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The Ferns Cottage
The Ferns Cottage
Rural Holiday Cottages
The Lake Trail
A challenging but rewarding walk to Llyn Elsi – the lake that sits in the hills above Betws-y-Coed.
Access the Trail
Enjoy the beauty of Llyn Elsi after a challenging uphill trail nestled behind Fern’s Cottage
Llyn Elsi Circular Trail
Discover the majestic lake that lies in the hills above Betws-y-Coed – the perfect location for a picnic with magnificent views.
Embark on a challenging ascent to Llyn Elsi, a serene mountain lake. Trek through rocky, steep terrain to reach the summit, where breathtaking views of the lake and distant hills await, rewarding your efforts with nature’s grandeur.
Spend some time walking around the lake before descending back down to Betws-y-Coed for a much deserved break!
Distance: 2.7 miles (4.43km)
Duration: 2-3 hours
Difficulty: Challenging
Ensure you wear suitable footwear, the path is very steep and can be very rocky. The trail is likely to be muddy after rainfall.
The Trail
Start out from the Cottage and take a left to walk up towards the church.
Take a left to begin your ascent uphill by the sign marking the start of the trail.
Follow the trail up hill – the hill is very steep and you will ascend for 264m. Keep an eye out for the signs along the path to let you know how close to the summit you are!
There are plenty of rest stops and benches to take a break on along the way, feel free to stop off and take a breather!
When you reach the small wooden bridge on your right, continue straight up the hill. We can use the bridge on the way down later!
Continue to follow the trail at the top of the hill until you come to a junction, take the left hand turn and head towards the lake.
Feel free to walk around the trail surrounding the lake if you wish the extend your walk. There is a circular trail around Llyn Elsi. Alternatively, you can stick to our trail and take a right and head towards the monument.
Make sure you take a moment to take in the view of the lake and maybe walk down to the waters edge!
Continue along the path and head up the hill towards the monument. There are a few benches up here and this can be a really peaceful spot to have a break and take in the surrounding views. You can get a great view of the lake from here, or you can turn around and see all the other peaks waiting for you to climb!
From the monument, you can either walk around the lake if you haven’t done so already, you can come back the way you came and head back towards Betws-y-Coed, or you can continue following our trail.
Our Trail for the way down in a lot steeper, rockier and muddier than the way up! So make sure you have suitable footwear and are prepared for a challenging descent.
If you’ve chose to follow our trail – then head behind the monument and take the right hand path into the forest. This path can get very muddy!
Continue following the path until you reach a road. Cross over the road and head down a small path marked out by a wooden post.
Keep heading down this path, there are some really great views from here! Once again, when you reach a road, cross over and head down the small path marked by the wooden post. It’s about to get a lot steeper!
Continue to follow the path as you descend down the hill, it is really rocky here so watch your footing! The path will zig-zag all the way down to the bottom and eventually you will come out by the wooden bridge from the start of the walk.
Take a left and head back down the hill.
Once you reach the bottom of the hill, turn right and head back towards the Cottage for a well earned rest!
Trail also available on AllTrails
Scan to QR code to download the AllTrails walking app for easier navigation of our custom made route.
Ready to book your stay?
If our enchanting cottages and picturesque surroundings have captured your imagination, why wait? Book your stay now and indulge in the cozy comforts and serene beauty that await you.
We can’t wait to welcome you to your perfect getaway.