The Elidir Trail is absolutely spectacular, with endless waterfalls, cascades and swimming holes which don’t see the same crowds as the nearby Four Waterfalls Walk. I lost count of how many times I let out a ‘wow’ at just how incredible the scenery was.
It’s beautiful every step of the way and I don’t think I’ve ever come across as many swimming spots on one walk, so if you’re looking for somewhere to take a dip then your perfect pool will be waiting for you.
Even if you’re not interested in swimming, you’ll be blown away by the stunning waterfalls and pretty woodland. It’s hard to believe a walk this beautiful and easy is not the most popular walk in the area!
Here’s everything you need to know about the Elidir Trail.
The Elidir Trail
The stats
Distance: 1.5 - 2.8 miles (2.4 - 4.5km) one way, depending on where you start, plus 1km each way if you also want to see the final waterfall which is off track
Elevation gain: 170m
Difficulty: Easy
What to expect
The trail conditions across the entire walk are good. The section between Pontneddfechan and Lady Falls is the flattest and smoothest underfoot. The section between Pont Melin-Fach and Lady Falls is also easy, but it has a slight amount of elevation gain and some short rocky areas, which can get muddy - but it’s still very much a straightforward walk.
If you want to visit the final waterfall, Sgwd Einion Gam, it requires going off trail and navigating a couple of river crossings. How easy or hard this is will depend on recent rainfall. We were visiting during a long dry spell and it was very easy; we didn’t even get our feet wet! During wetter times, you’ll definitely get wet boots and sometimes the river can be too high and swift to cross, so you’ll want to avoid visiting after very heavy rain.
We’ll go into details on exactly what the off track section is like below.
Where to start: Pont Melin-Fach vs Pontneddfechan
The Elidir Trail takes you between two car parks, but all the waterfalls are on the section between Pont Melin-Fach and Lady Falls. The section between Pontneddfechan and Lady Falls is still gorgeous, with plenty of cascades and swimming holes, but if it’s only the waterfalls you’re interested in then you don’t need to walk this bit.
Starting at Pont Melin-Fach is the shortest version of the walk (1.5 miles each way to Lady Falls) and showcases all of the waterfalls in quick succession However, the car park often closes and is quite small even when open. If it’s closed there is room for roughly four cars to be parked on the road outside the car park, but it’s pretty tight.
The other starting point is to park at the village of Pontneddfechan. Although it’s quicker to get to Lady Falls from here (1.2 miles), if you want to see all the waterfalls it will be a walk of 2.8 miles each way.
This side of the trail has more parking spaces, and though there is very little parking by the trailhead itself in Pontneddfechan, off street parking exists all the way up the road so you’re almost guaranteed a space - you just might be a few hundred metres further away from the start point.
The trail
Starting the trail at Pont Melin-Fach
We were lucky enough to snag a space at Pont Melin-Fach, although we still walked the full trail, so we’ll detail the entire route so you know what to expect starting from either side.
Before starting the walk, I knew that there were several main waterfalls, but I didn’t realise how many smaller cascades and pools there would be.
The first comes just 200m into the walk and if I wasn’t planning several swims further up, I’d definitely have gone in because it was gorgeous. A small cascade flows into an emerald pool with really easy access, yet as pretty as this spot is, it only gets more dramatic as you head on!
On many other trails, this would be the main swimming spot, but not on Elidir!
From here, the trail is mainly flat and the stony dirt path makes for smooth easy walking. Just 550m after the first pool you’ll arrive at the first of the waterfalls, Sgwd Ddwli Uchaf.
You’ll see it below you and follow the path around until you see an obvious cut down on the left, 70m later.
This is an easy trail down to the falls and you can then follow it behind the bushes to reach the stony ‘beach’ area at the base of the falls.
The first falls - Sgwd Ddwli Uchaf
Despite the fact we were visiting during a really dry spell, the flow at Sgwd Ddwli Uchaf was still really good. The falls cascade into a large swimming hole with crystal clear water.
If you’re lucky enough to visit on a clear day, rainbows form almost constantly in the spray, creating a truly magical swimming experience.
You can literally swim through the rainbow which is something I’ve never experienced before!
Getting into the water does require walking over a few small slippery rocks, so you have to tread carefully, but it quickly deepens and then it’s basically wild swimming heaven!
There are very few rocks in the water (I personally didn’t encounter any), so you can swim without worrying about banging into things which makes it really relaxing.
The water is really cold, but incredibly refreshing on a hot day. If you’re worried about the water temperature though, maybe take a paddle here and swim at Sgwd Gwladus (Lady Falls) where the water is warmer.
When you’re ready to leave Sgwd Ddwli Uchaf, you head back the way you came up to the main trail to continue the walk.
Onto the second falls - Sgwd Ddwli Isaf
Once you’re back on the main trail you’ll see a path on the left after just 100m. This will take you to two viewpoints over the second waterfall, Sgwd Ddwli Isaf.
The first viewpoint is quite obscured, but the second, which is just below it, offers a good view of the top of the falls.
Reaching the second viewpoint involves negotiating a very short (just a couple of steps) rocky track, but it’s easy enough.
After the viewpoints you head back onto the main trail, where you’ll soon start to see several social trails leading downhill on the left.
These are a lot more slippery and less stable than the main trail, which will get you to the same area (the bottom of the falls).
The main trail will be fractionally longer, but only by a few minutes. It heads downhill on a wide stony path and you’ll reach the bottom of the hill 200m after leaving the second viewpoint.
From here you can head off the main path and follow the rock platform up to the bottom of the waterfall.
Arriving at Sgwd Ddwli Isaf
Crossing the rock platform to reach the bottom of the falls is easy in dry conditions. The rock is smooth and grippy and it’s pretty much flat. I can imagine when wet it could get slippery and would require more care.
After 150m you’ll reach the small pool and cascades at the lower part of the falls, which is a lovely spot, but continuing a little further it gets even better.
You can walk up the little rock shelf, which has plenty of ledges to stand on, and is very easy when dry. If the flow of the falls is high, it would be much more difficult and you’d have to judge by eye.
Assuming it’s fine, you can climb up in just a few steps and then you’ll be standing at the base of the waterfall you viewed from above.
Even with low flow it was fab, so I can only imagine how it might look with more water.
It feels like you’ve entered a mini canyon, with mossy rock walls giving it lots of atmosphere. Depending on the flow you might be able to swim at the base, but for us the pool had all but disappeared.
After visiting the falls, you retrace your steps back to the main path again.
Onto waterfall three - Sgwd-y-Bedol (Horseshoe Falls)
The next waterfall is more like a set of several cascades than what you might think of as a waterfall, but it’s no less stunning. In fact the cascades have two of the best pools on the entire trail, and that’s saying something!
Once you’re back on the main trail, you’ll see the start of Sgwd-y-Bedol immediately. As you follow the path round, you’ll see the second set of cascades and a further huge swimming hole.
There are several trails leading down to the pools.
The trail down to the first pool and cascades is easier than the second, which is a little loose and slippery. It’s easy to walk round the rock shelf from the first to the second pool, so there’s no need to take the slippery track.
The path down to the first pool takes just a minute and has some loose soil, but there are rocks to use instead, which makes getting down much easier.
You can then enter the pool easily, climbing down a couple of rocks and straight into the water.
It gets deep really quickly, so there’s not much in the way of slippery rocks to negotiate once inside the water.
It’s another sublime place for a dip, with clear deep water, and again no rocks at all to bump into (that I found anyway!).
It’s just incredible to look up at the cascades and surrounding forest, and I couldn’t believe there was no one else around!
If you want to swim at the second pool, it’s a one minute walk around the rock shelf (a cinch with low water levels) and then you can access the water with ease.
Continuing along the cascades
You’ll head back onto the main trail, which takes you above cascade after cascade, including some pretty big ones that I feel surely must have names, but I can’t find them! It’s just beautiful and you’ll pass pool after pool, almost all with easy cut downs to the water.
This is one of those walks where even on a hot day in the summer holidays, you will get a spot to yourself. It won’t be Lady Falls, but the other pools are just as good!
This next section of the walk does have a few muddy patches, most of the worst bits are boardwalked, but there are still a few patches.
Usually there is a trail just above the main one which avoids the mud, but they are slightly narrower and looser, so the mud can sometimes be a better option. Despite the short muddy patches, it’s flat and generally in very good condition.
Roughly 750m after leaving the third falls you’ll arrive at another large pool, this time with a rope swing. This is a really popular spot with locals who come to jump into the deep pool.
Personally we didn’t do it and I don’t know how safe it actually is, so always check the water levels first if you’re thinking of giving it a go.
Onto waterfall four, Sgwd Gwladus - Lady Falls
Once you’re at the pool with the rope swing, you’re beside the junction with the track coming from Pontneddfechan. It’s now just a 300m flat walk to reach Sgwd Gwladus, the most well known falls on the track.
The path is good up until the very last few metres where you have to walk over some rocks to get to the base of the falls.
The waterfall was a mere trickle when we visited, yet it was still a great spot. The surrounding cliff walls give it a secluded feel and the pool is a very pretty green. You can walk behind the falls - providing there’s enough water!
The downside to this otherwise amazing spot was the litter. It was so disappointing to see the area so disrespected.
Luckily there was no rubbish in the water itself, so it was still a great place for a swim - with easily the warmest water of the whole track.
Getting in involves walking over a few shallow rocks, which are slippery, but you’ll quickly reach water deep enough to swim in, and the closer you get to the falls, the deeper it gets.
People jump from the cliffs into the pool, which given there is a lot of shallow water around the edges, seemed pretty wild!
It looked like they had to jump quite far out to hit the deep water and I can’t say I’d recommend it, but it did seem to be a popular thing to do and the only place that was busy along the whole trail.
Heading to the hidden waterfall off track
The next part of the walk takes you off the official Elidir Trail and requires good conditions (basically not so much water that the river crossings become unsafe). It is just over half a mile each way, but it can take a little while.
If the flow of the river is low, it’s very easy, but I know we visited in exceptionally dry conditions, which are not very common in Wales!
To find the falls, you head up on top of Lady Falls, taking the path heading uphill by marker number 68 (one minute from the bottom of the falls). This is a decent path and you’ll be at the river by the top of Lady falls after just 120m.
From here, you continue along the river bed - there was a large dry area for us - but you could continue briefly along the grassy area, if it’s not dry for you. Just 100m later, there’s a proper dirt path through the trees beside the river, which you can follow for the next 170m.
It’s in good condition and an obvious trail to follow. Less than 200m later the path will stop and you need to cross the river. It’s a short crossing (by the big gorge wall), which for us was bone dry.
You might be able to rock hop, but with high water you will need to succumb to wet boots or take them off - I prefer to go with wet boots as it’s easier than walking on potentially slippery rocks barefoot.
The path continues on the other side of the river bank for roughly 160m before you need to cross the river for a second time (approximately 560m into the off trail section of the walk). You can then continue along the path on the other side of the river.
Depending on water levels you may either want to continue using the dirt track, or just stick to the river bank.
The dirt path deteriorates the further you go and one section of around 150m is narrow and sketchy. We chose to stick to the river which was very straightforward, basically just walking over the stony riverbed.
In wetter times it would be harder, but unless the flow is fast (in which case it’s not worth the risk) walking through water is still safer than risking a slide off the sketchy dirt path into the river below! I’d always go for wet boots above a fall.
Between the point at which we crossed the river for the second time, to the bottom of the waterfall was just under 400m. Although it was quick for us, this could take a little while depending on which route you take and the water levels.
Waterfall five, Sgwd Einion Gam - Fall of Crooked Einion
Standing at the bottom of Sgwd Einion Gam will not prepare you for the view at the upper falls. It’s not until you get slightly higher that the waterfall reveals itself in all its glory.
To get to the bottom of the upper falls, you need to take the dirt path to the right of the lower cascades.
It’s slightly steep and rocky, with some loose soil, but it only takes a few seconds and then it flattens and heads left, round to the falls. It’s less than 50m in total, including walking over the rocks to reach the pool.
Sgwd Einion Gam is jaw-dropping. It flows into a tall mossy gorge and is the most atmospheric of any of the waterfalls in the Brecon Beacons.
The tall gorge walls are incredibly dramatic and the pool at the base of the falls is the most beautiful emerald colour.
It’s one of the most glorious places I’ve ever been wild swimming. Even if you don’t plan to swim, there is plenty of room to spread out and relax in the shady grotto environment.
If you do want to swim, accessing the water is easy. There are a few rocks to walk over in the water and then it gets really deep quickly.
The water is crystal clear and very cold. You’ll need to swim to keep warm, but there’s plenty of room to do that!
Swimming over to the bottom of the falls and looking up at the water and mossy cliffs was one of my favourite memories of our three weeks exploring the Brecons.
I truly fell in love with this spot!
Continuing the trail to Pontneddfechan
If you managed to park at Pont Melin-Fach and you only want to visit the waterfalls, you would then retrace your steps all the way back to the car park after visiting Sgwd Einion Gam.
If you want to complete the whole trail, you retrace your steps back to the junction a few hundred metres from Lady Falls.
From here take the trail signposted for Pontneddfechan. This section of track is very easy, it’s pretty much entirely flat and the trail conditions are excellent - even more so than the first part of the walk. It’s a beautiful stretch of woodland which passes several mines.
All are blocked off, but they’re not the highlight anyway. The highlight are the pools and cascades which you’ll be walking beside almost every step of the way.
There are countless more swimming opportunities, from large pools to small plunge pools, and even a tiny little section of gorge which I loved the look of for another time (2.2km from the junction near Lady Falls).
Roughly half a kilometre beyond the little gorge pool is a small cave - more of an overhang, but a nice little spot and then it’s just five minutes to the trail’s end.
Although it seems like there are less sights along this stretch of the track, it’s still very much a beautiful walk. The river, pools and woodland were all so tranquil and it’s a lovely end to a truly wonderful walk.
Getting to the Elidir Trail
As mentioned above, you can either park at Pont Melin-Fach or Pontneddfechan. Pontneddfechan is around a 25 minute drive from Merthyr Tydfil, 40 minutes to Brecon and 1 hour to Abergavenny. It’s just under 10 minutes further to get to Pont Melin-Fach, where there is very limited parking.
Parking at either end of the trail is free of charge. There are public toilets by the trailhead in Pontneddfechan.
Keep them wild
Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. It’s important to leave them exactly as you found them so they will remain beautiful for generations to come. We sadly saw a lot of litter around Lady Falls which is so sad. Please don’t add to it and if possible carry some out with you.
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