Best Hidden Gems in Snowdonia & Gwynedd
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best hidden gems in Snowdonia & Gwynedd are Torrent Walk Pools, Sygun Copper Mine Caves, Sappers Suspension Bridge, Fairy Glen Gorge, Conwy Falls, Llanfair Slate Caverns, Fishermans Path and Aberglaslyn Gorge.
Snowdonia and the wider county of Gwynedd are best known for their high peaks, but woven through the valleys below are quieter places that reward a closer look. This is a landscape of wooded river gorges, tumbling waterfalls and old mine workings driven deep into the rock.
Around Betws-y-Coed alone you can walk beside the rapids of the Fairy Glen, stand above the falls on the Conwy, and follow riverside paths along the Lledr and through the Pass of Aberglaslyn. Underground, restored copper and slate mines lead you through hand-cut tunnels and cathedral-like chambers by the light of a helmet lamp.
Some of these gems ask for a small charge or a guided tour, others follow paths that can be steep, muddy or close to sudden drops, so sturdy footwear and a little care go a long way. From the pools of the Torrent Walk to the gorge at Aberglaslyn, each opens up a hidden corner of the mountains.
Here are eight of the best hidden gems to seek out in Snowdonia & Gwynedd.
Torrent Walk Pools
Photo: David Medcalf via Geograph.org.uk
Torrent Walk Pools follow the Afon Clywedog through a steep-sided ravine near Brithdir, just east of Dolgellau in southern Snowdonia. The wooded riverside path runs alongside above the ravine as the river drops over a string of small waterfalls, cascades and pools beneath the trees.
Some stretches are close to steep edges, so watch your footing as you go. It starts from laybys on the B4416 a short way off the main road.
Park at the laybys and follow the path down into the trees to find the pools and cascades.
Sygun Copper Mine Caves
Photo: Steve Fareham via Geograph.org.uk
Sygun Copper Mine Caves sit on the valley side between Beddgelert and Llyn Dinas in Snowdonia, a restored Victorian copper mine. Worked through the 19th century and closed in 1903, it reopened as a visitor attraction in 1986.
A tour leads underground through hand-cut tunnels and chambers, with helmets provided and steep steps and tight spaces, past copper-ore veins and mineral formations lit for effect. Above ground there is a visitor centre, a small museum and a cafe.
Book onto a tour and be ready for steps and narrow passages underground.
Sappers Suspension Bridge
Photo: Richard Hoare via Geograph.org.uk
Sappers Suspension Bridge is a pedestrian footbridge over the River Conwy at the edge of Betws-y-Coed in Snowdonia, long known locally as the wobbly bridge. It takes its name from the army engineers said to have built an earlier bridge on the spot.
The 1930 bridge was closed as unsafe in 2021 and is being replaced by a new suspension bridge built to a similar design, so visitors may find building work or a newly finished crossing rather than the old span. Check ahead before you go, as the crossing here has been changing.
Fairy Glen Gorge
Photo: TCExplorer via Geograph.org.uk
Fairy Glen Gorge is a secluded, wooded ravine on the River Conwy about two miles south of Betws-y-Coed, where the A470 crosses the river. The Conwy runs through a tree-framed rock cleft as a series of rapids and small falls over mossy boulders, reached by a short, steep and slippery path down to the water on a loop of about half a mile.
Access is over private land by the Fairy Glen Hotel, with a small charge. It is a different place from the Fairy Glen near Rosemarkie in the Scottish Highlands.
Take the steep little path down carefully to reach the water.
Conwy Falls
Photo: Chris Carlson via Geograph.org.uk
Conwy Falls is a waterfall on the River Conwy near its meeting with the Afon Machno, a few miles south of Betws-y-Coed in north Wales. Around fifteen metres high, the water splits around a central rock into separate drops, and salmon leap here from late summer.
It is reached from the car park at the Conwy Falls Cafe, a building designed by the architect Clough Williams-Ellis, with a small charge to reach the wooded viewing trails. Pay the small charge and follow the trails through the trees to the viewpoint.
Llanfair Slate Caverns
Photo: habiloid via Geograph.org.uk
Llanfair Slate Caverns are a disused slate mine on the coast road a couple of miles south of Harlech in Gwynedd, open to visitors. With a helmet and torch, you follow a self-guided route underground through a series of large chambers, some of them cathedral-like in scale, past the drill holes and hand-cut tunnels left by the quarrymen.
The rock is ancient, and the workings are wet, with groundwater dripping through. Above ground there is a cafe with views over Cardigan Bay.
The caverns open through the summer season, so time your visit and bring a warm layer for below.
Fishermans Path
Photo: Jeremy Bolwell via Geograph.org.uk
Fishermans Path follows the Afon Lledr as it runs through a steep, wooded valley toward Betws-y-Coed, in the heart of Snowdonia. The path threads the trees along the bank of the Lledr, past pools and rocky runs on a river long favoured by anglers, below the mountains on either side.
It links into longer circuits around Betws-y-Coed, taking in the meeting of the Lledr with the River Conwy, and makes a quiet, green walk close to the village. The going is uneven and can be muddy and slippery after rain, under oak woodland that turns rich colours in autumn.
Wear boots with grip and take your time along the riverbank.
Aberglaslyn Gorge
Photo: Phil Champion via Geograph.org.uk
Aberglaslyn Gorge, the Pass of Aberglaslyn, is a narrow, steep-sided river gorge on the Afon Glaslyn, running down from Beddgelert to the old stone bridge of Pont Aberglaslyn in Snowdonia. The river races through it over boulders, followed by the Fisherman's Path, a rock-cut footpath hugging the bank, while the old railway line, now the Welsh Highland Railway, runs through tunnels on the other side.
The National Trust owns much of the surrounding land, and it is a well-known short walk from Beddgelert. Set off from Beddgelert to follow the rock-cut path down through the gorge.
FAQs
What are the best hidden gems in Snowdonia and Gwynedd?
They include the pools of the Torrent Walk, the Fairy Glen and Conwy Falls near Betws-y-Coed, the riverside Fisherman's Path and the Pass of Aberglaslyn, plus the underground worlds of Sygun Copper Mine and Llanfair Slate Caverns.
Do you need to pay to visit Fairy Glen?
Yes. Access to the gorge is over private land by the Fairy Glen Hotel, with a small charge. From there a short, steep and slippery path drops to the water on a loop of about half a mile, so take care on the way down.
Are the underground mine tours suitable for everyone?
The tours at Sygun Copper Mine and Llanfair Slate Caverns take you through hand-cut tunnels and large chambers, with helmets provided or a torch to carry. Expect steep steps, tight spaces and wet, dripping rock underground, so come dressed for cool, damp conditions.
Conclusion
From the pools of the Torrent Walk to the racing waters of the Aberglaslyn gorge, Snowdonia and Gwynedd reward anyone willing to leave the summits for the valleys and the world below ground. Some of these places, like Sygun Copper Mine and Llanfair Slate Caverns, ask for a ticket or a guided tour, while others, like the Fisherman's Path and the Torrent Walk, are free to follow on foot.
Many of the paths are steep, slippery or close to sudden drops, so good footwear and a little care make all the difference. Whether you come for waterfalls, wooded gorges or the dripping chambers of an old mine, there is plenty here to discover, and taken together, these are the best hidden gems to seek out in Snowdonia & Gwynedd.
