'secret' swim spot'

 

One of the pools you can hop in for a dip on the three-mile route (Image: Emma Marshall)

The easy three-mile walk with 'secret' swim spot and spectacular views.

You will find mountains, a serene village, and plenty of wildlife to enjoy.

There are hundreds of breathtaking walks in Wales from waterfall wanders to seaside strolls. One walking route you won't want to miss is the Afon Dufodyn and Nant Peris Circular, which leads to a hidden swimming spot perfect for those summer days in the outdoors.

It was written about in the book Wild Swimming Walks in Eryri/Snowdonia, by Emma Marshall, guiding you through the stunning scenery in this magical part of the world and describing the best spots to swim through secret valleys, climb up to the highest lakes, and find hidden waterfalls.

The walk features many postcard-worthy picture spots and the views at the end which look like you could be in a tropical country.

Emma, who is an avid walker and explorer of beautiful places, shares her perspective of the Afon Dufodyn and Nant Peris Circular as being an incredible route with some standout moments she has experienced along the way.

In the book Emma writes: "The Llanberis Pass is a spectacular, narrow divide between the Glyderau mountains and the Snowdon massif. Reflecting its glacial origins the sides of the pass are steep and craggy while the valley floor beneath the cliffs is grassy and rock-strewn."

The route starts just outside of Nant Peris and is known for warming walkers up well after a small incline at the beginning before the first swim in a circular pool surrounded by mountain ash and ivy. 

Emma continues in the book: "Look out for a little homemade sign, low down, on the right, announcing 'Walk to Elidir Fawr'. Here, push your way through ferns to follow a hidden path. Views open up ahead towards the beautiful Llanberis Pass with its flanks of velvet green and its flecks of white sheep near and far.

"And here the first swimming opportunity presents itself: a river pool that is a real sun trap. It has a distinctive copper stain on the rounded stone bowl of the wall above it. Once, as I wallowed in the clear, sparkling water, I watched water beetles showing off their iridescent colours on the warm worn walls of the pool.

"It's a very serene spot. Carry on upstream for the best pool though. High summer means high ferns and you'll therefore have to walk around them if you're not comfortable forging through them. Paths at this time of year can become invisible so be prepared to do a bit of hunting!"

Eryri has often ranked as one of the UK's best national walks, so it comes as no surprise that there are an abundance of little-known jaw-dropping strolls which sometimes takes people to need to go off the beaten track to fully appreciate. Emma has come across pools she has never heard of and referred to them as names of her own.

She wrote: "My favourite pool, and one I have christened 'Pwll Llygad yr Ddraig' ('eye of the dragon pool'), is too tempting to miss and I guarantee you'll soon be stripping off to its deep, oak-canopied loveliness.

"Summertime sees the pools decked with hanging honeysuckle and ivy while foxgloves bloom on the banks above. Dippers flit back and forth, busy insect-hunting in the rocky stream. You'll be able to identify this spot by two mountain ash trees marking the spot.

The mountain-scapes in the area are jaw-droppingly beautiful

The pools on this walk are the perfect place to unwind in and immerse yourself in nature (Image above: Emma Marshall)

"Unfortunately these mountain ash (also known as rowan trees) are affected by ash dieback and I've observed them slowly dying over the past few years. They may not be here for much longer at all sadly.