In the early 19th century, dams were built on the River Elan (pronounced ellen), west of Rhayader, with a fourth large dam following in 1952 on the tributary River Claerwen. Together they provide over 264 million litres of water daily for Birmingham and parts of South and Mid-Wales and 4.2 megawatts of hydroelectric power. The need to protect the 70-sq-mile watershed has turned it into an important wildlife conservation area.
Located just downstream of the lowest dam is Welsh Water's Elan Valley Visitor Centre , with interesting exhibits on the scheme and leaflets on the estate's 80 miles of nature trails and footpaths. Check the website for details of the frequent guided walks and birdwatching trips, which are mostly free.
The Elan Valley Trail is an 8-mile traffic- free walking, horse-riding and cycling path that mostly follows the line of the long-gone Birmingham Corporation Railway alongside the River Elan and its reservoirs. It starts just west of Rhayader at Cwmdauddwr.
