Cregennan Lakes
A landscape photography blog by Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire based landscape photographer Rob Thorley Photography.
I think I came across this location from a social media post, and it was somewhere that immediately piqued my interest. Given how nice the location looked I was a little surprised that I hadn’t heard, or seen pictures of it before. Inspired by the images I’d seen I did a bit of route planning and pencilled it in for a visit. The only downside to this spot was the drive. It was going to be a three to four hour A road drive to get there. No pain no gain as they say . . .
As anticipated the drive was a ball ache and the best part of four hours. It was only the last few miles as I got into the mountains that the views broke the monotony of traffic, and towns.
Not knowing the location I’d opted to arrive mid-morning rather than attempt a sunrise shoot, and I’m glad I did. I’d followed the route in from the Arthog side to get to the lakes. Once you turn off the A road itself the route then goes via a single track road with a number of shut gates, narrow twisty roads, with steep blind crests. Forewarned is definitely forearmed, as it’s a route that could be quite sketchy in the dark, or in bad weather.
I parked up in the carpark around 10ish with the first order of business being a brew and a sandwich. It’s safe to say there a worst spots to have a brew.
Enjoying a brew at Cregennan lakes.
Refreshed I set about exploring, and photographing the location.
Weather wise it was a nice autumn day. It was blue skies, but at least there were a few clouds to break up the drudgery of a pure blue sky. That said I’d opted to get here during the day, so shouldn’t grumble. I worked the shoreline of the lake taking a few images of the boat house, and the imposing Pared y Cefn-hir moutain. There were also some nice views of Penygader and the Cadair Idris range. Shooting in the opposite direction the location also offers up some nice shots of the Mawddach estuary, and Barmouth bridge.
I was in two minds as to whether I went up Pared y Cefn-hir, but on this occasion the knees won the day an I filed the climb away for another visit.
Cregennan lakes and the view of Cadair Idris.
It was at this point I got a little miffed. Whilst I appreciate these locations are there for everyone to enjoy I got a bit annoyed when a family arrived, parked their 4x4 on the lake shoreline, and set about their picnic. Picnic around the lake absolutely the thing to do, but with ample car parking not twenty yards from the lake I thought this was a bit on the selfish side to park their 4x4 in everyone’s view.
Inwardly “steaming” I took the opportunity for another brew, and a butty in the hope that the 4x4 would move on, but it looked like they were set for the duration.
Seeing as I was here I took the opportunity to explore the area further, but didn’t take any more images. The clouds were dissipating, and the promise of an epic sunset was pretty much nil. With a four hour drive back I decided to pack up, and set off home.
On the way home I decided to continue on around the road and leave via Dolgellau. i thought this route was marginally better than the Arthog side. It wasn’t as steep, or twisty, but it was quite a long single track road with limited passing opportunities. Fortunately on my way out I didn’t come across any oncoming traffic.
As a location this is one that I will come back to. Given the trek I think the next visit will be to do an “overnighter”. Unless I happened to be in the area to get the most out of the effort of getting here from Stoke-on-Trent I’d look to arrive for sunset. Shoot some astrophotography as I think that will work well, then grab the sunrise.
You can view more images from my gallery of other North Wales locations.
