Pistyll y Llyn

Pistyll y Llyn stands in the Cambrian Mountains, about four kilometres from Glaspwll in Powys. It is a horsetail waterfall fed by the River Llyfnant, which falls from Llyn Penrhaeadr into Cwm Rhaeadr. The tallest drop measures about ninety-one metres, though the total descent reaches around one hundred and sixty metres. In the past, pilgrims travelled to the site, drawn by its height and the clear waters of the lake above. The flow is controlled by a weir at the lake’s edge, so the falls often run low for much of the year. The waterfall is formed by two main drops and a series of smaller cascades. The largest single horsetail drop is about ninety-one metres tall, while the overall height of the falls is closer to one hundred and sixty metres. This makes it one of the tallest waterfalls in Wales and the United Kingdom. Other nearby falls, such as Devil’s Appendix and the waterfall at Nant Maesglase, are even taller but often dry in summer. Pilgrims once visited the site, and the name Pistyll y Llyn means ‘waterfall of the lake’ in Welsh. Visitors reach the base of the falls by a permissive footpath from Cwm Rhaeadr. Another public path leads uphill to the head of the waterfall, offering views over the valley. The land around the falls is open-access, though much of it is managed for pheasant shooting. The setting is remote, with open moorland and steep slopes framing the cascades. The water’s flow varies with the seasons, so the falls may appear as a thin veil or a powerful curtain depending on recent rainfall.