Distance: 0.8 miles
Duration: 30 minutes
Difficulty: 1 (Easy)
Route types: Out & Back & Circular
Location: Berwyn Range
Near: Oswestry / Denbighshire / Berwyn Nature Reserve
Waterfall Height: 241ft / 73m
Type: Single Drop Waterfall
Highest Elevation: 351ft
Busyness Rating: 5 (Busy)
Pistyll Rhaeadr is a popular waterfall nestled among the Berwyn range in Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant near Oswestry and Denbighshire.
The Pistyll Rhaeadr fall reaches heights of 241ft / 73m and is often mislabelled as the tallest single drop waterfall in Wales. Although it actually misses out on that title to the Devil’s Appendix, making it the second tallest waterfall in the country.
One of the seven Welsh wonders, it’s based between Mid Wales / North Wales. Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfalls is surrounded by rugged landscapes and different walks. You can venture further, to the small mountains that are a short trek away.
Quick Facts
- One of the tallest single-drop waterfalls in Wales
- After David Beckham shot a commercial here, he labelled the falls as “ridiculously beautiful”
- Nestled between the majestic Berwyn Mountain Range
- Higher than Niagara Falls in the US and Canada
Location and Accessibility
The easiest way to access Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall is to use the official car park and walk less than a minute to the bottom of the cascading fall.
Here are some of the directions:
- From Shrewsbury, take the A5 towards Oswestry
- Then pick up the B4580 directly to Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant
- There are clear signposts guide explorers on a short drive up to the car park near the falls
- As you reach the Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant village, turn right and make your way up a long (4 miles) narrow road with plenty of passing places
Pistyll Rhaeadr Car Parking
The official Pistyll Rhaeadr visitor car park is the easiest way to access the waterfall. Once you drive past the village and down the narrow road, you will eventually reach the car park.
- Price: It costs £5 to park at Pistyll Rhaeadr for the entire day
- Closing Times: The car park is open between 9:30am and 4pm, 7 days a week
- Capacity: There’s capacity for around a hundred cars with the spill over located with a narrow entrance between two buildings
- Duration: All day
You’ll be glad to know that there is one security guard there that mans the facility and will also check that everybody has paid upon entering.
Public Transport
Although limited, there is public transport to Pistyll Rhaeadr using Tanat Valley, the 79A or a taxi. But when using these public travel options to the waterfalls, you’ll need to know the following:
- Tanat Valley: Visit Tanat.co.uk or call on 01691 780212 for Tanat Valley. You can leave the bus station to Berwyn Street Car Park, taking around 55 minutes.
- Public Bus Route: The 79A leaves Oswestry to Berwyn Street Car Park
- Taxi: The best option for a Pistyll Rhaeadr taxi is to use a firm local to Oswestry. Taxis from Oswestry to the waterfall will cost around £30. Be sure to book in advance.
Any travel by bus will require you to make a long walk down the narrow road to the waterfall or involve an off-track route, making it challenging to use public transport to this area.
Cafe and Toilets
The Pistyll Rhaeadr attraction has an official cafe on-site open from 10am to 4pm in winter and 9:30am to 4pm in the summer.
The cafe is available near the car park catering for everybody with breakfasts, cakes, scones, hot drinks and other refreshments.
It offers indoor seating (38 people) and the serene outdoor area under shelter to the sounds of flowing water and a view of the waterfall for those that choose to sit outdoors on the waterside seating.
The toilets are located on the other side of the car park, on your way to visit the landmark. Pistyll Rhaeadr toilets have a charge of 50 pence, you can get change from the cafe if required.
Pistyll Rhaeadr Camping & Retreats
As you stroll past the spill-over car park, you will find an entrance to the official retreat that’s been going since 2004. The camping retreat at Pistyll Rhaeadr is available for people to rent out, it has a kitchen and is a short walk to the water.
Camping facilities at Pistyll Rhaeadr can be enjoyed at their official retreat. Find the details to book the wild retreat based next to the Rhaeadr meadow below:
Located in the lower meadows, it’s easy to access and comes with a private space. It has a capacity for up to 60 people and the facilities can be privately booked by calling them on 1691 780392 (+44-1691 780392) or emailing at PhillFacey@supanet.com.
Outside of the official retreat, you will also find camping sites in surrounding areas. Look for local campsites in Bala, Llanfyllin and Oswestry that are close to the Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall.
Here are some of the camping sites available:
- Henstent Park: Around a 20-minute drive from the fall. Based next to the river, it’s a beautiful and well-kept camping spot with caravans, motorhomes and a space for tents.
- Bala Camping and Caravanning Club Site: Around 9 miles away, this Bala camping site is rural and quite a drive from the waterfall but you will also be a short drive from Snowdonia.
My partner and I once rode our bikes to the waterfall, after realising we had bitten off more than we could chew, we searched for a camp site. Henstent went out of their way to host us and even offered to pick us up due to us being a while away. We decided to continue riding and they made space for us despite no booking. We’re not affiliated with this site but I highly recommend.
Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall Walks
Visitors explore Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall trails thanks to the ease of accessibility.
The main walk is a great one for beginners or those hoping to revel in the beauty of the waterfall and enjoy refreshments afterwards.
There’s a walk to the top of the waterfall or you can opt to do no walks and merely enjoy the view of the fall.
To the Top of the Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall
What You See: Whirlpools, rocks, flowing water, top of waterfall, you can see the valley in the other direction.
Walk Type: Out and Back / Horse Shoe
Elevation: 225 ft
Distance: 0.8 miles
Duration: 30 minutes
Level: For beginners with moderate fitness
Once parked at Pistyll Rhaeadr, go through the gates and turn right. Do not go left and over the iron bridge.
Personally I enjoy walking to the left first (near the iron bridge) and appreciating the beauty of the waterfall before proceeding. It’s great to embrace a perspective from the bottom before making your way to the top.
Once you have turned right, you will pass through a wooden gate. It’s easy to follow the track, you can start trekking up the steep hill and once getting to the top, turn left where you will find a style, you can then continue to the top of the waterfall. Another option is to skip walking the steep rocks and do the horseshoe, walk around them until you can then climb the hill, with more surefooted terrain.
Cadair Berwyn North Top, Moel Sych & Pistyll Rhaeadr Circular
What You See: Pools, waterfall, birds and mountain peaks
Walk Type: Out and Back / Horse Shoe
Elevation: 2,027 ft
Distance: 5.6 miles
Duration: 3 hours and 45 minutes
Level: For beginners with good fitness, there are some steep climbs
Pathways: Well maintained path at the start but lots of boggy terrain further into the walk
The 5.6 mile/9km Cadair Berwyn and Pistyll Rhaeadr route around the waterfall gives you a multi-faceted experience of a peak, a pool and the waterfall.
Find more walks around or near this waterfall with the Berwyn Mountains walks.
Map of Pistyll Rhaeadr
Here’s an easy-to-use Pistyll Rheadr map for directions to the waterfall:
View Larger Map
Weather at Pistyll Rhaeadr Today
See below for Pistyll Rhaeadr’s weather forecast for today:
Overview of Pistyll Rhaeadr
Located in the heart of the Berwyn Mountains, Pistyll Rhaeadr is a 240ft (73 metres) single-drop waterfall that attracts a number of tourists from all areas.
The waterfall even made it onto the list of seven natural wonders in Wales.
The journey to this majestic waterfall is just as enchanting as the destination itself. A picturesque trail leads visitors through lush greenery and rugged landscape.
Pistyll Rhaeadr is a favourite in North Wales, offering wild-swimmers, nature photographers, hikers and runners a visual destination to relax, exercise or get their much-needed dose of nature.
Something that I love about the waterfall is that it’s accessible for everybody, you can enjoy the bottom of the waterfall, walk to the top or make it more challenging by incorporating walks around Berwyn.
Only 60-seconds separate you from the waterfall once you have pulled up in your car. Walk from the car-park to the bottom of the fall within a minute.
There’s a bridge at the bottom and then there are walks either side of the water.
The views aren’t limited to the waterfall itself, as you climb higher you will reveal more landscape of the weaving valley and you can see different peaks, mountains and stream around the area.
There’s a downfall though, during nice weather and busy terms you will find that people gather in this area, which is no surprise. Although we love to see more people get out and enjoy the outdoors, do be aware that there will be other visitors enjoying the area and obstructing your photos or views, you will need to allow five minutes for it to clear. There are lots of ways to experience this area so you aren’t limited to one spot.
What We Love About This Location
Pistyll Rhaeadr for its scenic beauty, often attracting photographers, travel bloggers, adventure enthusiasts, poets, hikers and those wishing for a cold dip in the pool.
Here are some of the ways many enjoy the breathtaking spot in Wales:
- Scenic walking trails
- Breathtaking waterfall views
- Tranquil natural environment around the Berwyn range
- Diverse flora and fauna
- Accessible paths for various skill levels
- Popular tourist attraction
- Ideal for photography
- Streams create serene pools
Pistyll Rhaeadr can get busy, but don’t be put off. The best way to enjoy the fall as a hiker is to start your walk at the waterfall before seeking quieter spots. The Berwyn Range is quite the contrast with isolated and quiet areas throughout, barely seeing anyone on your way round.
Pistyll Rhaeadr Swimming
Pistyll Rhaeadr swimming is accessible in the waterfall pool.
The waterfall pool is located at the bottom of the cascading fall. It’s easily accessible and some wild-swimmers enjoy a refreshing dip here.
There are also serene pools and flowing water towards the top of the waterfall but it isn’t ideal for swimming in. It could also be dangerous to swim towards the top of the waterfall, please take care.
I’ve enjoyed cold-water exposure in nature for years. But I have never fancied dipping in Pistyll Rhaeadr, as beautiful as it is during the hot weather there are lots of people that gather. You’d have queues of people taking photos and enjoying the views as you dip in the pool.
History of Pistyll Rhaeadr
Pistyll Rhaeadr has a rich history and has been visited by tourists for hundreds of years.
Above the falls lies Rhos y Beddau, the Moor of Graves. It reveals that human history around Pistyll Rhaeadr dates back over 3,000 years. This region, once warmer and above dense forests, hosted early civilisations. As climate shifted to a mini-ice age, sea levels dropped, altering landscapes and human settlements.
The area around Pistyll Rhaeadr, particularly the small circle of standing stones facing the midsummer sunrise, showcases the advanced astronomical and mathematical knowledge of these ancient people. This spot, along with the Berwyn mountains, held spiritual significance for early communities, especially the Celts. They revered the landscape, sun, moon, and saw hills as sacred shapes, embodying maternal figures that provided life’s essentials.
These early societies also possessed a deep understanding of celestial movements. The moon, a feminine deity known as Sin in ancient Mesopotamia, and the sun, seen as a vibrant child, were central to their spiritual and practical life. The stars were a library of knowledge, helping them measure time with precision.
In modern history, Pistyll Rhaeadr has been visited by notable names such as the poet William Wordsworth. Wordsworth wrote to George Huntly Gordon detailing the waterfall back in 1829.
Folklore of Pistyll Rhaeadr
Pistyll Rhaeadr has a rich history that also consists of legends and myths that involves a civilisation and a dragon.
Celtic Mythology and the Waterfall’s Name:
The name Rhaeadr, combining the Welsh words for water (‘dwr’) and ‘Rhaea,’ holds a legend in itself. Rhea, a figure from Roman mythology, was believed to be carried as an icon by Roman soldiers for victory, linking her to the Roman settlement near the waterfall. This connection is etched in the very essence of Pistyll Rhaeadr, intertwining Roman history with Celtic spirituality.
Giants and the Ancient Celts:
The land whispers tales of giants, evidenced by the great stones ‘ffedoga’ near the waterfall, symbolising a giant and giantess from folklore. These tales connect with the descriptions of the ancient Celts and Vikings, known for their towering stature and distinctive appearance, as detailed by Greek Historian Diodorus.
Arthurian Legend and the Berwyn Mountains:
Pistyll Rhaeadr serves as a gateway to the Arthurian legends, nestled within the Berwyn Mountains. These mountains are steeped in tales from the Mabinogion, where Arthur ventures into the Otherworld, a realm ruled by Gwyn ap Nudd, the king of the fairy folk and the dead. This mythical landscape, home to vipers, serpents, and wild beasts, was believed to be a land full of spirits and enchantment, deeply connected to the Celtic Otherworld of Annwn.
The Llanrhaeadr Dragon:
No legend is complete without a dragon, and Pistyll Rhaeadr boasts its own – the Gwybr of Llanrhaeadr. This winged serpent, once feared for snatching away villagers and livestock, was outwitted by the wise woman of the hills and the villagers, leaving behind the Pillar Coch as a testament to their triumph.
These myths, from the mystique of Celtic deities to the valour of Arthurian knights, paint a picture of a land where the veil between the mortal world and the realm of legends is thin. Pistyll Rhaeadr stands not just as a natural wonder, but as a living narrative of Wales’ rich mythological tapestry.
Flora & Fauna of Pistyll Rhaeadr
- Wildlife Habits: The area is home to various bird species, including buzzards, kestrels, and peregrine falcons, which are frequently seen soaring above the cliffs and waterfall. Small mammals such as voles and shrews inhabit the area, and otters can occasionally be spotted in the streams and pools nearby. The pool at the base of the waterfall hosts several fish species, including trout.
- Unique Plant Species: The damp environment surrounding Pistyll Rhaeadr supports a lush array of mosses and ferns, thriving in the spray of the falls. In spring and summer, wildflowers like the Welsh poppy and primroses add vibrant colors to the landscape, enhancing the natural beauty of the area.
- Notable Features: A natural pool, formed by the Afon Disgynfa as it cascades down the waterfall, is a popular spot for visitors to take in the scenery. A distinctive natural arch midway down the waterfall adds a unique geological feature to the site, drawing the attention of nature enthusiasts and photographers alike.
What You Will Need
You don’t need much equipment or professional hiking clothing to explore Pistyll Rheadr waterfall.
The fall is easily accessible and is a minute’s walk from the car park. There’s a cafe at the car park and toilets at the start of the walk.
But for those who wish to explore the Welsh wonder, you can safely pack all equipment and clothing for a long day. Here’s what to pack for your trip to Pistyll Rhaeadr:
Clothing
- Waterproof Jacket: Wales’ weather can be unpredictable, so a waterproof jacket is essential to stay dry, especially near the waterfall where mist and spray are common.
- Sturdy Walking Boots: The paths can be uneven and muddy, particularly after rain, so supportive and waterproof walking boots are a must for traction and ankle support.
- Layered Clothing: Dress in layers to accommodate changes in weather and temperature, especially if you’re hiking to higher elevations.
- Hat and Gloves: Depending on the season, a hat and gloves might be needed for warmth, particularly if you’re visiting in the colder months.
Equipment
- Backpack: A comfortable backpack to carry your essentials, such as food, water, and extra clothing.
- Water Bottle: Staying hydrated is important, especially if you’re hiking longer trails.
- Camera or Smartphone: Capture the stunning views and wildlife, but ensure it’s protected against the elements.
- Walking Poles: These can be helpful for balance and support on uneven or slippery terrain but there certainly not required.
Extras
- Snacks or Packed Lunch: There is a café on site, but having your own snacks or lunch can be convenient, especially if you’re spending the day exploring.
- Sunscreen and Sunglasses: Even on cloudy days, UV exposure can be significant, and sunglasses can help protect your eyes from glare.
- First Aid Kit: A basic first aid kit is always a good idea when exploring rural or remote areas.
- Binoculars: Ideal for bird watching and enjoying the surrounding wildlife.
By packing these essentials, you’ll be well-prepared to enjoy the natural beauty and trails around Pistyll Rhaeadr comfortably and safely.
The trail to the waterfall doesn’t require any of the above, you can make it as easy as you want and you’re just a short walk from facilities that stock food, drinks, have access to toilets and you can be back on flat ground within minutes.
Nearby Routes
FAQs
There’s no charge for visiting Pistyll Rhaeadr but there’s a charge to park in the official car park and it’s 50p to visit the toilet there.
Pistyll Rhaeadr is one of Wales’ seven wonders and is also the second tallest single drop waterfall in the country.
Often confused as the tallest single drop waterfall. Regardless, it is a beauty and was described by David Beckham as ‘ridiculously beautiful’.
The tallest single drop waterfall in Wales is Devil’s Appendix in Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia. Pistyll Rhaeadr is often wrongly labelled as the tallest.
Pistyll Rhaeadr is 73m tall compared to 93m of the Devil’s Appendix.
Pistyll Rhaeadr is pronounced as “Pist-ill Hray-ad-er.”
- “Pistyll” sounds like “pist” (as in “list”) with an “ill” at the end.
- “Rhaeadr” starts with a rolled or lightly aspirated “r,” followed by “hrai” (rhyming with “eye”), and ending with “adr” (similar to “adder” without the emphasis on the “d”).
This pronunciation respects the Welsh language’s unique sounds, particularly the rolled “r” and the breathy “h.”
If you want to enjoy cold water exposure at Pistyll Rhaeadr then you can dip in the bottom of the waterfall in the pool. It’s very cold and there’s often people around this part of the route, admiring the fall.
Pistyll Rheadr is one of the seven wonders of Wales. The North Wales destination is popular among tourists and walkers, with its tall single drop fall and a beautiful walking area that surrounds the waterfall.
Walking directly from the car park to the Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall takes less than a minute. The walk to the top of the fall takes 30-minutes. There are longer walks around the Berwyn mountains, starting and ending at the waterfalls if you wish.
The best time to visit Pistyll Rhaeadr is in the summer.
It is a beautiful setting throughout all seasons but most enjoy the vibrancy of the hot summer days. With that said, if you are hoping to visit it without busy numbers then you will want to opt for colder days or during the week.
Yes, Pistyll Rhaeadr is suitable for families of all sizes.
The waterfall is a great day out and due to the accessibility, versatility and ability to customise your routes, it’s easy to go with your family of all ages. The facilities on-site make it easy thanks to the parking, cafe and official paths.
Final Thoughts
Pistyll Rhaeadr is a gigantic fall spread across three stages and reaching 73m. It’s easy to access and there’s something for all levels, if you’re after a challenging walk then you will want to walk around the Berwyn Range with the chance to enjoy peaks.
There’s great facilities with a toilet, a cafe and a car park. You get a lot of reward for little work, with the waterfall just 200 metres walk from the parking location.
Be aware that it gets fairly busy and you won’t get this spot to its own, it’s a maintained area but you won’t be out in the wild alone with lots of visitors.
Written by Daniel Treasure
