6 Autumn Walks in North Wales: Forests, Lakes and Coast

Updated: August 08, 2026

Autumn walking in North Wales doesn’t have to mean heading high into the mountains. Some of the best colour is lower down, around lakes and woodland. Waterfalls are often livelier after wetter weather, the coast becomes quieter after summer and shorter routes make much more sense once the daylight begins to disappear earlier.

These six walks have been chosen because they’re genuinely different from one another. There’s a lakeside circuit, a short forest climb, a river and gorge walk, a waterfall, a flexible coastal option and a route through oak woodland and North Wales’s slate landscape.

None depends on finding one mythical week of “peak autumn colour”. Conditions change from year to year, so the better approach is to look at the forecast, decide how much walking you actually want to do and choose accordingly.

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Which Autumn Walk Should You Choose?

• Llyn Crafnant Circuit
  5 km / 3.1 miles · 1-2 hours · Easy
  Best for: lake views and autumn colour
  From the cottages: 25-30 minutes
• Llwybr Cyrau
  2.4 km / 1.4 miles · Around 1½ hours · Moderate
  Best for: a short forest walk with a climb
  From the cottages: around 20 minutes
• Aberglaslyn, Bryn Du & Beddgelert
  5.6 km / 3.5 miles · 1½-2½ hours · Challenging
  Best for: river, gorge and ancient woodland
  From the cottages: 50-60 minutes
• Rhaeadr Fawr (Aber Falls)
  4.5 km / 2.8 miles · Around 1 hour · Easy
  Best for: a waterfall after wetter weather
  From the cottages: around 45 minutes
• Conwy Morfa
  Choose your own distance · Flexible · Mostly easy
  Best for: coast, open space and cloudy mountain days
  From the cottages: around 20 minutes
• Parc Padarn Nature Walk
  Around 2 km · 1-1½ hours · Uneven in places
  Best for: oak woodland and slate heritage
  From the cottages: 45-50 minutes

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1. Llyn Crafnant Circuit: Best for Lake Views and Autumn Colour

If we had to choose one straightforward autumn walk close to Conwy Valley Getaway, Llyn Crafnant would be difficult to beat.

The lake sits beneath the eastern Carneddau, with woodland on the lower slopes and crags rising beyond the head of the water. On a calm day, the combination of lake, trees and mountain backdrop does most of the work for you.

The official Llyn Crafnant Circuit is a 5 km circular route, graded easy and taking around one to two hours. The path uses a mixture of wide tracks, tarmac and forest roads, with some rougher sections beside the lake.

It is worth being realistic about the autumn colour. This is not an entirely deciduous landscape, and parts of Gwydir Forest are coniferous. What makes Crafnant work is the mixture: patches of changing woodland, darker evergreen forest, water and the bare crags above.

If you want to explore more of the area, our guide to Gwydir Forest covers other walks and places to stop nearby.

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2. Llwybr Cyrau: Best for a Short Forest Walk with Some Effort

Llwybr Cyrau starts almost in the middle of Betws-y-Coed, but it doesn’t take long to leave the village behind.

Follow the white waymarkers from Pont-y-Pair and the route climbs into Gwydir Forest. It is only 2.4 km long, but with 141 metres of ascent packed into that distance, it feels more substantial than the mileage suggests.

Natural Resources Wales grades the trail moderate and describes it as narrow and rough in places, with rocks, tree roots, cliff edges and some steep climbing and descending. The official time is around 1½ hours.

This isn’t our choice for the brightest autumn leaves. Much of the forest here includes large Douglas firs. Instead, Cyrau earns its place because it gives you something different: tall forest, a proper short climb and views back towards Betws-y-Coed. It’s a useful option if you want to walk in the morning and still have time for lunch, shops or a wander around the village afterwards.

Our Betws-y-Coed guide has more on parking, what to do in the village and how to make a fuller day of it.

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3. Aberglaslyn, Bryn Du and Beddgelert: Best for River and Gorge Scenery

Aberglaslyn is sometimes described as though it were simply an easy stroll beside the river. This particular route is not.

The National Trust’s Aberglaslyn, Bryn Du and Beddgelert walk starts from Nantmor and combines ancient woodland, open views, Beddgelert and the Aberglaslyn gorge in a 5.6 km circular route.

It’s officially graded challenging, despite being only 3.5 miles long. The walk begins with a steep climb and includes uneven paths, stiles, a railway crossing and a short section beside the road. Allow roughly 1½ to 2½ hours. That extra effort is what makes this one of the most varied walks on the list.

Autumn suits it particularly well because much of the interest is below mountain level. You get woodland and river scenery even when the higher summits are hidden, while the gorge feels very different after a spell of wetter weather.

Beddgelert also gives you the option of stopping for food or coffee rather than treating the outing as purely a walk.

You can read more about the village and its most famous story in our Beddgelert and Gelert’s Grave guide.

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4. Rhaeadr Fawr (Aber Falls): Best After Autumn Rain

Some walks become less appealing when the weather has been wet. Rhaeadr Fawr is one where the rain can improve the main attraction.

The waterfall lies above Abergwyngregyn at the northern edge of the Carneddau. The official there-and-back route is 4.5 km, graded easy and takes around an hour. There is a steady climb of about 100 metres, and although much of the route is broad and straightforward, sections nearer the waterfall can be rougher or uneven. We’d allow longer than the official hour if you want to stop at the falls rather than simply walk there and straight back.

Autumn also changes the feel of the route. Lower light, damp woodland and increased water after rainfall can make the falls more impressive than during a dry spell. That doesn’t mean “the wetter, the better”. Strong winds, flooding, poor visibility and very wet surfaces can all change the sensible plan for the day. Check the forecast and current route information before setting out.

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5. Conwy Morfa: Best When the Mountains Are Under Cloud

Not every autumn day needs to be spent in Eryri. If the mountain forecast is poor but the coast looks better, Conwy Morfa is one of the easiest alternatives from the Conwy Valley.

There’s no single official “Conwy Morfa Circular” and we think that is part of its usefulness. You can walk along the beach, through the dunes, follow the tarmac path behind them or pick up part of the Wales Coast Path. Make it a short wander or keep going for a longer outing.

From the eastern side, the coast path is uneven in places as it skirts the golf course, while the beach itself becomes shingly in sections. From the western side, there is a surfaced path behind the dunes as well as narrower sandy paths through them.

Autumn is a good time to see this place for what it is rather than treating it purely as a beach. There are wide views towards the Great Orme and Conwy Mountain, fewer reasons to hurry anywhere and plenty of space when the summer beach weather has gone.

It’s also the walk on this list where changing your mind halfway through is easiest. If the weather closes in, simply turn around.

You could easily combine the walk with a few hours in Conwy, particularly outside the busiest summer weeks.

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6. Parc Padarn Nature Walk: Best for Woodland and Slate Heritage

Parc Padarn gives us something none of the other walks does.

The Nature Walk starts at Gilfach Ddu and follows green waymarkers for around 2 km. It takes roughly one to 1½ hours and runs through oak woodland before passing evidence of the area’s glacial and industrial history. There are glimpses towards Vivian Quarry and the route finishes at a viewpoint made from slate waste above Llyn Padarn.

This is a particularly good autumn combination. The oak woodland provides seasonal colour, but the route is not solely about trees. Old quarry workings, slate, lake and the mountains around Llanberis give the walk a character that is unmistakably North Wales. It’s also short enough for a day when the weather is uncertain or daylight is limited.

If the walking side of the slate landscape interests you, our guide to Walking the Slate Trail covers more routes through the same industrial heartland.

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Planning an Autumn Walk in North Wales

Autumn can be one of the most enjoyable times to walk here, but it needs slightly different planning from summer.

Don’t Plan Around One “Peak Colour” Weekend

There’s no reliable date when the whole of North Wales suddenly turns gold.

Tree species, altitude, wind, rainfall and temperature all affect when leaves change and how long they remain on the trees. A storm can undo a week of good colour overnight.

It’s better to choose a walk that works for more than the leaves. Llyn Crafnant still has its lake and mountains, Aber Falls still has its waterfall and Parc Padarn still has its slate landscape.

Remember the Shorter Days

A route that feels easy to start at 4pm in June is a different proposition later in autumn.

Check sunset time before longer outings, particularly if you are travelling some distance first. Starting earlier also gives you more room to change plans if weather or parking causes delays.

Expect Slippery Ground

Wet leaves can hide mud, stones and roots. Woodland paths that feel straightforward in summer can become surprisingly slippery after prolonged rain.

Walking shoes or boots with a decent grip are worthwhile even on several of the shorter routes in this guide.

Check the Forecast for the Actual Location

The weather in Conwy, Betws-y-Coed, Llanberis and Beddgelert can be quite different on the same day.

You don’t have to abandon walking because the mountains are under cloud. That might simply be the day for Conwy Morfa, Parc Padarn or a lower woodland route instead.

Check the Official Route Page Before Leaving

Forestry work, storm damage, flooding and maintenance can lead to temporary diversions or closures. This matters particularly in woodland during autumn and winter.

For walks on Natural Resources Wales land, follow current signs even if they differ from an older map or route description.

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Using the Conwy Valley as a Base for Autumn Walking

One reason we like this selection is that the walks spread in several different directions. As one guest put it, there is genuinely a trail in every direction from here.

Betws-y-Coed is around 20 minutes from Conwy Valley Getaway, Conwy Morfa around 20 minutes and Llyn Crafnant around 25-30. Rhaeadr Fawr, Parc Padarn and Beddgelert take you farther into different parts of North Wales. That gives you some flexibility. You can look out of the window in the morning, check the forecast and choose the route that makes most sense rather than building the whole trip around one mountain day.

For guests staying at Conwy Valley Getaway, the indoor swimming pool and private hot tubs are particularly welcome after a cold or damp walk, but autumn here is not really about rushing back indoors. On a clear day, the light across the Conwy Valley can be just as good at the end of the afternoon.

If a week of walks like these sounds like your kind of autumn break, take a look at Fig Tree and Laurel, or get in touch if you have questions about which walks might suit your plans.

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FAQs

When Is the Best Time for Autumn Colours in North Wales?

There is no guaranteed peak week. Woodland colour usually develops through the autumn rather than appearing everywhere at once, and wind and weather can shorten the display considerably. If autumn colour matters to your trip, check recent local conditions rather than booking around a fixed date.

Which of These Autumn Walks Is Easiest?

Llyn Crafnant Circuit and Rhaeadr Fawr are both officially graded easy. Conwy Morfa can be even gentler if you simply choose a short section of beach or surfaced path. Llwybr Cyrau is short but involves considerably more climbing and rougher ground.

Which Walk Is Best With a Dog?

Conwy Morfa is particularly straightforward because dogs are welcome on the site. Dogs can also join the other walks, subject to local restrictions and responsible control. On the Aberglaslyn route they should be kept on a lead, especially around livestock. Always check signs at the start of a route.

Where Should We Walk if the Mountain Weather Is Poor?

Do not assume poor conditions on the summits mean the whole day is lost. Conwy Morfa gives you a coastal option, while Parc Padarn, Llyn Crafnant and Llwybr Cyrau keep much of the interest at lower level. Strong wind or heavy rain can still make any outdoor route unsuitable, so check the local forecast before leaving.

Some photos: © Crown Copyright