We had a need to get some things for lunch so I needed to get the van out,
additionally I had seen a number of walks up the Elan valley and here was an
opportunity to go and have a look around. Everyone else was looking after their
hangovers from last night, so it was just Bertie and I who arrived at the car
park of the visitors Centre under the first dam.
Paying our dues at the touch screen meter (number plate recognition at the
entrance gate).
Walking first up to the dam, with the water cascading over the top. Across the
bridge under the dam, looking back down the river towards Rhayader.
On the other side of the river to the visitors centre, the path climbed up a
series of steps in offset banks rising to the top of the dam
There was a very well marked (and used) track along the side of the lake,
heading off into the sun which had come out to welcome us to the top of the
dam.
Aftera while there was a short section of stairs (again) up to a balcony level
through an ancient woodland.
The track now turned away from the lake and climbed up to Ty'n y pant, on the
hills above the lake. As we climbed you can look back and see the bridge at the
junction with Garreg Ddu reservoir.
The basin opened out - we would traverse around this bowl below the skyline from
left ot right.
Traversing around and still to the setting sun, looking back around the bowl to
where we had come from.
Having gone around the bowl we then continued along the lake (only many meters
above it now)
Once we had reached the high point out of the bowl to drop down the other side
to the end of the lake, a couple of things were visible - first the old dam -
Nant y Gro
Also we could look over to see the bridge we would cross back over, where the
lake merged with the Garreg Ddu reservoir.
Dropping down to the head of the reservoir through open fell land.
Looking closer at the Nant y Gro dam - I had originally thought we could cross
here, but definitely not when the lakes are in flood. As we got lower the track
became more constructed into a vehicule track.
The head of the lake, where we would walk around and join the road on the other
side. Approaching the farm at the end.
Picking up the minor road on the other side ... I found out later we could have
climbed up the hillside and traversed there, but this time we followed the road.
On the other side you could see where we had come down off the fells.
An even closer look at the Nant y Gro dam as we passed above it, and continued
on the road avoiding the traffic.
Approaching the bridge, and was surprised to find the church of Nantgwyllt
standing on its own apart from the large car park next to it.
Crossing the bridge with views of each reservoir.
On the other side of the bridge we joined the Elan valley walk - a
metalled trail that goes the length pf the valley to Rhayader. Looking across to
the valley we climbed up to get into the high level traverse.
At the end og Caban coch the dam looked more like an infinity pool at the
junction of the two sides. Also looking over tot he lake side path we had
started on.
Reaching the top of the dam now on the side we started , the Elan valley walk
continued down to the car park at the visitors centre before continuing on
towards Rhayader
