:Rhaeadr y Cwm

File:Rhaiadr Cwm, near Ffestiniog (1132594).jpg

Rhaeadr y Cwm is located at {{Ordnance Survey coordinates|SH736415|SH736415}} on the Afon Cynfal river, a watercourse that drains Migneint (to the east), an area of upland covering over {{convert|19,000|ha|order=flip}}.{{cite web |title=Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt - Special Areas of Conservation |url=https://sac.jncc.gov.uk/site/UK0030205 |website=sac.jncc.gov.uk |access-date=3 January 2024}}{{sfn|Gregory|1997|p=123}} The river drops about {{convert|400|ft}} as it flows through the gorge which separates the upland from the lowland course of the river.{{cite book |last1=Jones |first1=John Llewellyn |title=The waterfalls of Wales |date=1986 |publisher=Hale |location=London |isbn=0-7090-2584-X |page=151}}{{sfn|Gregory|1997|p=124}} The waterfall's run covers a cascade of six steps through a narrow gorge.

The waterfall can be viewed from a lay-by on the adjacent B4391 road ({{Ordnance Survey coordinates|SH732418|SH732418}}) between the A470 and A4212 roads.{{cite news |last1=Perrin |first1=Jim |title=Country diary: a perfect setting for dramatic folktales |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/nov/30/country-diary-a-perfect-setting-for-dramatic-folktales |access-date=3 January 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=30 November 2019}}{{cite book |last1=Condry |first1=William |title=Snowdonia |date=1987 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=0-7153-8734-0 |page=124}} Due to the nature of heavy rainfall on the long falls over a steep drop, it has been described as "..one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Britain."{{cite news |title=Voelas, Ysbyty Ifan, Rhaeadr-y-Cwm |work=The North Wales Weekly News |date=19 July 1954 |page=6}}

There is a proposal to build a weir above the waterfall and pipe some of the water away from a hydrolectric scheme. Those backing the scheme state that it will generate enough electricity to power 700 homes. Opponents say that up to 70% of the water will be diverted away from the falls, which will change the overall look of the waterfall.{{cite news |last1=Somerville |first1=Ewan |title=Snowdonia waterfall could be diverted to hit net zero target |work=The Daily Telegraph |issue=52,453 |date=3 January 2024 |page=12|issn=0307-1235}} There are also concerns that the moisture-loving mosses and liverworts that line the gorge's sides will be affected by the water diversion.{{cite news |last1=Forgrave |first1=Andrew |title='Unthinkable' hydro plan to divert water from 'majestic and iconic' waterfall in Snowdonia - Experts say diverting up to 70% of the waterfall will have a 'negligible' impact on its look |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWGLNB&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AA&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22Rhaeadr%20y%20Cwm%22&docref=news/19583B2FE52C1918 |access-date=4 January 2024 |work=infoweb.newsbank.com |date=24 November 2023|url-access=subscription}}

Rhaeadr means waterfall in Welsh, and cwm means mountain hollow.{{cite book |last1=Sale |first1=Richard |title=North Wales |date=2010 |publisher=Collins |location=London |isbn=9780007351404 |page=12}}

• List of waterfalls
• List of waterfalls in Wales

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |editor-last1=Gregory |editor-first1=Kenneth John |title=Fluvial geomorphology of Great Britain |date=1997 |publisher=Chapman and Hall |location=London |isbn=0-4127-8930-2}}

{{Waterfalls of Wales}}

Category:Waterfalls of Gwynedd

Category:Waterfalls of Snowdonia