Llyn Eigiau, reservoir in the United Kingdom
Llyn Eigiau is a reservoir in the Snowdonia mountains of Conwy County Borough, surrounded by peaks and steep slopes. The water covers about 120 acres and reaches depths near 10 meters, with clear surface that mirrors the rocky ridges and hillsides around it.
A dam was built at the eastern end in 1911 to supply water to a power station in Dolgarrog, but construction was rushed and left incomplete. In 1925, heavy rainfall caused the dam to burst suddenly, releasing a flood that destroyed homes and killed seventeen people.
The name Eigiau comes from old words related to fish that once swam here in abundance. Today visitors can still spot Arctic char and wild brown trout living in the water.
A car park sits about half a mile from the lake, reached from the B5106 road near Tal-y-bont, with signposted footpaths crossing stone walls and stiles leading to the water. The walk is accessible year-round, though mountain weather can change quickly, so proper clothing is wise.
The dam sits high and dry above the lake with no water behind it, standing as a silent reminder of the 1925 disaster. Its weak foundations exposed by inspection show the cost of rushed engineering work and make it a powerful lesson in water management history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
