Snowdonia (Eryri) Water Sports

Eryri National Park(formerly Snowdonia) is a huge draw for outdoor enthusiasts, with hikers and cyclists accounting for many of the four million visitors who flock here every year, The park’s towering mountains and extensive pine forests are also honeycombed with dramatic lakes and sparkling rivers, where lovers of water sports will find a natural home. Our Snowdonia water sports guide takes in everything from white water rafting on the Tryweryn River to great spots for kayaking and paddleboarding, with some fabulous places for wild swimming thrown in.

Snowdonia watersports and activity centres

One of the great things about water sports in Snowdonia is the sense of freedom – if you have your own gear and equipment (or even just a wetsuit), the choice of locations is huge. But if you’re looking for organised activities, the following centres offer everything from equipment rental to training courses.

• Snowdonia Watersports rents out kayaks and paddleboards at Llyn Padarn (£30 for 2 hours, including a wetsuit, paddle and buoyancy aid), and you can book online. The centre also has changing facilities, a cafe and a well-stocked equipment store on site, and offers paddleboarding sessions with an instructor.
• Bala Adventure and Water Sports, a well-equipped centre based at Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake), rents out paddleboards, single or double kayaks, canoes, rowing boats, a variety of sailing boats and windsurfing equipment by the hour, day or half-day, with paddles and buoyancy aids included. They also offer a range of training courses and taster sessions. No experience is necessary, but you must be able to swim at least 25 metres.

The National Outdoor Centre Plas y Brenin offers paddling courses and individual instruction from its base at Llynnau Mymbyr.  

White water rafting

Adrenaline fuelled, thrilling and a lot of fun, white water rafting is a great activity for families and groups, and requires no previous experience. There’s nothing like plunging through the rapids with the water flying around your ears, so here’s our pick for the best place to go white water rafting in Snowdonia.

National White Water Centre

The National White Water Centre, on the River Tryweryn at Frongoch, near Bala, is one of the best places in the UK for white water rafting. The River Tryweryn here is fed by a dam, so the flow of water is reliable all year round, even in summer, with Grade 3 and 4 rapids on the upper section and Grade 2 and 3 lower down. Periodic water releases from the dam add an extra thrill, and there’s a boat shuttle that ferries rafters back upriver. There’s a café on site, and those who don’t wish to take part can walk or picnic by the river.

Rafting trips are suitable for anyone over the age of 12, including both novices and experienced rafters, provided they can swim 25 metres. All trips are accompanied by an experienced guide and include a safety briefing. Helmets, buoyancy aids and boots are provided, and you’ll need a full-length wetsuit (available to hire).

The following trips are offered (prices as of 2024, book in advance):  

• Ultimate (from £84pp) – a longer trip of around two hours, with three runs through the rapids on the upper part of the river.

• Rapids Session (£54pp) – an hour-long trip through the upper rapids.

• Safari (£310 per raft, 2-5 people) – a 90-minute trip through the gentler Grade 2 and 3 rapids on the lower part of the river. Suitable for age 10+, with the chance to swim en route.

• Kayaking (£22 facility fee) for experienced canoers with their own equipment, 

The centre also runs thrilling offsite canyoning trips (£75pp, 12+, 2 hours plus travel time), during which you can climb and swim through the pools, drops and natural slides on a steep mountain river, led by an experienced guide.

Kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding

From lake paddles to white water adventures, kayaking and paddleboarding are great ways to get out on Eryri’s lakes and rivers and experience the beauty of the surrounding forest and mountains. 

For a gentle introduction to the sport, Llyn Tegid (Wales’ largest natural lake), Llyn Gwynant and Llyn Padarn all have places that offer kayak/paddleboard rental, and Llyn Geirionydd, near Gwydir Forest Park, is a popular spot if you have your own boat or board. The Canoe Wales website has a handy guide to several other lakes in the park where you can take to the water.  

If you’re an experienced whitewater kayaker with your own equipment, check out the Grade 3-4 rapids on the River (Afon) Conwy near Betws-y-Coed. Afon Glaslyn between Llyn Dinas and Beddgelert has a relatively straightforward three-mile run with Grade 1 and 2 rapids. Below this, the short Grade 5 section in the Aberglaslyn Gorge is a different matter entirely, and should only be attempted by experts.The Afon Llugwy has several good sections too. Needless to say, it’s important to do your research and check local conditions before you set out.

Wild swimming

Undoubted benefits for health and wellbeing – including reducing inflammation, boosting your immune system and sheer exhilaration – mean that wild swimming has experienced a surge in popularity. It has the added benefit of requiring no special equipment or facilities to try it out, and provided you bear a few simple safety rules in mind, there’s no better place to dip your toes in the water than Snowdonia. 

Wild swimming safety considerations: 

• The water in the mountains can be very cold, so a swimming cap, neoprene gloves and boots, or even a wetsuit, are worth considering, and will let you swim for a little longer.

• Check for underwater hazards, strong currents or fast-flowing stretches, and look for safe places where you can enter or leave the water. Ask for recommendations from locals, or look for where others are swimming already.

• Know your limits, acclimatise gradually, and don’t spend too long in the water until you’re comfortable with the conditions.

• Swim with a friend or a group.

• Have warm clothes ready to change into. A hot drink, a snack and a few brisk exercises afterwards will help you warm up and restore some energy.

If you prefer a site where there are cafés or other people nearby, swimming is possible in many of the places we’ve already mentioned, including Llyn Tegid, Llyn Padarn and Llyn Geirionydd. If you cherish the pleasure of having a place to yourself, here are a few more out-of-the-way places to try:

• Watkin Pools – idyllic, crystal-clear natural pools by the Watkin Path running up Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), a mile’s walk from the Pont Bethania car park in the village of Nant Gwynant. 
• The 16th-century Penmachno Bridge on the B4406 is close to a number of easily accessible pools on the Machno River.
• Llyn Cau is a remote glacial lake on the slopes of Cadair Idris, surrounded by towering cliffs. It’s a testing two-mile walk from the Dol-Idris car park along the Minffordd Path, but for many that just adds to the allure. 
• Llyn Dinas near Beddgelert is surrounded by forest, has great views of Snowdon and is easy to reach (with a parking area just off the A498). 

With more than 100 lakes and countless rivers, Snowdonia was made for wild swimming. With a little research, you’ll be able to discover no end of beautiful locations to explore. The Wild Swimming website is a good place to start looking.

 

Snowdonia is the perfect place for water sports. Healthy exercise, tranquility, enchanting surroundings – what more could you ask for? Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there’s a river or a lake out there just waiting for you. 

Want to combine your water sports trip with a camping holiday? Check out Pitchup’s guide to campsites in Snowdonia (Eryri)

 

For more information, visit:

Snowdonia official website – wild swimming and water activities

Visit Snowdonia’s water sports page.