This is the peaceful mountain lake that is well worth the hike and is a hidden gem
- UK Hidden Gems
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
North Wales is one of the best places in the UK for exploring the great outdoors.
With its dramatic scenery and the country’s second-highest mountain, it’s no wonder the region is packed with breathtaking walks that take in both rugged peaks and peaceful coastlines.
One lesser-known gem is this circular walk, which sits high above the postcard-perfect village of Betws-y-Coed.
Hidden away in Gwydyr Forest, this tranquil lake was once two smaller bodies of water, Llyn Rhisgog and Llyn Enoc, before being joined together to form the Llyn Elsi we see today.
In 1914, Lord Ancaster gave the go-ahead for a 20-foot dam to be built here, creating a reservoir to supply fresh water to Betws-y-Coed. Despite its size, the lake is only around nine metres deep at its deepest point.
A well-marked path circles the lake, offering amazing views across to the Carneddau and Glyderau mountain ranges.
Out on the water is a small island where black-headed gulls nest, a colony once blamed for polluting the local water supply.
Journalist Liam Ryder stumbled upon the trail with his partner while on a trip to North Wales and said it was one of the most beautiful surprises of their holiday. “We found Llyn Elsi completely by accident,” he said.
“Our original plan was to climb Yr Wyddfa, but I’d totally forgotten to book the Snowdon train in advance. To make matters worse, I’d managed to take us to the wrong place entirely!”
“Instead of giving up, we decided to explore somewhere nearby – and honestly, it turned out to be a brilliant decision. The walk to Llyn Elsi was much easier, but the views were every bit as impressive.”
“When we stepped out of the trees and saw the lake spread out below us, surrounded by the hills, it actually took our breath away,” he added.
“Even though it was the middle of summer and the weather was boiling, we had the place completely to ourselves. It was so calm and quiet – easily one of the most peaceful walks I’ve ever done.”
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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