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Llyn Elsi Easy Circular Walk from Betws y Coed

By Dave Roberts   

on January 11, 2015    3.8/5 (5)

Posted as a walk in – Europe, Low Level and Easier Walks in Snowdonia, Snowdonia National Park, Wales, Walks with Lakes in Snowdonia, Woodland Walks in Snowdonia

Llyn Elsi Easy Circular Walk from Betws y Coed

Route Essentials

Route Summary

Straightforward route from Betws-y-coed to Llyn Elsi in the

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

6.83 km

Ascent

351 m

Time

2 to 3 hours at a leisurely pace

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Betws-y-coed

Difficulty

Easy Moderate Walk, Trail or Fell Runs

Hazards

Some rough going where trees cover the path.

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Llyn Elsi Easy Circular Walk from Betws y Coed Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Llyn Elsi Easy Circular Walk from Betws y Coed

Llyn Elsi is a scenic mountain lake that’s barely an hour’s walk from Betws-y-Coed, and that’s taking it easy, on this pleasant circular route. You can also reach the lake by following the Llyn Elsi Trail from near the back of the Royal Oak hotel, or extend this route by walking around the lake in it’s entirety by following the while waymarkers. It would make a decent trail run, but take the Jubilee Path if you don’t like your routes muddy!

Llyn Elsi Easy Circular Walk Full Route Description

The route starts at a bus stop between Pentre Du and the start of the shops towards Capel Curig.

1 There’s an obvious gap in the wall where the path starts off steeply on concrete steps.  This soon gives way to a proper footpath up through the forest. Cross the first forestry track you reach, following the footpath arrow, and continue to climb steadily. There are a number of narrow streams to cross as well.

Llyn Elsi Easy Circular Walk from Betws y Coed

2 At the second forestry track, you can turn left to find the Jubilee Path. We decided to cross the forestry track and took the footpath there. This isn’t marked on the maps and provided good but rather rough going! There are a couple of places where you need to clamber underneath a tree or two, but nothing difficult. It is sometimes unclear where the path is leading you, but it finds the easiest route up to the higher ground and a forestry track at SH788 563.

Llyn Elsi Easy Circular Walk from Betws y Coed

3 Turn left up the forestry track, which meets the Jubilee Path in a couple of 100m. Turn right along this footpath rather than continuing along the forestry track, and the views soon open out to your right towards the Carneddau and Moel Siabod. This track ends in a small car park (not for the public!) and the dam and Llyn Elsi is just along a path to the left. There’s a tiny name nailed onto one of the nearby trees.

Llyn Elsi Easy Circular Walk from Betws y Coed

4 A path continues to your left under the diminutive dam, and pulls up to the Monument to the building of the dams in 1914, and the highpoint of the walk. The view over Llyn Elsi and the shire-like islands is impressive, as well as towards Moel Siabod, the Glyderau and Carneddau. It was also particularly windy today, so while it would make a fine lunch stop with the pair of benches, we headed on.

Llyn Elsi Easy Circular Walk from Betws y Coed

5 An easy track follows the eastern shore of Llyn Elsi, which this route follows as far as the dam at the southern end of the lake. We turned left on a footpath waymarked with yellow tape (with the Llyn Elsi Trail around the lake marked in white) which you only need to follow for 100m before veering left rather than following the yellow tape waymarkers downhill.

Llyn Elsi Easy Circular Walk from Betws y Coed

6 You’ll pass the old farm of Llanerch Elsi, which would surely have been an impressive residence in its time but is a rapidly deteriorating ruin despite being Grade II listed and is fenced off. Continue on the footpath, reaching a forestry trail after around 200m.

Llyn Elsi Easy Circular Walk from Betws y Coed

7 Continue on the forestry track, ignoring the first junction, until you arrive at a crossroads of sorts at SH788 548. We continued directly across the track along a slightly overgrown path that could be borderline bushwhacking in the summer. An easier option is to turn left at the crossroads along a forestry road.

8 The slightly overgrown footpath comes out onto an easier track just above the farm of Mynydd-bychan. Turn left on the track, which has some blue waymarkers for the Clogwyn y Gigfran path, which can now be followed all the way into Betws y Coed along easy tracks and trails.

Llyn Elsi Easy Circular Walk from Betws y Coed

9 The path emerges just behind the Royal Oak, which makes a fitting end to the walk. You only then need to follow the main road through Betws y Coed to the starting point.

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

Straightforward route from Betws-y-coed to Llyn Elsi in the

Route Start Location: Betws-y-coed

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
6.83 km 351 m 2 to 3 hours at a leisurely pace

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Easy Moderate Walk, Trail or Fell Runs

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

Plenty of cafes and hotels in the village as well as a convenience store.

Hazards

Some rough going where trees cover the path.

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking :

Various spots in Betws-y-coed – near Cunninghams next to the bridge is probably the most convenient.

Public Transport:

Snowdon Sherpa and the Conwy Valley railway line.

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

More Posts by Dave Roberts

2 thoughts on “Llyn Elsi Easy Circular Walk from Betws y Coed”

  2. Dave Roberts

    Hi Miriam – thanks for pointing that oversight out to us. We’ve added the route distance now. We reckon around 3 hours at a leisurely pace – plus any breaks you might take. We took around 2 hours – but it was a bitter January morning, so we didn’t hang about too much!

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