List of waterfalls in Wales

Wales is a mountainous country with a wet climate and hence home to many hundreds of waterfalls. Some are popular visitor attractions, many are celebrated in legend whilst others are relatively unknown.

Naming of falls

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As might be expected in this bilingual country, many waterfalls are known by both English and Welsh names. The terms 'rhaeadr', 'sgwd', 'pistyll' and 'ffrwd' all feature in the Welsh names of waterfalls. 'Sgwd' (plural 'sgydau') is restricted to the southern part of mid Wales, notably Brecknockshire whilst 'pistyll' is common in the northern parts of mid Wales.

Alphabetical table of named waterfalls

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A, B, C

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Waterfall name River or stream OS Grid ref. general location
Aber Falls or Rhaeadr-fawr Afon Goch / Afon Rhaeadr-fawr SH668700 near Abergwyngregyn
Aberdulais Falls River Dulais SS772995 near Aberdulais
Arthog Falls Afon Arthog SH647143 near Arthog, Fairbourne
Berw-ddu Afon Dar SO962020 west of Aberdare
Berw Wion[1] Nant Lluest / Nant Berw Wion (tributary of River Rhondda) SS917997 near Blaenrhondda
Cenarth Falls River Teifi SN269415 near Cenarth
Cleddon Falls unnamed tributary of River Wye SO520039 near Llandogo
Conwy Falls or Rhaeadr y Graig Lwyd River Conwy SH808535 near Penmachno
Cyfyng Falls Afon Llugwy SH734571 near Capel Curig

D, E, F

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Waterfall name River or stream OS Grid ref. general location
Devil's Punchbowl Afon Mynach SN742770 near Devil's Bridge
Dolgoch Falls Nant Dol-goch SH654042 near Dolgoch
Dwfr Ddisgynfa Cwm-du Afon Cwmau SN041337 in Cwm Gwaun
Dyserth Falls Afon Ffyddion SJ057793 near Dyserth
Fairy Falls or Rhaeadr y Tylwyth Teg Afon Crafnant SH777630 near Trefriw
Ffrwd Fawr Afon Twymyn SN872940 near Dylife
Ffrwd Milwyn Nant Milwyn SN790732 in Cwm Ystwyth

G, H, I, J, K, L

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Waterfall name River or stream OS Grid ref. general location
Glynhir Waterfall River Loughor SN641151 near Llandybie
Gyfarllwyd Falls Afon Rheidol SN742775 near Devil's Bridge
Hengwm Waterfall[2] Afon Hengwm SN744934 near Forge
Henrhyd Falls Nant Llech SN853119 near Coelbren, Powys
Horseshoe Falls River Dee or Afon Dyfrdwy SJ195433 near Llangollen
Llanberis Waterfall[3] Afon Arddu SH578593 near Llanberis
Llech Sychryd Nant Hir, tributary of River Cynon SN991073 near Hirwaun
Lower Cilhepste Falls[4] Afon Hepste, tributary of River Mellte SN927099 near Penderyn

M, N, O

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Waterfall name River or stream OS Grid ref. general location
Machno Falls Afon Machno SH808532 near Penmachno
Melincourt Falls Melincourt Brook SN825016 near Resolven
Mynach Falls or Rhaeadr Mynach Afon Mynach SN742772 near Devil's Bridge

P, Q

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Waterfall name River or stream OS Grid ref. general location
Pistyll Blaen-y-cwm Afon Tanat SJ007276 near Pennant Melangell
Pistyll Cablyd Nant Achlas SJ014266 near Pennant Melangell
Pistyll Cain Afon Gain SH733276 in Coed y Brenin
Pistyll Du Nant y Graean, tributary of Afon Gain SH735304 north edge of Coed-y-Brenin
Pistyll Goleu Sychnant, tributary of Nant Clydach ST033963 northeast of Llanwonno
Pistyll Gwyn Afon Crawcwellt SH672299 east of Rhinogion
Pistyll Gwyn Afon Pumryd, tributary of River Dovey SH884195 near Llanymawddwy
Pistyll Henfynachlog Afon Eiddon, Afon Wnion SH807231 near Rhydymain
Pistyll y Llyn Llyfnant SN753942 south of Machynlleth
Pistyll Rhaeadr Afon Disgynfa / Afon Rhaeadr SJ073295 near Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant
Pistyll Rhyd-y-meinciau Afon Eiddew SH953246 near Llyn Efyrnwy
Pistyll y Graig-ddu Nant y Craig-ddu SJ095189 near Llanfyllin
Pistyll y Gyfyng Afon Goch SJ021246 near Llangynog
Pwll y Crochan Sychryd SN925071 near Rhigos
Pwll-y-Gerwyn[5] Dare SN991026 near Aberdare
Pwll y wrach River Ennig SO169327 southeast of Talgarth

R

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Waterfall name River or stream OS Grid ref. general location
Rhaeadr Blaenhafren River Severn SN835884 in Hafren Forest
Rhaeadr-bach Afon Rhaeadr-bach SH664697 near Abergwyngregyn
Rhaeadr Cynfal Afon Cynfal SH704412 near Llan Ffestiniog
Rhaeadr Du Afon Prysor SH667387 near Maentwrog
Rhaeadr Ewynnol or Swallow Falls Afon Llugwy SH765577 near Betws-y-coed
Rhaeadr Du or Black Waterfalls Afon Gamlan SH720245 in Coed-y-Brenin
Rhaeadr-fawr or Aber Falls Afon Goch / Afon Rhaeadr-fawr SH668700 near Abergwyngregyn
Rhaeadr Garth or Garth Falls[6] tributary of Afon Llugwy SH777568 near Betws y Coed
Rhaeadr Mawddach Afon Mawddach SH736275 in Coed-y-Brenin
Rhaeadr Mynach or Mynach Falls Afon Mynach SN742772 near Devil's Bridge
Rhaeadr Ogwen or Ogwen Falls Afon Ogwen SH648605 Nant Ffrancon
Rhaeadr Peiran Nant Peiran SN770736 in Cwm Ystwyth
Rhaeadr y Cwm Afon Cynfal SH740417 near Llan Ffestiniog
Rhaeadr y Tylwyth Teg or Fairy Falls Afon Conwy SH777631 near Trefriw
Rhayadr Cynwyd Afon Trystion SJ064405 near Cynwyd
Rheidol Falls Afon Rheidol SN709788 near Devil's Bridge

S

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Waterfall name River or stream OS Grid ref. general location
Severn-break-its-Neck or Hafren-Torri-Gwddf River Severn or Afon Hafren SN863867 in Hafren Forest
Sgwd Clun-gwyn Afon Mellte SN924109 near Ystradfellte
Sgwd Ddu Afon Haffes SN829179 near Glyntawe
Sgwd Ddwli Isaf Nedd Fechan SN903097 near Pontneddfechan
Sgwd Ddwli Uchaf Nedd Fechan SN905099 near Pontneddfechan
Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn Afon Mellte SN923106 near Ystradfellte
Sgwd Einion Gam Afon Pyrddin SN890093 near Pontneddfechan
Sgwd Gwladus Afon Pyrddin SN896093 near Pontneddfechan
Sgwd y Bedol Nedd Fechan SN902097 near Pontneddfechan
Sgwd yr Eira Afon Hepste SN928099 near Ystradfellte, Penderyn
Sgwd y Ffrwd Nant y Ffrwd SN862561 near Tywi Forest
Sgwd y Pannwr Afon Mellte SN923102 near Ystradfellte
Sgwd Wen Nant y Cae SN855457 near Llanwrtyd Wells
Sgydau Sychryd or Sychryd Cascade Afon Sychryd SN915080 near Pontneddfechan
Swallow Falls or Rhaeadr Ewynnol Afon Llugwy SH765577 near Betws-y-coed

T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

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Waterfall name River or stream OS Grid ref. general location
The Grey Mare's Tail or Rhaeadr y Parc Mawr unnamed tributary of Afon Conwy SH789610 near Llanrwst
Water-break-its-neck unnamed tributary of River Lugg SO183735 near Llangunllo
Water-break-its-neck Black Brook SO183600 near Llanfihangel Nant Melan

See also

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References

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Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 scale Explorer map series, sheets 151-266

  1. ^ Glamorgan XVII.NE (includes: Glyncorrwg; Rhondda.) (Map). 10,560. Ordnance Survey. 1900.
  2. ^ Jones, John Llewelyn (1986). The Waterfalls of Wales (First ed.). London: Robert Hale Ltd. p. 95. ISBN 070902584X.
  3. ^ Jones, John Llewelyn (1986). The Waterfalls of Wales (First ed.). London: Robert Hale Ltd. p. 187. ISBN 070902584X.
  4. ^ Jones, John Llewelyn (1986). The Waterfalls of Wales (First ed.). London: Robert Hale Ltd. p. 49. ISBN 070902584X.
  5. ^ "RCT Libraries Digital Archive". Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  6. ^ Jones, John Llewelyn (1986). The Waterfalls of Wales (First ed.). London: Robert Hale Ltd. p. 169. ISBN 070902584X.