Elan Valley

Elan Village is the tiny settlement at the heart of the wider Elan Valley area, just outside Rhayader. It is mainly made up of old stone cottages and estate buildings originally built for workers connected with the famous Victorian dams and reservoirs.

The main place most people visit is the Elan Valley Visitor Centre, which has a café, gift shop, toilets, cycle hire, maps, parking and a viewing area looking out towards the dams. It is the ideal starting point before driving deeper into the valley. 

The area is famous for its dramatic dams, reservoirs, mountain roads and stargazing. There are six Victorian dams, lots of walking and cycling routes, and plenty of good drone-photo opportunities when the weather behaves itself. The roads are narrow and winding though, so it is very much “slow down and enjoy the scenery” territory rather than hammering along like you are late for a delivery slot. 

For your Elan Valley trip with Fiona and the boys, the village itself is more of a scenic stopping point than a destination in its own right. The real stars are places like the Craig Goch Dam, Pen y Garreg Dam and the sweeping reservoir roads beyond. On a clear evening, it is one of the best dark sky areas in Britain. Read more