Top Waterfalls Day Trips from Wrexham
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The top Waterfalls Day Trips from Wrexham include Plaspower Waterfall, Pistyll Rhaeadr, Pistyll Blaen-y-cwm, Dyserth Waterfall, Rhiwargor Waterfall, Machno Falls, Pandy Falls and Lyde Waterfall.
Wrexham is well placed for a waterfall day out, with a gentle woodland cascade on its doorstep and a sweep of grander falls across north Wales and just over the English border. Begin close to home at Plaspower, tucked into the Woodland Trust estate west of town, then head south into the Berwyn mountains for the mighty Pistyll Rhaeadr and the quieter Pistyll Blaen-y-cwm above the Tanat valley.
Turn north instead and Dyserth drops its broad curtain right behind a village car park in Denbighshire, while a run west toward Lake Vyrnwy brings the heathery Rhiwargor. Push further into Snowdonia, near Betws-y-Coed, and you will find the paired gorge falls of Machno and Pandy by the old Penmachno mill.
Finally, a short hop east into Shropshire hides the scrambly little Lyde Waterfall near Coalbrookdale. From easy strolls to muddy adventures, there is a fall here for every taste.
Here are eight waterfalls for a day trip from Wrexham.
Plaspower Waterfall
Photo: Geraint Roberts via Geograph.org.uk
Plaspower Waterfall Just west of Wrexham, Plaspower Waterfall is a cascade on the River Clywedog within Plas Power Woods, the Woodland Trust estate reached on a riverside walk through the trees. The water tumbles over a rocky step in the river, part weir and part natural fall, into pools where children paddle on warm days, making a photogenic spot along the Clywedog Valley Trail.
It lies close to the weir and stepping stones on the same stretch of river, in quiet woodland, with the nearest parking over at Nant Mill. For an easy outing near the town, it is a lovely place to spend an hour or two.
Pistyll Rhaeadr
Photo: Alan Hughes via Geograph.org.uk
Pistyll Rhaeadr A day-trip drive south into the Berwyn mountains rewards you with Pistyll Rhaeadr, the best-known tall waterfall in Wales, on the Afon Disgynfa about four miles from Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant in Powys. The water falls in stages down a high cliff, the top plunge dropping around forty metres into a pool before tumbling on through the lower drops, with a natural rock arch known as the Fairy Bridge spanning it.
Counted among the Seven Wonders of Wales, it is well worth the journey. A short, easy walk from the car park reaches the base, a hill path climbs to the top, and a tea room sits by the falls.
Pistyll Blaen-y-cwm
Photo: Graham via Geograph.org.uk
Pistyll Blaen-y-cwm Also in the southern Berwyn, Pistyll Blaen-y-cwm sits at the head of the Blaen y Cwm valley, where the young Afon Tanat spills off the mountains near Llangynog in Powys. It stands among a scatter of falls in the upper Tanat valley, close to the ancient church at Pennant Melangell, and is one of the more reachable of them, taken in on a walk up the valley from the church.
The setting is quiet upland country of rough grazing and steep slopes, with no facilities at the fall itself, so it suits a peaceful day away from the crowds.
Dyserth Waterfall
Photo: Chris Downer via Geograph.org.uk
Dyserth Waterfall Over in Denbighshire, Dyserth Waterfall drops right behind the car park in the village of Dyserth, making it one of the easiest falls to reach in north Wales. A short walk and a bridge bring you to the foot of the fall, which comes down a rock face in a single broad drop of around seventy feet.
Steep steps climb alongside it for views from above, and a small cafe and picnic spot sit by the entrance. If you want a big waterfall without a long trek, this is a rewarding and family-friendly choice for a day out from Wrexham.
Rhiwargor Waterfall
Photo: Richard Law via Geograph.org.uk
Rhiwargor Waterfall At the quiet northern end of Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, Rhiwargor Waterfall, in Welsh Pistyll Rhyd-y-meinciau, is a tall cascade where the Afon Eiddew tumbles down heather slopes toward the top of the lake. A short circular walk from a roadside car park, on footpaths and a boardwalk, leads up the valley to viewing points below the falls.
It is a free and easy visit, at its fullest after rain, and a good one to combine with a drive around the reservoir. The setting is peaceful and open, well suited to a relaxed day trip out from Wrexham.
Machno Falls
Photo: Damon Knight via Geograph.org.uk
Machno Falls Further west, near Betws-y-Coed in Conwy, Machno Falls is a set of cascades tumbling through a rocky gorge on the Afon Machno just north of the village of Penmachno. A rough, unmarked path leads down from a roadside spot to view the falls through the trees.
Close by stands the so-called Roman Bridge, in truth a seventeenth-century stone packhorse bridge, arching over the same river. It is a quiet, little-visited place with no facilities, so wear sturdy footwear and take care on the path.
For lovers of tucked-away corners of Snowdonia, it makes a fine stop on a day out.
Pandy Falls
Photo: Damon Knight via Geograph.org.uk
Pandy Falls Just along from Machno Falls, Pandy Falls tumbles through a gorge on the Afon Machno near Penmachno in Snowdonia, beside the old Penmachno woollen mill and a small ancient stone bridge known as the Roman Bridge, though that crossing is a later packhorse bridge rather than truly Roman. Pandy is the Welsh word for a fulling mill, and the fall, the mill and the bridge all carry the name.
There is a little parking by the mill, or you can take a short walk from the Conwy Falls cafe on the main road. It is a separate, smaller fall from Machno Falls, which lies further downstream.
Lyde Waterfall
Photo: John Hall via Geograph.org.uk
Lyde Waterfall Crossing east into Shropshire, Lyde Waterfall is a run of small cascades on the Lyde Brook, hidden in steep, wooded ground at Loamhole Dingle just north of Coalbrookdale in the Ironbridge Gorge area. The brook drops through a narrow, tree-filled valley cut by meltwater long ago, part of the wider landscape of the old ironmaking district.
There is no made path to it: reaching the falls means a rough, muddy scramble of about a kilometre down through the woods, often begun from Coalbrookdale. The flow is thin in dry spells and much fuller after rain, so time your visit for wetter weather.
FAQs
Which is the most impressive waterfall near Wrexham?
Pistyll Rhaeadr, in the Berwyn mountains near Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, is the standout, one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, with a top plunge of around forty metres, about an hour's drive from Wrexham.
Are there easy waterfalls to reach from Wrexham?
Yes. Plaspower Waterfall lies in Plas Power Woods just west of Wrexham, and Dyserth Waterfall in Denbighshire drops right behind a village car park, both reachable on short, gentle walks.
Do any of these falls have a cafe nearby?
Several do. Dyserth has a small cafe by the entrance, Pistyll Rhaeadr has a tea room by the falls, and Pandy Falls near Penmachno sits a short walk from the Conwy Falls cafe.
Conclusion
From a paddling pool on the Clywedog to one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, the falls within reach of Wrexham cover an enormous range. Some, like Plaspower and Dyserth, are easy enough for a short family walk, while others such as Lyde Waterfall or the gorge cascades at Machno demand stout boots and a willingness to get muddy.
Check the weather and river levels before you set out, since many of these falls run at their best after rain and can shrink to a trickle in dry spells. Whether you are drawn by the towering Pistyll Rhaeadr, the quiet Berwyn valleys or the gorge falls near Betws-y-Coed, there is a route to suit the day.
From gentle strolls to hill walks, these are the waterfalls for a day trip from Wrexham.
