Aber Falls (Rhaeaadr Fawr in Welsh) was the first hike we did as a family of five and it was a great way to start!
What’s not to love about a magical forest walk leading to an amazing waterfall with a rock pool at the bottom where you can dip your feet? It was perfect for our young family. Highly recommended if you’re in North Wales.
1. Where is Aber Falls?
Aber Falls is located in Gwynedd, North Wales. Located just off junction 13 of the A55, it’s easy to find and access.
Please use the address: Abergwynregyn, Llanfairfechan LL33 0LP
find parking in Aber Falls with Google Maps or SatNav. There will be signs as you approach, so you won’t miss it.
2. How high is Aber Falls Waterfall?
A 37 meter high waterfall cascades into the pool. Perfect for brave swimmers!
There are many shallow, rocky pools at the bottom of the falls, perfect for kids to clamber and climb.
3. Is it suitable for children?
Many articles I read online about the Aber Falls trail suggest that the hike is very difficult and that you must be an experienced hiker. This is absolutely not true.
We did the Aber Falls walk with a double stroller!
My 6 year old son was able to do it without any problems. My 4-year-old son walked about 3/4 of the way, but on the way back to the car he got tired and jumped in the stroller at the end. And my 18 month old son walked some sections of it. It’s really not difficult. It’s not a walk in the park, but you don’t have to be an experienced hiker!
That’s why this hike is perfect for young families and groups with inexperienced walkers, mobility issues, and varying fitness levels.
The stroller we have is an off-road buggy. It’s a mountain buggy duet, so it’s suitable for all terrain, and while a wheelchair or regular stroller would have a hard time with it, I saw a lot of families with regular umbrella strollers!
4. The Aber Falls trail
The walkway at Aber Falls is beautiful, so the waterfall is not the only point of this walk. There are lots of native plants along the trail, and lots of wildlife and things to stop and observe. Some archaeological sites are thought to date back over 2,000 years!
The mountain trail is well-marked and easy to follow. I literally never got lost.
This trail does not follow the river like many waterfall walks. As you walk through trees and fields, it’s easy to lose your bearings and never know when a waterfall will appear.
How long does the walk take?
It should take a healthy adult less than 30 minutes to walk to the falls.
We were with young kids so it took about an hour each way with lots of breaks and snack breaks!
There are two parking lots, but they are close together so you don’t have to worry about which one to park.
The path is easy to walk as it is made of stones, but there is a significant incline on the way to the waterfall. I’m not saying you need to be particularly healthy, but you may just need to take it slow. Thankfully, the return trip is a gentle downhill slope, so it’s pretty easy.
I pushed the stroller 90% of the way until I finally reached some steps. Then we left the stroller on the side of the road and held our little girl. I’m not going to lie. Parts of the walk were a bit difficult with the stroller, but we managed to get through it together. It was so worth it as I was able to easily push my two tired kids back downhill!
5. Aber Falls car park
Aber Falls has two small car parks that can accommodate approximately 30 cars. There is an upper parking lot and a lower parking lot. You don’t have much choice as to which parking lot you get as it’s often very crowded!
The cost is £5 and you have to pay in cash, so make sure you have 5 £1 coins handy!
It’s a popular walk so we highly recommend arriving around 9am to secure a parking space.
We visited on a lovely Saturday in June. We arrived at 10am and grabbed one of the last spaces in the parking lot.
If there is no parking available, there is a parking lot at the entrance to the village, which is a further 30 minute walk.
If you are driving into the Aber Falls car park, follow the single-track road through Abergwingreggin. I’ve heard that on busy days the roads can get congested and it can be difficult to get through the village. Nothing was too much trouble during our visit, but be sure to arrive early just in case!
6. Is it busy?
Yes I am busy. It wasn’t busy enough to ruin it for us, but don’t go here if you’re expecting solitude.
7. What’s the Aber Falls Circular Route?
There is also another walking path called the circular route. It’s a 4 mile walk and takes approximately 3 hours. We didn’t do that, but you can read more here. This walk offers views of Anglesey on the way back. I’ll update this article once the kids are a little older and we can do it too!
8. What should you wear to walk to Aber Falls?
I’m not saying you need any special equipment, but this is Wales so it’s always best to be prepared for rain. I don’t wear flip-flops, I never wear heels, and I don’t wear jeans if there’s a chance of rain. But other than that, most clothes are fine!
Disclaimer: All of these photos were taken for a campaign I was working on with Keen Footwear, which is why we’re all wearing Keen sandals. They were really perfect for this walk and we all loved them. It’s been almost a year and we’re still wearing it.
Recommended wear/packing:
- Comfortable and grippy shoes
- If it’s a hot day and there’s a chance of paddling on the river, walking sandals are a good option
- Comfortable activewear (but you can really wear whatever you want)
- packable waterproof jacket
- Packable waterproof pants if it looks like it’s going to rain
- A small backpack for drinks and snacks
- A hat on a sunny day, a hat on a cold day
- A flask of tea or coffee (I usually leave this in the car after a walk)
- A towel if you plan on paddling or swimming
- If you want to get in right away, wear a swimsuit!
- camera
9. Aber Falls Whiskey Distillery
Aber Falls Whiskey Distillery is nearby, so you can spend a full day on a distillery tour. You can also try your hand at a gin lab where you can make your own gin.
There is also a visitor center and a nice bistro along the river!
10. Tips for visiting Aber Falls
- If it’s a nice weekend, arrive early – by 9am
- Please bring 5 £1 coins to the car park
- Please note that if it is crowded you will need to park in the free parking lot in the village (30 minute walk to the start of the trail)
- let’s go on a picnic
- Then consider visiting Aber Falls Whiskey Distillery and Bistro
- Suitable for off-road strollers
- If you don’t have an off-road stroller, a baby carrier would be a good idea
Read more:
25 things to do in North Wales
A week-long itinerary to explore the best of North Wales
Best places to camp in North Wales
Visit Portmeirion, an Italianate village in North Wales
Visit to Guwach Castle (I’m a Celeb!’s castle!)
See more photos
