Cwm Idwal Circular Walk

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Cwm Idwal Circular Walk: Llyn Idwal and Devil's Kitchen

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 6 June 2026

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Ranked #445 of 974

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HikeList Score

Cwm Idwal Circular Walk scored 81/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Very Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 55
Balanced challenge 100
Scenery & wildness 98
Varied terrain 59
Accommodation 83
Food & support 68
Path quality 98
Season flexibility 89

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

The Cwm Idwal Circular Walk is a 4.8 km loop around Llyn Idwal in the Glyderau mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, Gwynedd, North Wales. It is a short day walk, usually 1.5 to 2 hours at a steady pace, but the rough mountain path makes it moderate rather than easy. This is one of the most rewarding short routes for walking in Wales: glacial scenery, classic geology, dark cliffs, and close views of Twll Du — the Devil's Kitchen.

Route Overview

Start and finish at Ogwen Cottage / Canolfan Ogwen visitor centre at Pont Pen-y-benglog, beside Llyn Ogwen on the A5. From the car park area, a clear path climbs gently through a gate into the National Nature Reserve, then loops clockwise or anticlockwise around Llyn Idwal. The route stays close to the lake, crossing rough moraines, bouldery ground, streams and a short stony shore section beneath the Devil's Kitchen and Idwal Slabs. Parking at Ogwen is small and pay-and-display, so the T10 bus or Bws Ogwen shuttle along the A5 is often the better option. For another North Wales short walk, see the Aber Falls Walk; for a longer coastal route, compare the Anglesey Coastal Path.

Cwm Idwal history and glacial geology

Cwm Idwal was the first National Nature Reserve declared in Wales, in 1954, and is one of Britain’s oldest. It is also a key site in the history of glacial geology: Charles Darwin walked here in 1842 and recognised evidence that ice had shaped the valley. Local legend links Llyn Idwal with Idwal, a prince said to have drowned in the lake, and folklore claims birds will not fly over its waters.

Notable highlights

Llyn Idwal: The dark glacial lake at the centre of the cwm and the focal point of the loop. The path gives near-continuous views across the water to the cliffs and headwall.
Devil's Kitchen (Twll Du): A black cleft in the headwall of Cwm Idwal, often seen with mist rising from it like steam. It dominates the upper end of the walk and is one of Eryri’s most recognisable mountain features.
Idwal Slabs: Broad rock slabs on the eastern side of the cwm. They are a classic mountaineering training ground, associated with generations of climbers, including Everest pioneers.
Darwin's boulders: Large erratic boulders studied by Charles Darwin during his 1842 visit. They helped him interpret the valley as a landscape shaped by past glaciation.
Arctic-alpine flora: Rare plants including Snowdon lily, purple saxifrage and moss campion survive on the cliffs. Late spring to early autumn is the best period for seeing the cwm’s plant life.

Challenges to expect

Expect a rough mountain footpath, not a surfaced lakeside stroll. The circuit crosses rocky, uneven and sometimes slippery ground, with stepping stones over streams, boulders, bare rock and a stony lake-shore section. Walking boots and waterproofs are recommended. The standard loop is moderate, but pushing higher towards the Devil's Kitchen adds a short rocky scramble and moves you into more serious mountain terrain, especially in winter.

445

Ranked #445 of 974

See the Top 100 →