The Elan Valley was chosen by the city of Birmingham as the site of a succession of dams and reservoirs to provide the city with desperately needed clean water at the end of the 19th century. Not only did they create a masterpiece of Victorian engineering they turned an area of beautiful farmland into something quite spectacular.
Until recently even Bank Holidays could be quiet in the centre of Wales, but we now notice an increase in traffic but still tiny amounts compared to the English Lakeland.
Approaching the lakes from the small, pretty town of Rhayader there is a Visitor Centre under Caban Coach, the lowest dam. It provides parking spaces, a cafe, shop and information. All of the Victorian dams are set in wooded valleys with hill sheep farms with open moorland on the hill-tops. A more recent dam, opened by the Queen as one of her earliest appointments is in a more rugged position at the head of the Claerwen river.
Fairly narrow, winding roads follow the course of the rivers and lakes, and the railway track, built to carry men and materials to the original building sites provides a good cycle/walking route, tarmaced at its lower levels but well surfaced throughout.
The Elan rises in the southern Cambrians, and, with the Ystwyth marks their southern border. The Aberystwyth Mountain Road follows the two rivers, it is single track in places with great views.
Visited April 2015
