Rhaeadr Ewynnol / Swallow Falls

The waterfall roars down through a steep gorge just outside Betws-y-Coed, and you can hear it long before you see it. Rhaeadr Ewynnol - Swallow Falls in English - is a proper dramatic cascade that drops about 20 metres into a pool below, framed by moss-covered rocks and dense woodland. It's accessible without much fuss: a short walk from the car park gets you to a viewing platform where the spray catches you on a windy day.

Historically significant too. This has been a tourist spot since the Victorian era, when visitors would trek here specifically to marvel at the power of it all. The photographs from that period show folks in full dress getting absolutely soaked - the water's forceful enough that you'll want to keep back if you've got a camera you care about.

Walkers will appreciate it as part of a longer route through the Conwy Valley, though plenty visit just for the falls themselves - most people allow 30 minutes to an hour. It's free, and there's decent parking. Families with younger children find it gripping but brief; there's not much to do beyond watching the water and taking pictures. If you're based at Conwy Valley Touring Park or one of the glamping spots nearby, it's absolutely worth the short drive. Snowdonia Glamping sits higher up the valley and offers quick access too. Go after heavy rain when the flow is genuinely impressive, though winter crowds tend to be lighter.