![Cwm Idwal in Snowdonia, Wales](https://images.suitcasemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/10201924/eight-wonderful-winter-walks-in-the-uk-countryside_652e6b6de85da.jpeg)
Cwm Idwal Loop
Snowdonia, Wales
Just a 22-minute drive from Bangor, the sharp blades of granite that make up Cwm Idwal provide a cinematic backdrop for a Welsh winter wander, though we'd recommend picking a crisp, clear day for your hike as the peaks are often crowned with clouds. Don't panic; you won't be climbing the Sisyphean geological structure. An easy 5km walk circumnavigates the glacier-carved tarn beneath the (sometimes) snow-dusted peaks.
Routes start from the Ogwen Visitor Centre - look for the flight of stone steps at the back of the car park - and curve towards the lake. You'll want to follow the trail clockwise around the shore. For a more challenging route, continue left when the trail forks at the end of the lake. You'll have to navigate slippery boulders and loose rocks as you head towards the ominously named Twll Du (Devil's Kitchen). If you're wanting to keep it short and sweet, turn right at the fork and follow the lake back to your starting point.