Cwm Idwal

Cwm Idwal is a glacial valley in Snowdonia with steep rocky walls and a lake nestled in the basin below. The distinctive U-shaped depression was carved by ice during the last glacial period.

The valley formed during the last Ice Age thousands of years ago when glaciers reshaped the landscape. In the 1800s, Charles Darwin visited and studied evidence of glacial movement at this exact location.

The name comes from Welsh language and refers to the valley's shape and character. Today visitors come to observe the specialized plants that grow nowhere else and to walk through the rugged mountain scenery.

Marked trails lead from the parking area into the cirque and provide information about the rock formations along the way. The routes are walkable for most people but involve some steep sections and uneven ground.

The site hosts specialized Arctic-Alpine plants that have survived here since the last Ice Age and grow nowhere else nearby. These rare species make the location a protected research area for botanists studying plant adaptation.

Location: Gwynedd

GPS coordinates: 53.11371,-4.02993

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:01