The tiny Welsh village feeling the impact of being home to Europe’s most famous waterfall
- UK Hidden Gems
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Large numbers of visitors heading to see a waterfall known as one of the most famous in Europe are causing serious problems for people living in a small Welsh village.
The 120ft waterfall has been a popular place to visit since the 18th century, but growing attention on social media has led to huge crowds, turning a once calm attraction into a very busy hotspot.
As a result, the road leading to the falls has become so crowded that the nearby village of Abergwyngregyn in Eryri often comes to a standstill at busy times.
Locals say they can be stuck in their homes and unable to get out of the village, which is known as the home of the last native Prince of Wales, according to North Wales Live.
The waterfall was recently ranked as the 10th most popular in Europe, placing it alongside famous waterfalls in Iceland.
Other Welsh waterfalls also made the list, including Swallow Falls near Betws y Coed, Henrhyd Falls in Bannau Brycheiniog, Pistyll Rhaeadr in the Berwyn Mountains and Horseshoe Falls on the River Dee in Llangollen.
The rankings were put together by German travel company SpaDreams, which looked at 219 waterfalls across Europe and how often they appeared on Google, Bing and social media sites like Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and TikTok.
The company, based in Hamburg, said waterfalls have always had a special pull for visitors, explaining that standing near one lets people feel the power and beauty of nature through the sound, spray and movement of the water.
Aber Falls is often described as a must-visit spot thanks to its scenic walking routes and easy access for families from cities like Liverpool and Manchester.
It has even caught the attention of celebrities, with TV star Christine McGuinness calling it the most magical and beautiful place she had ever seen after visiting during BBC’s Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales.
Located just a mile from the A55, the waterfall is simple to reach, but a narrow road runs through Abergwyngregyn to the Aber National Nature Reserve where paid car parks are managed by Eryri National Park and Natural Resources Wales.
At peak times, villagers say traffic queues can stretch all the way back to the dual carriageway.
Remember - LeaveNoTrace!
As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!
Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.
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