Capel Curig Classic
Snowdonia, Wales
Route by Kathryn Roberts and Hero Douglas
On a sunny day in Capel Curig Eryri, Hero and Kat headed off on a micro Ruckraft adventure. Making use of the trails from Capel Curig and with two beautiful lakes within easy access by foot, this route provides everything from trail, forest to breath-taking views of the Snowdon Horseshoe … obviously not forgetting water to swim in.
Overview
This route is great for someone wanting to have a go at an easy mini-adventure that combines both walking and swimming. The lakes are easy to access and very picturesque, whilst the walk between is a beautiful meandering path that shows off a lot of what Capel Curig and this patch of Snowdonia has to offer.
LOCATION: Capel Curig, Snowdonia
STARTING POINT (A): Llyn Geirionydd
END POINT (B): Capel Curig
Total distance: 9 miles
Distance: ABOVE (hike, run): 7.5 miles
BELOW (swim): 1.5 miles (Variable based on experience)
This is what makes it so accessible for everyone.
DURATION: Allow 3-5 hours
DIFFICULTY: easy to moderate
OS Map: OL17 Snowdonia
A place to stay: if you can get a big group together then there’s the very special St Curigs Church.
Before you set off, please read our safety guide and blog post on the risks of biosecurity. And here is our recommended kit list.
Need to know
Terrain: 913ft (Undulating under foot. Walking shoes are required)
ABOVE: some steep hills, uneven terrain, muddy if wet
BELOW: lakes, deep and murky water, slippery surfaces
Directions to start of route: The best way to do this route is in a group or with a pair for ease of transport and because it’s more fun! Start by leaving one car at the small free carpark behind Joe Browns shop in Capel Curig and then take another to the start of your route, which is the carpark at Llyn Geirionydd.
Safety and practical information: There are toilets at Llyn Geirionydd but other than that it’s quite sparse on that front! Lunch wise it’s best to bring a packed lunch as there aren’t many cafes on route but there are some beautiful viewpoints to stop for a snack. Once you’ve finished there is a wonderful cafe in Capel Curig called Siabod Cafe which is open until 5 and a few nice pubs which are open later if you miss that. The public transport isn’t great in Capel Curig so we definitely recommend having a car at each end or alternatively pre arranging a taxi to take you back to the start point at the end of the day.
Highlights
Capel Curig is a beautiful sleepy village in the very heart of Eryri (Snowdonia), with a small population and two pubs, a café, mountaineering centre and two outdoor gear shops. The village is surrounded by mountains and it’s the perfect place to explore and escape the hustle and bustle. More often than not people drive through and miss out on the beauty it has to offer and this is exactly why we have chosen this route.
Snowdonia National Park is the second area in Wales to be designated as an International Dark Sky Reserve. On a clear night there is nowhere better to be, and a swim under the stars is a magical must!
LLynnau Mymbyr – are two lakes in one. Sat at the very bottom of the Snowdon Massif with the most incredible views of the Horseshoe. Once you have finished up there Plas Y Brenin the national outdoor centre is the perfect pit stop for food and drink with a view. It is always so rewarding to look back on the journey you have done. The lake itself is ¾ of a mile long and lovely to swim in.
Llyn Geirionydd – Nestled away on the northern edge of the beautiful Gwydir Forest, where the forest meets the lower parts of the Carneddau mountain range. This tranquil lake is no longer a hidden local secret and can get very busy with a number of crafts and swimmers BUT we know the best access points and times to go here. The lake itself gives off a very remote feeling yet you are only ever 10 minutes away from civilisation. We have both spent many years visiting this lake and it is a special place full of happy memories that we wish to share with you guys!
We LOVE our Coffi and Cake which is why a visit to Caffi Siabod is a highlight for us!
Description
Llyn Geirionydd is very popular in the summer so it might be best to go off-season. Leave your car in the car park at the south eastern end of the lake and from here follow the little country lane along the eastern side of the water to the northern end near to the Taliesin monument. Here you’ll find a little pebble beach where the River Geirionydd (more stream like than river) enters the head of the lake and this is the perfect place to enter the water. The one mile swim the whole length of the lake is gorgeous. At the far end there is another little beach to exit the water.
Walk away from the car park side of the lake to the western shore and here you’ll join the forestry track and will enter the maze of tracks which make up the Gwydir Forest (it’s easy to get slightly lost). The path bears gently west and then veers south again. You will pass the eastern edge of Llyn Bychan and you’ll also see the paths that go left to Llyn Goddionduon (it’s worth having a quick peak if you have time) but take a right and head south and then west where you’ll join the Snowdonia Slate Trail which is pretty well marked back to Capel Curig.
Cross over the A5 by St Curig’s Church and follow the old A5 up behind the shop Joe Browns (passing your car) after a few hundred meters go through a gate (by a house) and turn left to follow the footpath until it drops down to the A4087. Cross the road cutting back to Plas y Brenin (mountaineering centre which has an all-day bar and restaurant if snacks are needed) and drop down a short steep path to Llynau Mymbyr. Go over the wooden bridge and make your way to the little cove to embark on the final swim.
Swim to the end of the first part of Llyn Mymbyr and then get out on a small beach. Bushwhack about 40 meters up to the path which takes you back along the lake then follow the forestry paths back to the A5 just by the Siabod Café should you want cake! Walk along the pavement for the short distance along the A5 and back to your car.
Your guide(S)
Want to give this route a go, but not ready to go it alone? Kat (right) and Hero (left) are based in Snowdon. Kat is a qualified mountain leader and Open Water Swim Coach and you can contact her here.
Hero is a volunteer on the Ogwen Valley mountain rescue and lives at the wonderful St Curigs in the heart of Capel Curig (definitely the place to stay if you can get a group together). Hero is on hero@herodouglas.com
They’ve got a few more routes for adventures over land and water so options are available. The area is all hills, rivers and lakes. So it’s made for cross country swimming.
Ewch ymlaen i'w wneud.
All our local guides are qualified lifeguards or swimguides with first-hand experience of the route.