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We have spent a great deal of time exploring around Lake Vyrnwy (Llyn Efyrnwy or Llyn Llanwddyn) and only plan to spend even more time there, it is such a wonderful beauty spot with so many little surprises around every corner. One of the most popular hidden gems in the area is Rhiwargor Waterfall, and it is easy to see why - situated a breezy walk from the northern point of Lake Vyrnwy, this is a cracking little stroll through Welsh farmland to an amazing set of cascades that should not be missed. The walk will take you through the floor of a valley providing scenic views as you walk without requiring you to scale mountains to get there. Rhiwargor Waterfall, as with a lot of our stop-offs around Wales, can easily be extended to greater walks thanks to its great connections to other walking routes or be kept to a quick half-hour trek depending on what you are in the mood for.
Rhiwargor Waterfall has dedicated parking at Lake Vyrnwy - we covered arriving at Lake Vyrnwy in the main article but as a quick overview, you can get to the lake either by coming from the south off of the A458 near Llangadfan and following the B4395 or coming from the north via the country lanes that connect through to Bala. Driving around this area is generally okay, it is what you would come to expect for country roads around Wales but I would argue these are some of the nicer ones with the roads in the south being amply wide and offering fairly good visibility compared to most. That is unlike the roads to the north, which are proper single track roads with high verges, if you don't fancy country lanes I would try to approach from the south! Once at the lake, you need to make your way to the northernmost edge of the lake to find the signposted Rhiwargor Waterfall Car Park and once you are ready you can get started on your walk.
Now that you are ready to depart, head out of the opposite end of the car park that you drove through and down onto the fields. A well-trodden path is clear and easy to follow and the Afon Eiddew runs parallel to the walking paths making for a serene and picturesque walk. At parts, you may ascend and descend up small sections, but there are no major climbs here so overall it is a pretty easy going route framed between hills along a gentle river. If you find the paths difficult to follow at any point just keep the river on your right and soldier forwards, you will soon rejoin the path and if you don't our destination is on the river anyway so you will be going the correct way with or without a trail to follow.
There are multiple routes to follow that can lead you to the falls, but as mentioned above the simplest is to keep the river on your right, ignoring other turnings and skipping past the stone bridge until your path eventually crosses a wooden bridge, cross over and you are now just a short walk away from the first viewpoint at the foot of the lower falls. This viewpoint sees you a relatively short distance away from the waterfall, at some smaller white-water drops but with a great view of the torrent in its entirety.
The falls themselves are a beautiful set of small and large cascades that are truly more than the sum of their parts. In the summer, a handful of gentle trickles bound their way over the rocks, and in the winter a torrent of white water smashes its way down. It is a perfect little spot for a moment's peace, with plenty of greenery and great views all around the valley you just walked. There is more to be seen though - as long as you are prepared to get your feet wet! From the picnic area, there are several viable spots that can be waded across, water level permitting, to gain access to further views and private pools up the hillside. Look for areas where the rocks break out of the water's surface and take caution if you cannot spot an easy area to cross - fast-moving water is no joke and will sweep you off your feet if you aren't careful, so if there isn't an obvious path don't risk it. In the drier months, you should be able to cross from riverbank to bank without getting your feet wet at all, unless you slip in of course! Admittedly, I have never been able to take advantage of this, either because the weather hasn't allowed for it or I didn't have spare/appropriate footwear and didn't fancy driving home with soggy toes - so this is one that we will have to revisit on a future adventure...
Now your return trip could be as simple as retracing your footsteps, but you may notice the alternative path out of the viewing area for the waterfall on the opposite side of the river to which you approached. There is a woodland walk extending out from the waterfall base that has a few options - the simplest is to walk down the riverside, following a well-defined track until reaching a fork in the road where you can turn right and are able to cross the stone bridge you passed on your way up. Alternatively, take the left at the fork to continue your walk, joining up with the nearby lane and potentially connecting on to other extended walks. Our walk detailed above shows the first part of extending the walk, where you continue into the woods until joining the road and circling back around to the car park - of course, you don't have to do this and walks to begin from this road; look for the brown dashed lines on our maps for other potential walks in the area.
Speaking of branching out, there are absolutely tons of options for further adventures around Lake Vyrnwy, I covered an overview of the lake and all of its wonders here. That being said, you can pretty much pick any path away from the lake and discover amazing adventures in the wooded hills that frame the sparkling waters at Vyrnwy. If you are willing to travel a bit further afield, Lake Vyrnwy marks the entrance to Snowdonia (when travelling west), so there are so many spectacular places just a stones-throw away that you must check out as many as you can!
Hopefully, this has been enough to tempt you to give Rhiwagor Falls and Lake Vyrnwy a visit sometime soon, the falls especially are an awe-inspiring walk that should be accessible to almost all skill levels and will impress and inspire all the same; a great reward for not too much work. Next time you find yourself barrelling towards Snowdonia and all its glory, plan in a diversion to check out these breathtaking beauty spots; I guarantee what starts out as a quick stop will turn into a full day's adventure!
