Elan Valley

[Elen Sentier]

Just back from 3 days out in the Elan Valley. We stayed at thecottage at Gigrin Farm (Red Kite place) rather than camping and then went out each day.

The first day we went up to the Claerwen reservoir. It's wonderfully wild and the path by the side of the lake seems to draw me on. We went some way but then the light began to fall. We turned back and there was the sunset ...


There's a lovley waterfall just down the valley from the dam ...

20131211_152005 by Elen Sentier, on Flickr

As we left the moon had risen ...

20131211_155603 by Elen Sentier, on Flickr

Day 2 we went first to the Visitor Centre where there was a very helpful ranger (Alan) who sold us one of their excellent maps and told us the waterfall up Cwm Coel was accessible, very beautiful and a good place to stop for a brew ... so we went.

20131212_132953 by Elen Sentier, on Flickr

And a closeup of the amazing black stone at the bottom ...

20131212_133719 by Elen Sentier, on Flickr

It was a lovely walk and on the way we saw a beautiful beach where other folks have stopped for a fire and a brew ... next time

Day 3 we went for a drive, first round Coed y Foel and then up the Garreg Ddu. Not far up the lake we came on yet another gorgeous waterfall ...

20131213_123748 by Elen Sentier, on Flickr

we carried on up past Penybont - a lovely little tea house in the summer - and stopped at the dam and went to play in the pine woods just above.

20131213_130319 by Elen Sentier, on Flickr

We carried on after a lovely time with the gnomes under the rocks and huge pine roots and came out into an even wilder place and finally round to the top to cros the Afon Elan. We had to stop and play here ...

20131213_143144 by Elen Sentier, on Flickr

And to photograph the old bridge ...

20131213_143315 by Elen Sentier, on Flickr

We went on down the valley and found yet another waterfall ...


20131213_151310 by Elen Sentier, on Flickr

We got home to the cottage at sunset ...

20131213_154408 by Elen Sentier, on Flickr

And the kites were flying right over us, by the cottage, 60+ of them, high, low and right overhead, and they were calling ... so beautiful ...

Day 4 - the road home ...
We stopped of in Rhayder and bought some venison from Bob the Butcher then headed back. On the way we stopped at Water-Break-its-Neck ...

Water-Break-its-Neck by Elen Sentier, on Flickr


20131214_112735 by Elen Sentier, on Flickr


20131214_112008 by Elen Sentier, on Flickr

It's a lovely spot

Altogether a really good 3 days out

 

[Shewie]

Lovely pics Elen, looks perfect for the Ridgerunner in those piney woods

 

[wingstoo]

It really is a wonderful place up there, spent so many days fish the brook down stream from Claerwen reservoir.

I have a special place there where we have fixed a memorial plaque for my brother...

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We will be taking a trip over the holidays to make sure it is still there.

Will look out for some of the places you have pictured above...Thanks for posting them.

 

[peaks]

Thank-you Elen.............That just reinforces my resolve to re-visit

 

[Harvestman]

Looks like a fantastic trip Elen. Glad you had a good time. I will have to go and check out the waterfall at Cwm Coel for myself. And you will have to show me Water-break-its-neck.

Wingstoo, that's a lovely thing to share. I won't pry, but I will keep my eyes open respectfully next time I am up that way (which may be tomorrow).

 

[John Fenna]

It is a long time since I was up that way - but your pictures have revived a lot of memories!

 

[Goatboy]

Lovely report Elen, looks a very evocative place that the eyes and other senses can just drink in. Not an area I know at all but will have to put it on my list of good looking sojourns.

Wingstoo, looks like you have a lot of deep connections there too. I'll dip my head if I do get to visit.

 

[Elen Sentier]

Lovely pics Elen, looks perfect for the Ridgerunner in those piney woods

Oh shush !!! I even paced it out and you can't be seen from the road ... there's room for my friend's DD too

 

[Elen Sentier]

Ooooo ... didn't see the plaque but we did think of the fishing, next summer ...

 

[Elen Sentier]

Looks like a fantastic trip Elen. Glad you had a good time. I will have to go and check out the waterfall at Cwm Coel for myself. And you will have to show me Water-break-its-neck.

Wingstoo, that's a lovely thing to share. I won't pry, but I will keep my eyes open respectfully next time I am up that way (which may be tomorrow).

Bloomin' wet if you are up there today HM! Fix a time after sun-return to go visit Water-Break-its-Neck.

 

[leon-1]

The Elan Valley is beautiful when you have time to appreciate it. I was last there about 12 years ago with my brother, I'm gonna have to get back again soon.

 

[Big Stu 12]

Loverly.. thank you for sharring

 

[rik_uk3]

The family had a farmhouse near Llanilar and we drive up for weekends sometimes going via the Elan Valley, most often thought we'd go Rhayader across to Trawscoed using the minor 'C' road, its a beautiful part of the world. From age @13 mom would sometimes drop a chum and I off and we'd wild camp (good tent) before she picked us up on her way home to Brum. If a parent did that today you'd have social services on the case lol.

 

[fishfish]

theres a lot of trout in the resevoir too,we camped next to the picnic area a while back.lovely place.

 

[treadlightly]

Brings back memories...thanks for posting Elen.

 

[Ivan...]

Hi Elen, lovely pics, looks like you had a blast! I shall be waiting for the glorious Welsh summer months before i brave those parts, looks a very pretty place to spend some quality time, glad you had chilled visit.

Thanks for posting.

Ivan...

 

[dave53]

hi elen great pics you will have to take us all there next year regards dave

 

[Joonsy]

Very nice. know the area well. some nice spots around there, Hafod has some nice features on its various stream walks and is well worth a visit http://www.hafod.org/ there is a spectacular deep gorge and high waterfall called Rhuddnant Gorge (at grid ref 799785) approx 4 kilometers north of Cymystwyth, and of course the old mines at Cymystwyth, about 4 kilometers east of Rhuddnant Gorge there is a bothy owned by the MBA called Nant Rhys. Llyn Brianne south west of Claerwen reservoir is my favourite reservoir in the area though, really beautiful.

 

[Harvestman]

Very nice. know the area well. some nice spots around there, Hafod has some nice features on its various stream walks and is well worth a visit http://www.hafod.org/ there is a spectacular deep gorge and high waterfall called Rhuddnant Gorge (at grid ref 799785) approx 4 kilometers north of Cymystwyth, and of course the old mines at Cymystwyth, about 4 kilometers east of Rhuddnant Gorge there is a bothy owned by the MBA called Nant Rhys. Llyn Brianne south west of Claerwen reservoir is my favourite reservoir in the area though, really beautiful.

Nice information there. I will be looking a few of those spots up. Thanks.