Aber Falls

Aber Falls
Rhaeadr Fawr (Welsh)
A large waterfall tumbling over grey igneous rock, with people below observing it.
Aber Falls (size is shown by people stood below)
Aber Falls is located in Gwynedd
Aber Falls
LocationAbout two miles (3 km) south of the village of Abergwyngregyn
OS gridSH6678970052
Coordinates53°12′37.94″N 3°59′41.87″W / 53.2105389°N 3.9949639°W / 53.2105389; -3.9949639
Total height120 ft (37 m)[1]
WatercourseAfon Goch

Aber Falls (Welsh: Rhaeadr Fawr, lit. 'big waterfall'[2]) is a waterfall located about two miles (3 km) south of the village of Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd, Wales.

The waterfall is formed as the Afon Goch plunges about 120 feet (37 m) over a sill of igneous rock in the foothills of the Carneddau range. Two tributaries merge; the enlarged stream is known as Afon Rhaeadr Fawr; from the road bridge, Bont Newydd ("New Bridge"), the name becomes Afon Aber.

There is a second waterfall a short distance west named Rhaeadr-bach or Rhaeadr Fach.

History

Visitors walking along the main footpath towards the falls may spot several small Bronze Age settlements including an excavated roundhouse and smithy fenced off with an information plaque adorning it, several standing stones and cairns are also present, most of these sites can be found on the right side of the pathway. There is also a piece of recording equipment that is recording the weather. It is located to the north west of Snowdonia National Park in Wales.

The waterfall and nearby area has been a popular tourist destination since the Romantic Period, with visitors including author Julius Rodenberg exploring the area.[3]

Visitor facilities

The Falls are accessible by foot on a clearly marked trackway. Car parking, toilets and picnic benches are available. An information centre is at Abergwyngregyn village.[2]

It is possible to bathe in the plunge pool of the falls, although the water is cold even at the height of summer and care must be taken on the often slippery rocks.

North Wales Path

The North Wales Path, a long-distance coastal path between Prestatyn and Bangor, crosses the bridge at the foot of the falls. This bridge, together with the smaller one at the foot of Rhaeadr-bach to the west was erected in 1995.

See also

  • Aber Falls with the mountains around
    Aber Falls with the mountains around
  • The bridge and falls
    The bridge and falls

References

  1. ^ "Aber Falls". Snowdonia National Park. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Coedydd Aber National Nature Reserve, near Bangor". Natural Resources Wales. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Abergwyngregyn Falls – Journey to the Past".

Bibliography

Novels

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