Between the reservoirs above Dolgarrog
Walk directions
Follow the track heading roughly southwest from the car park into the jaws of Eigiau. This turns left below the main dam and goes over a bridge across the reservoir’s outflow stream.
Turn left along the greener track that runs above and parallel to the river, ignoring the path ahead beneath Eilio. The gated track passes Coedty Reservoir and then leads to a country lane by the dam.
Follow the lane as it descends to cross the river, then climbs out onto the hillside high above the Conwy Valley.
Turn left at the T-junction to Rowlyn Isaf farm. The quickest and the recommended route follows the quiet country lane back to the car park.
Additional information
Terrain
- Tracks and country lanes, several stiles
Landscape
- Uncultivated moor, rough pasture and crag
Dog friendliness
- Dogs should be on leads
Parking
- Parking area at the end of the road
Toilets en route
- None on route
About the walk
It was an ordinary Saturday evening in Dolgarrog, it had been raining hard for a few days, but in November that’s not so unusual. Disaster in the hills In the hills something was wrong. In the dark of night there were tremors in the ground and groans coming from the deep hollow of Eigiau. The... reservoir dam was moving. Suddenly cracks appeared; then the unthinkable happened. The waters came thundering out through broken stone into the wide upper valley of the Afon Porth-llwyd, picking up speed towards the Coedty Reservoir. Would that hold? No, the dam disintegrated under the ever-increasing power of the flood. Boulders weighing over 200 tons were gouged from the mountainsides and thrust down in the raging torrents, and down further, towards the hapless village of Dolgarrog. Cottages lying in the way were smashed and the furnace at the aluminium works was engulfed, resulting in violent explosions. Dolgarrog was devastated. Lost lives Sixteen lives were lost that night in 1925. It is said that the death toll would have been higher were it not for the fact that many of the villagers and their children were at the cinema, which was on higher ground. An inquiry found that the dam had been built on insecure moraine debris from the last Ice Age, and had shifted under the pressure of the reservoir’s headwater. The dam was never rebuilt and the lake is now quite shallow, some 14ft (4.3m) lower than its previous level. From Dolgarrog you drive up a winding little road, through that narrow gorge, past the rebuilt cottages to arrive at the car park beneath the dam. Eigiau today is austere and rugged. You’re in a sombre, rushy basin deep in the Carneddau’s heartlands. The crags that rise out of this sad and shallow lake are precipitous. There’s a whitewashed cottage beneath a crag by the dam and another disused one up the valley. The view ends in the darkness of a steep grassy gully plummeting from the pass, Bwlch y Tri Marchog. The summit of Carnedd Llewelyn is hidden from here, though you’ll see it later from the other side of the valley, but Foel Grach, Foel-fras and Drum all look down on the scene from the western skies. From the dam a pleasing road takes you back, the way the water would have gone, to Coedty Reservoir where you can look down to the Conwy Valley. You can still see the mess of boulders by the oak-shaded river banks, some ofthem undisturbed since that fateful evening.
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Been on this walk?
Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.
Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
Get an AA guide
Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.
About the area
The majority of the population of Conwy lives along its picturesque coastline, while a third of the county falls within jaw-dropping landscape of the Snowdonia National Park. The town of Conwy, which takes its name from the county (which in turn was named after the river that runs through it), is undoubtedly one of the great treasures of Wales.
Nearby places to stay
View all (8)
Hotel
Maenan Abbey
★★★
"A pleasant guest experience with enjoyable cuisine...."
- Family rooms: 3
- Smoking rooms: 3
- Free TV
- WiFi available
Caravan & Camping
Bron Derw Touring Caravan Park
★★★★★
"Superb landscaping and immaculate facilities...."
- Launderette
- Picnic Area
- Wifi available
- Battery Charging
Caravan & Camping
Bodnant Caravan Park
★★★★
"Great mountain views and proximity to Betwys-y-Coed are real benefits...."
- Wifi available
- Calor Gas
- Camping Gaz
- Toilet fluid
Nearby places to stay
Maenan Abbey
Maenan Abbey is a small, personally-run country house in a great location in Eryri National Park. Visitors can enjoy the huge amount of local attractions, walking and outdoor activities...
★★★ Rating
Bron Derw Touring Caravan Park
Bron Derw, once a dairy farm, is beautifully landscaped with stunning floral displays and is surrounded by hills. The park has been built to a very high standard and is fully matured. A...
★★★★★ Rating
Bodnant Caravan Park
This well maintained and stunningly attractive park is filled with flower beds, and the landscape includes trees and shrubberies. The statics are unobtrusively sited and the quality, sp...
★★★★ Rating
Royal Oak Hotel
Centrally situated in the village, the Royal Oak is an elegant, privately owned hotel that started life as a coaching inn and provides very comfortable bedrooms with smart, modern en su...
★★★★ Rating
Bryn Bella Guest House
Located in an elevated position on the outskirts of the village, with stunning views of the surrounding countryside, this elegant Victorian house provides a range of thoughtfully equipp...
★★★★ Rating
Castle Hotel Conwy
Castle Hotel is an iconic 16th-century building that offers a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The hotel is well located on Conwy's High St, with rooms and a terrace that offers incredi...
★★★★ Rating
Craig-y-Dderwen Riverside Hotel
Craig-y-Dderwen Riverside Hotel is Victorian country house hotel in well-maintained grounds alongside the River Conwy, at the end of a tree-lined drive. Views down the river can be enjo...
★★★★ Rating
Quay Hotel & Spa
This luxury hotel occupies a stunning position beside the estuary on Deganwy Quay overlooking Conwy Castle and Snowdonia. Sleek, contemporary design runs through all aspects here. Spaci...
★★★★ Rating


