makes a gorgeous photo.

There is an endless choice of activities to enjoy with a visit here. So, make sure you plan enough time to explore!