Elan Valley

With its huge reservoirs, massive stone dams, rambling country walks, forestry and magnificent scenery of steep wooded hills mirrored and shimmering on the surfaces of these great lakes, the Elan Valley has justifiably earned itself the title of 'The Lake District of Wales'.

The Elan Valley reservoirs are indisputably the most scenic in Wales. Massive dams hold back millions of gallons of water, flanked each side with hills and mountains while the aesthetic dam walls themselves were designed not only to be functional but highly photogenic adorned with several architectural embellishments in marked contrast to the industrial blandness of some more recent reservoirs. An example of this is the Claerwen dam which is constructed from concrete but, in order to blend with the older dams, has been faced with hand-chiseled stone.

Although the primary function of the reservoirs were constructed between 1892 and 1903 to supply water to Birmingham 73 miles away, they were both designed as and have become visitor attractions drawing a steady and growing flow of visitors, firmly establishing the Elan Valley and Rhayader on the tourism map of mid-Wales. The dams are clearly practical and functional but are also deliberately picturesque, particularly Penygarreg Dam with its centrally positioned valve tower and the matching ‘Birmingham Baroque’ styling of the other towers on Craig Goch and the Foel Tower on Garreg Ddu. Engineer, Mansergh, designed the dams so that: "when more than full water will overflow from all the reservoirs in picturesque cascades down the faces of the dams" and Caban Coch Dam has been designed so that, during high water levels it will form, to quote Mansergh again, "probably the finest waterfall in this country". As a result, the Elan Valley is often referred to as the 'Lake District of Wales' and with it six reservoirs flanked by picturesque stone dams, is one of the most scenic areas of mid-Wales set within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The area, owned by Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water) stretches over 45,000 acres with most of the upland areas in the care of the Elan Valley Trust. The charity strives to protect the landscape and wildlife of the area while also encouraging public access, recreation and education on the estate. During the late spring to early autumn a Visitor Centre with display areas, shop and refreshments is open to visitors on the edge of Elan village.

The Elan Valley