Llyn Elsi is a famous lake in Betws-y-Coed.
An idyllic mountain lake hidden in the broadleaf woodlands of the Gwydyr Forest, it’s a firm favourite with tourists and locals alike.
The beautiful lake in the Snowdonia National park is more than 700 ft above sea level, but is well worth the climb. Most of the people who visit Llyn Elsi come here for the beautiful views throughout the river loop: an 11km circular walk around the reservoir.
What Can You Do at Lyn Elsi?
While the lake itself might be small, there’s no shortage of things to see and do.
Llyn Elsi Walk
The Llyn Elsi Walk packs a punch: a well-signed path from the village centre brings you up into the hills right away. It’s a steep hill, but it’s 100% worth it once you hit the lake. You’ll have unchallenged views of both the Glyderau and Carneddau mountain ranges to the west and the lake ahead of you.
A circuit of the lake follows before heading back to the village the way you came. Top tip: after your walk, stop by Olif. It’s a unique Welsh-meets-Spanish experience, with great food and even better service.
Can You Swim at Llyn Elsi?
Yes, you can swim at Llyn Elsi. But a word of warning, it’s freezing in the colder months, so choose your day to take a dip wisely.
Camping at Llyn Elsi
Llyn Elsi is fairly small in the grand scheme of things, so there are no campsites or amenities in the immediate vicinity. Now, this needn’t deter you. There are some great options for wild campers on the West side of Llyn Elsi, albeit after a steep climb.
Grafog Farm campsite is fairly close by and is a great option for those who aren’t looking to wild camp but want to be outdoors.
Fishing at Llyn Elsi
The lake is kept stocked by the Betws-y-Coed Angling Club — primarily American Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout and Native Brown trout.
It’s open for bank fishing all year round, with day tickets available for visitors. These are pretty reasonable at £15 per adult and £10 for a junior.
Where Do You Park for Llyn Elsi?
The best free place to park for Llyn Elsi is St Mary’s Church Car Park. There is also a paid parking spot near Cunninghams next to the bridge, but this is arguably more convenient.