Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake)
Llyn Tegid
Wales' largest natural lake, about 6 km long, where you can go boating, sailing and stand-up paddleboarding, and ride a narrow-gauge steam train along the shore.
Llyn Tegid lies beside the town of Bala in the southeast of the national park. The lake is about 6 km long and is Wales' largest natural lake, surrounded by mountains with a broad water surface. At the northern end, Bala has lakeside paths and a water sports centre, where you can rent kayaks, sailboats and paddleboards. Nearby, the River Tryweryn National White Water Centre is a well-known whitewater rafting spot in Britain. On the southeast shore, the Bala Lake Railway runs narrow-gauge steam trains along the lake to Llanuwchllyn, a one-way trip of about 25 minutes. It usually operates from April to October, so check the timetable on the official website. Access to the lake area is free, but parking is charged. It is about 35 km from Betws-y-Coed, roughly a 45-minute drive.
Opening hours
Lake area open all day; steam train runs about April–October per timetable
Nearby sights
- Conwy Falls
- Betws-y-Coed
- Swallow Falls
- Dolwyddelan Castle
- Llechwedd Slate Caverns
- Cadair Idris
- Adventure Parc Snowdonia
- Bodnant Garden