Best things to do in Elan Valley Wales: Ultimate Guide for 2024

With more than 70 square miles (181sq km) of peaceful, dammed reservoirs and abundant cycle routes and hiking trails, Elan Valley in central Wales is an ideal spot for scenic solace and adventures away from the crowds.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water owns the Elan Estate, although a more significant part is vested in the Elan Valley Trust.

I’ve visited this area several times as part of my research for my Lonely Planet Wales guidebook, and I do believe it’s one of the most underrated places in Wales

things to do in Elan Valley, Wales

The Elan Valley is also part of the wider Cambrian Mountains region, the last wilderness in Wales.

The Cambrian Mountains are a series of mountain ranges in central Wales, roughly between the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia.

Places to visit in the Elan Valley Wales

This sparsely populated area has unspoilt landscapes, wildlife, small communities and a series of dams and reservoirs.

The environment, culture and heritage of this area are preserved and cared by the local communities, farmers and estate owners. This is primarily what makes the area so distinctive.

There are many places to visit in the Elan Valley, and you should aim to spend at least a few days exploring this peaceful area.

It’s an under-the-radar part of Wales that definitely needs to be on your bucket list.

Discover the Elan River Dams

The Elan Valley Reservoirs and dams are man-made lakes created by damming the Elan and Claerwen Rivers.

These large Victorian dams blend beautifully among the undulating green hills, where functionality meets scenic beauty.

Built over 100 years ago to supply water to a heavily urbanised and thirsty Birmingham, these distinctive gravity dams are a massive draw for photographers who come to snap the cascading waters.

The dams are an extremely photogenic backdrop for walkers, photographers, and cyclists. Near the dams, there are also some fabulous picnic spots.

There are five main dams that you can visit in the Elan Valley area. Claerwen, Craig Goch, Pen y Garreg, Garreg Ddu and Caban Coch.

Begin your dam journey at the Elan Valley Visitor Centre, where you’ll find a cafe, maps, information on wildlife, and walks and cycle routes in the area.

why you must visit the Elan Valley Wales

Elan Valley Dam open days

You can even visit one of the dams on one of their popular Dam open days.

Venture inside the Pen y Garreg Dam and up to the central tower. You’ll enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the dam wall, which makes for incredible photos.

Go Mountain Biking in the Elan Valley

Spend a day biking through the awe-inspiring scenery of the Elan Valley. You can bring your own bike or take a guided bike tour with Mountain Bike Wales.

Let expert bikers Phil and Polly guide you through rugged landscapes and rocky trails on two wheels.

Go on a guided tour with MTB and bike through rivers, over hills and along bridleways as you traverse some pretty epic landscapes.

Grab a GoPro and capture some snaps and footage of your thrilling bike journey through some of the most isolated parts of Wales.

Bike tour Wales

We didn’t see another soul on our bike ride; this only added to the remote feel of our journey. MTB Wales offers a range of rides and tours to suit all abilities, even novice bikers.

If you are feeling adventurous, MTB offers multi-day journeys across Wales for the more seasoned rider.

We definitely recommend the Trans Cambrian Way experience if you are looking for an adventure!

Go Stargazing in the Elan Valley

With stargazing becoming an increasingly popular holiday activity, the Elan Valley is in a perfect position to capitalise on star-seeking, with one of the world’s darkest, clearest, and most unpolluted skies.

In 2015, the Elan Valley Estate achieved International Dark Sky Park status, becoming the first privately owned but publicly accessible park in the world to do so.

This is no easy feat as one of the toughest designations for aspiring dark sky sites is the coveted ‘dark sky reserve’. It’s an elite dark sky status reserved only for destinations offering exceptional or distinguished quality starry nights.

Dark sky sites Elan Valley

Several optimal stargazing sites in the Elan Valley offer the best chances of seeing the cosmos, including the Teifi Pools, Claerwen Dam and the Craig Goch car park.

Organised stargazing events are held in the Elan Valley and Dark Sky Wales, and guided tours are also taken for small groups.

Optimum Dark Sky accommodation in the Elan Valley can be found at rustic Y Beudy. This rustic Grade II* longhouse dates right back to the 16th century and is a perfect, rural stargazing spot.

If you fancy spending the late night gazing at the stars, there are several stargazing sites you can visit, including Claerwen car park, Craig Goch, Teifi Pools, and Pont Ar Elan.

If you are a fan of astrophotography, you can photograph the cosmos in a beautiful setting with low light pollution.

Bike the Elan Valley Trail

Alongside biking routes, the valley has numerous walking trails to suit a variety of abilities. Explore silent sheep tracks and mossy green terrains while crossing the craggy hills.

Navigation skills and hiking experience are highly recommended if you’re going off-trail.

The most popular established route is the Elan Valley Trail, which is shared with bikers and joggers and fairly easy to navigate.

This beautiful linear trail begins at Cwmdauddwr near Rhayader and finishes at the spectacular Craig Goch Dam.

Go shopping in Rhayader and discover independent stores

Rhayader has long been a mid-Wales hub for weary travellers and was used as a staging post for drovers and those travelling the long London to Aberystwyth route.

Today, the market town is known as the gateway to the Elan Valley and can be found just outside the Elan Valley estate. It’s a convenient base with several independent shops, cafés and pubs.

You’ll find a compact shopping area where you can browse a selection of antiques, local crafts, prints, pottery, upcycled clothing and local souvenirs.

One of the more novel shopping offers here is Hafod Hardware, a retro family-run hardware store that has been open since 1895.

Alongside typical DIY items and kitchenware, you can also pick up vintage-style tourism prints of Wales, specially made Elan Valley mugs, and chocolate bars.

Take a scenic drive through the Elan Valley

Take a scenic drive around the dams and reservoirs and experience Wales’s best road trip views.

The road allows good views of the dams and reservoirs and connects with the mountain road to Aberystwyth.

If you are a fan of travel photography, there are plenty of epic shots along the way. It really is one of the most Instagrammable places in Wales.

Head to the Visitor Centre to pick up a map and get more information on routes and car parks around the estate.

Spot Red Kites

Red kites have been brought back from near extinction in mid-Wales and are now thriving in the Elan Valley and surrounding area.

Birdwatchers can observe these reddish-chestnut birds of prey across the valley or watch them being fed at Gigrin Farm.

Since the early 1990s, Gigrin Farm visitors have watched the forked-tail kites dramatically swoop down to grab hunks of meat in their sharp talons.

This Official Red Kite Feeding Station attracts around 600 red kites a day. They circle above alongside buzzards, awaiting their daily feed.

Where to stay in the Elan Valley

There is a range of Elan Valley Trust Accommodations, including local hotels, camping sites, Airbnb, and self-catering cottages.

Using online price comparison sites such as Booking.com to find the best hotel deals in the area, you can find a hotel to suit your budget and length of stay.

Some of the best places to stay in the Elan Valley include:

Mid Wales Holiday Lets

Look no further than the award-winning Mid Wales Holiday Lets for self-catering accommodation in Rhayader.

Stay in stylish apartments in the heart of Rhayader with various accommodation options to suit groups, couples and families.

Cycling and hiking groups can take advantage of several features, including a washing machine and drying cupboard for wet kit, bike hire, Secure bike storage,

Some of their accommodation offerings include an outdoor hot tub, perfect for a relaxed post-hike or bike soak.

Go glamping in the Elan Valley

Enjoy a luxury, off-grid glamping experience at Stellar Safari Lodge in a beautiful, rural setting. The lodge has huge ‘cosy cabin’ vibes, with a wood-burning cooker stove, plush furnishings, and contemporary decor.

The expansive safari tent sleeps six, and amenities include an ensuite shower room with hot water and a flushing toilet, a fully equipped kitchen, a fire pit grill, a pizza oven, and a private wood-fired hot tub.

It’s a rural escape with glorious views. It also offers the chance to disconnect from everyday life, as there is no Wi-Fi here.

What do you think of my Elan Valley Wales Guide? Would you visit this gorgeous part of Wales? Let me know in the comments below!