Best Waterfalls Near Cardiff
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best waterfalls near Cardiff are Pistyll Goleu, Berw-ddu Waterfall, St Audries Bay Waterfall, Pwll-Du Waterfall, Pwll y Crochan, Sychryd Waterfall, Sgwd Yr Eira Waterfall and Lower Cilhepste Falls.
Cardiff sits within striking distance of some of the finest waterfall country in Britain, most of it a drive north and west into the hills. Closest to hand, in St Gwynno's Forest near Llanwonno, the little Pistyll Goleu slips over sandstone in a mossy, wooded setting, while further up the valleys the on-and-off Berw-ddu tumbles at the head of the Dare Valley near Aberdare.
The real prize lies in the Waterfall Country of the Bannau Brycheiniog, near Pontneddfechan, where the Nedd Fechan and Sychryd gorges hold Pwll-Du, Pwll y Crochan and the gentle Sychryd cascades, and where the Afon Hepste pours over the ledge at Sgwd yr Eira, also known as Lower Cilhepste Falls, one you can walk right behind. For something quite different, cross the water to the Somerset coast, where St Audries Bay Waterfall drops straight down the cliff onto a fossil-strewn beach.
Some sit closer than others, but all reward the journey. Here are eight waterfalls to seek out near Cardiff.
Pistyll Goleu
Photo: Alan Bowring via Geograph.org.uk
Pistyll Goleu A drive north into the hills of Rhondda Cynon Taf brings you to Pistyll Goleu, a small and pretty waterfall in St Gwynno's Forest near Llanwonno, where the Sychnant stream drops over a face of Pennant sandstone. It is a lesser-known, tucked-away spot, reached on a short walk of about ten minutes from the roadside and often taken in as part of a longer waterfall walk around Llanwonno.
Photographers are drawn to its mossy, wooded setting, which comes into its own after rain. There are no facilities here, so come prepared, but for a quiet, low-effort fall within reasonable reach of Cardiff it is a gem worth seeking out.
Berw-ddu Waterfall
Photo: Nick Earl via Geograph.org.uk
Berw-ddu Waterfall Further up the valleys, a drive toward Aberdare in Rhondda Cynon Taf leads to Berw-ddu, a hillside waterfall at the head of the Dare Valley below the cliffs of Tarren y Bwllfa. Its Welsh name means roughly black rapids.
The water runs off the hillside and can be reached from the walks in Dare Valley Country Park, but this is an on-and-off fall that needs a good spell of rain to flow and can be nearly dry otherwise. It is a lightly documented local feature rather than a mapped landmark, so time your visit for wet weather and treat finding it as part of the fun on a walk in the country park.
St Audries Bay Waterfall
Photo: Roger Cornfoot via Geograph.org.uk
St Audries Bay Waterfall For something different, a drive round to the Somerset coast, or a trip across the water, brings you to St Audries Bay Waterfall near Watchet, where a stream drops straight down the cliff onto the beach. The base of the falls can be reached on foot along the shore only when the tide is out, so check the times before you set off.
The bay is a well-known spot for fossils, its layered cliffs from the very end of the Triassic and start of the Jurassic yielding ammonites and other remains to those who search the fallen rock. It is a quiet stretch of coast reached down from the cliffs, with the Quantock hills rising behind.
Pwll-Du Waterfall
Photo: Colin Pyle via Geograph.org.uk
Pwll-Du Waterfall A drive into the Waterfall Country of the Brecon Beacons, just above Pontneddfechan, leads to Pwll Du, the black pool, a deep river pool in the wooded Nedd Fechan gorge where the Afon Pyrddin joins the Nedd Fechan. Rather than a single tall fall, small cascades feed the dark, shaded pool, in a steep gorge rich in moss and fern.
It is reached on an easy riverside walk from the car park by the Angel Inn at Pontneddfechan, the same path that carries on to the bigger falls higher up, such as Sgwd Gwladys. There are no facilities in the gorge itself, so it pays to come ready for a proper walk in the hills.
Pwll y Crochan
Photo: Alan Bowring via Geograph.org.uk
Pwll y Crochan Also near Pontneddfechan, a drive into the Bannau Brycheiniog brings you to Pwll y Crochan, meaning the cauldron pool, a waterfall and plunge pool on the Afon Sychryd in the wooded gorge below Dinas Rock. It lies up the gorge toward the main road at the eastern edge of the Waterfall Country, hemmed in by rock and trees, and is awkward to reach for anyone hoping to get close.
The more visited falls on the same short river are the Sychryd Cascades just downstream, reached by an easy path from the car park at Dinas Rock. This is one for those who like their falls a little harder-won and out of the way.
Sychryd Waterfall
Photo: Alan Hughes via Geograph.org.uk
Sychryd Waterfall The Sychryd cascades, in Welsh Sgydau Sychryd, are a run of waterfalls on the Afon Sychryd near Pontneddfechan and the easiest of the Waterfall Country falls to reach, well worth the drive into the Beacons. A flat, well-surfaced path of under half a mile leads to them from the Dinas Rock car park, gentle enough for wheelchairs and pushchairs, through a wooded gorge with benches and picnic spots along the way.
The route passes the towering limestone crag of Dinas Rock and a dramatic fold in the rock called Bwa Maen, along with the remains of an old gunpowder works that once served the mines. It is an ideal choice for an easy family outing.
Sgwd Yr Eira Waterfall
Photo: Rudi Winter via Geograph.org.uk
Sgwd Yr Eira Waterfall Deep in the Waterfall Country of the Brecon Beacons, a drive to the hills near Ystradfellte, Sgwd yr Eira means the fall of snow, one of the best-known falls in the area, on the Afon Hepste. Its great feature is a rock ledge running along behind the falling water, so you can walk right behind the curtain of the fall, a way once used to drive sheep between the banks.
It is a highlight of the Four Waterfalls Walk, reached on foot with a steep flight of steps down to the river. The ledge is wet and slippery, and closed off when the river is in flood, so tread carefully and check conditions before you go.
Lower Cilhepste Falls
Photo: Nick Earl via Geograph.org.uk
Lower Cilhepste Falls Better known as Sgwd yr Eira, this is among the most celebrated falls in the Waterfall Country of the Vale of Neath, a drive up into the Brecon Beacons. Here the Afon Hepste slides over a wide rock ledge, and a path runs along that ledge behind the falling water, letting you walk right behind the curtain.
It lies about four miles on foot from the Craig y Ddinas car park, or forms part of the longer Four Waterfalls Walk. Steep steps drop to the river, and the shelf behind the water stays wet and slippery.
The name comes from nearby Cilhepste farm.
FAQs
Which waterfall near Cardiff can you walk behind?
Sgwd yr Eira, also known as Lower Cilhepste Falls, in the Waterfall Country near Ystradfellte north of Cardiff, has a rock ledge behind the falling water, so you can walk right behind the curtain of the fall on the Four Waterfalls Walk.
Is there an easy, accessible waterfall walk near Cardiff?
Yes. The Sychryd cascades near Pontneddfechan are reached by a flat, well-surfaced path of under half a mile from the Dinas Rock car park, gentle enough for wheelchairs and pushchairs, making them the most accessible of the Waterfall Country falls.
Are any of these waterfalls on the coast?
One is. St Audries Bay Waterfall, across the water on the Somerset coast near Watchet, drops straight down the cliff onto a fossil-rich beach, though the base is only reachable on foot when the tide is out.
Conclusion
For all that Cardiff is a city by the sea, its best waterfalls lie inland and take a bit of getting to, most of them a drive north and west into the hills of the old coalfield and the Bannau Brycheiniog. The reward is the Waterfall Country around Pontneddfechan and Ystradfellte, where you can walk behind the curtain of Sgwd yr Eira, wander the easy path to the Sychryd cascades or seek out the shaded pools of the Nedd Fechan gorge.
Closer to home, Pistyll Goleu and Berw-ddu offer quieter valley walks, while the Somerset coast adds a fossil-strewn cliff fall for good measure. Choose falls that suit your legs and the weather, since many run best after rain.
Pack sturdy boots and set out: these are the waterfalls to seek out near Cardiff.
