Sgwd-yr-Eira
(Waterfall of the snow)
Sgwd-yr-Eira is one of the four waterfalls on the “four waterfalls walk” starting south of Ystradfellte in Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales (UK).
In the summer of 2023 we finally decided to go to the UK, chasing waterfalls. The weeks before it rained much and the weather forecast wasn’t that good. But for the flowrate of the river it was very good.Sgwd-yr-Eira was one of the first waterfalls we visited and it was quite powerful. Sgwd-yr-Eira is Welsh for “waterfall of the snow”: the spray of water resembles snow.
There are several car parks from where you can start and you even can start at Pontneddfechan (then you have to cross the river behind the waterfall Sgwd Yr Eira, if you dare). I was on my way from Pontneddfechan to “Cwm Porth – Four Waterfalls Car Park (gps51.80001, -3.55541) when I saw a smaller (free) car park not far from the first waterfall. On Google map it is named “Comin Y Rhos (gps51.78336, -3.56908)”, the perfect place to start.
The “four waterfalls walk” is an easy walk but you have to take your time to enjoy, to make lots of pictures and to explore. The first waterfall you see (if you follow the main trail, there are signs) is Sgwd Clun Gwyn from the west side of the river Afon Hepste. You will reach a first viewpoint within 10 minutes and a second (from the other side) within 20 minutes. To see the other three waterfalls I had to follow the red trail because it looked like it that they closed the trail that runs directly (close to the river) to Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn. I decided to go to the most impressive waterfall first, Sgwd yr Eira, and then take the green trail to the other two waterfalls.
I reached Sgwd yr Eira after exactly 1 hour, with a 5 minute delay at the fist waterfall Sgwd Clun Gwyn, because I was figuring out which trail is wise to take first. From the main red trail you have to descend to the base of Sgwd yr Eira. The waterfall is not very tall, 1o meter, but powerful and wide. Why I love this waterfall so much? You can walk behind!!! The views from behind the waterfall ar magnificent but you will get wet. Certainly when it is extremely powerful, such as it was July 2023.
The total (round) trip for the “four waterfalls walk” is more then 10 kilometer long and takes you along the other three waterfalls: Sgwd y Pannwr, Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn and Sgwd Clun-Gwyn. With stops, taking a lot of pictures and a pause because I injured myself at a waterfall, it took me 3h15. Note: I also took an alternative trail (difficult) near the parking to base of Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn. This why I mentioned exploring earlier because few people know of this trail, but I saw a trail on my Gaia gps app…. and it a free app.