Click on the image for licensing terms
The area around the Mawddach estuary in the southern half of the Snowdonia National Park is an area I've planned on visiting, but never quite got round to making those plans a reality.
Until late spring 2016 that is.
With a favourable forecast, and a whole day free of other responsibilities, Liz and I decided to finally make the effort to visit this stunning part of Wales.
And it turned out to be not so difficult to get to after all, with a two hour drive through Snowdonia, taking in some beautiful scenery on the way, getting us to Cregennan Lakes at the foot of everyone's favourite mountain, Cader Idris.
I'd wanted to visit Cregennan Lakes specifically, having seen some inspiring images taken there on various Wales photographers' websites, such as Dave Newbould.
This first visit, taking up an afternoon, was more of a photographic recce for me, filing possible viewpoints and compositions away in my mind for a potential return trip at a more favourable time of day. (Dawn seems to be the best time to be here).
However, with dramatic clouds overhead, letting patches of sunlight play over the landscape, I couldn't resist unpacking the camera and taking a few photos looking across the larger of the two lakes towards Cader Idris, just for the fun of it you understand!
This is my favourite of those impromptu images, giving the best distribution of light and shadow across the scene that I saw that day.
Will I be back for a serious dawn shoot - I think so!
Filename - cregennan lakes 01.jpg
Camera - Canon 6D
Lens - 24-105mm zoom @ 24mm
Exposure - 1/13 sec @ f16, ISO100
Location - Cregennan Lakes, Snowdonia National Park, Mid Wales
This image - 800x450px JPEG
Conversion - Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop CC
Comments - Neutral density graduated filter used to darken the sky
All content copyright © Howard Litherland 2009-2026 unless otherwise stated.