Llyn Idwal & Llyn Ogwen - Wales

A more recent photographic adventure can be found here Llyn Idwal Winter

This mornings view from Llyn Idwal. just as the sunrise broke through the bank of low lying cloud there was for a brief few moments some beautiful colours over Llym Ogwen. Facing the other direction Llyn Idwal is a small lake (approximately 800 m by 300 m, or 28 acres) that lies within Cwm Idwal in the Glyderau mountains of Snowdonia. It is named after Prince Idwal Foel, a grandson of Rhodri Mawr, one of the ancient Kings of Wales. 

Legend states that the king's unfortunate offspring was murdered by being drowned in the lake. In fact Idwal Foel died in battle against the Saxons in 942 and an alternate version claims that he was cremated beside the lake, as was the burial custom for Celtic nobility. 

• Image Title: Llyn Idwal Circular Path
• Canon 7d Mark2 Camera used:
• Tokina 11-20mm UWA Lens used:
• 11mm Focal length:
• f/2.8 Aperture:
• 3 Sec Exposure time:
• 100 ISO:

Footpaths & hiking trails

The lake is easily accessible on foot via a 900-metre long stone-paved path from Ogwen Cottage on the main A5 road. Another path encircles the lake. Two paths lead from opposite sides of the lake to the top of the ridge close to the Twll Du (Devil's Kitchen), but these paths become rather steep in places. They lead to Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr. There is a small pebble beach at the northwest edge of Llyn Idwal which is occasionally used by visitors for recreation, including bathing in the summer months. As a mountain lake, the waters can be cold and care should be taken by swimmers not to go out beyond their depths. The lake lies wholly within Gwynedd County, although the eastern edge forms the boundary between the counties of Gwynedd and Conwy.

Further Reading: National Trust - Llyn Idwal

• Image title: Llyn Idwal
• Canon 7d Mark2 Camera used:
• Tokina 11-20mm UWA Lens used:
• 11mm Focal length:
• f/11 Aperture:
• 1/90 Exposure time:
• 100 ISO:

This was my first visit to Llyn Idwal, Mark had mentioned on the drive in that that there was a small walk from the car park on the up and across a defined stone footpath, however still recovering from an illness that had taken best part of 2 years previously, my general level of fitness was very low and such the thoughts of a long walk with a slight climb played heavily on my mind, Mark, however was very reassuring, offering me ample breaks should I need it, for which I was thankful, initially the going was tough, I hadn't even considered the effect of multiple layers and carrying full camera equipment and tripod would effect my fitness, but once I got into the swing, several stops later and several bottles of water I had made it to the lake.