Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall
Pistyll Rhaeadr is one of the highest waterfalls in Wales with a total height of 73 meters and a largest single drop of 40 meters. In a rainy season Pistyll Rhaeadr is awesome to see. Although it isn’t the highest single drop waterfall of Wales (often mentioned like that), it is certainly one of the better waterfalls to visit in Wales.
Although the waterfall is not located in the main tourist area, it is one of the major tourist attraction of the region. Pistyll Rhaeadr is located 6 kilometer northwest from Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant (not far from the A483>b4396/Llanymynech) in Wales (United Kingdom). There are signs for the waterfall and it is easy to find.
There is an official car park at a nice and cosy B&B (tea room) with views on Pistyll Rhaeadr (gps 52.854990, -3.376907). Unfortunately you have to pay for the parking, but a few hundred meters back on the road there are several free spots to park.
From the parking it a very short walk to the viewpoint and bridge (less than 5 minutes). When we visited Pistyll Rhaeadr, august 2023, the sun was shining and the weeks before it rained. So we where very lucky to see a perfect Pistyll Rhaeadr and to make lovely shots. I had seen dozens of waterfalls the week before but Pistyll Rhaeadr is my favorite. It isn’t the most powerful waterfall of Wales but it certainly belong to the top 3 most beautiful waterfalls in Wales. Pistyll Rhaeadr has a quite consistent flow, so all year around you can visit the waterfall
If you want to explore the Berwyn Mountains and surrounding hills, there are several walks suitable for everybody. One of the walks brings you to the top of the mountain. Pistyll Rhaeadr means “spring of the waterfall” and it belongs to one of the seven wonders of Wales!
The source of Pistyll Rhaeadr lies at the heather and bog moors of the Berwyn Mountains, up at the river/stream Afon Disgynfa. From the waterfall the rivercourse is named river Rhaeadr. Rhaeadr is the Welsh word for waterfall but is derived from two word: Dwr meaning water and Rhaea (a mythic figure): the water of Rhea. By teh way, Pistyll is the Welsh word for “well”.
There are other great waterfalls in Wales, but most of them are situated more north/west. My other favorite Welsh waterfall ( a must to visit) is the Aber falls in Abergwyngregyn (Llanfairfechan).
