Garreg Ddu Reservoir, Elan Valley

The walk starts from the Llanerchi car park by Garreg Ddu dam in the Elan Valley, below Rhayader. It crosses the dam, which looks like a viaduct, and turns north on the Elan Valley Trail, the old Birmingham Corporation Railway line, along the east shore of Garreg Ddu Reservoir to Penbont, where the reservoir ends. There it turns round and comes back down the west shore on a track and a woodland footway, to the dam and the car park.

It is 10.6 km with 113 m of ascent; allow about 3 hours. The grade is Easy.

There are no big climbs, but the Elan Valley Trust says some of the ground is wet underfoot and that the path through the wood is narrow in places, with exposed tree roots. Livestock roam the estate, and the Trust asks that dogs are kept on leads or under strict control. There is no swimming or boating. Mobile phone signal in the Elan Valley is very limited.

The Trust's page does not say whether the Llanerchi car park charges.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.