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Rhayader and Elan Valley

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Rhayader is about 30 miles inland from Aberystwyth. It not only is a good place to entertain the kids but it is right next door to the wonderful Elan Valley. The valley is a reservoir area with a multitude of habitats including mature woods. There are walks, cycle rides and an excellent visitors centre.

See the "Devil's Bridge to Rhayader" drive on the "Drives" page of this website for a scenic route that includes Rhayader and the Elan Valley.

Rhayader

For a map of Rhayader click here. Details of printing the map are given on this site's "Maps" page. On the map:

• Wye View Terrace is the A470 that joins the A44 at Llangurig.
• South Street is the A470 to Builth Wells.
• East Street is the A44 to Kington.
• West Street is the B4518 to the Elan Valley.
• Saint Harmon Road is the B4518 to Llanidloes. On the "Drives" page this is the suggested route to link Rhayader and Llanidloes.

Tourist Information

The Tourist Information Centre is not as shown on the map. It is in the leisure centre which is where Saint Harmon Road joins Dark Lane. Phone: 01597 810591 (open April to September).

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Parking

• The main car park is where Dark Lane joins Saint Harmon Road, opposite the leisure centre (cheap pay-and-display).
• There is parking in the livestock market opposite the leisure centre (free).
• There is a small free car park on the left after you cross the bridge on Bridge Street leaving the town centre and another on the right a little further on.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Swimming Pool

The swimming pool is in the leisure centre which is where Saint Harmon Road joins Dark Lane. The pool is well maintained and has a fun shallow bubble side pool. Both my kids have loved this pool from being babies. The leisure centre also has holiday activities for kids.

For more details of the pool and the leisure centre phone 01597 810355.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Walks

• There is a pleasant (non-buggy friendly) path along the river starting at Sunnyfield / Water Lane. The route goes around the Rugby ground and comes out along South Road a few minutes walk from the cross-roads at the town centre. The path goes past a fun piece of stony river beach, but does get rather muddy after bad weather.
• There is a long walk that runs all the way from Rhayader to the Elan Valley Visitors Centre (see below). The walk starts on Bridge Street near the two car parks and has a very distinctive wooden gate. The path has been designed to cater for walkers, wheelchair users and cyclists.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Parks and Playgrounds

• There is a park with a playing field and fenced playground next to the river at the end of Castle Road. The playground will appeal to all ages of kids.

• The nicest way from the park above to the second park is to start with your back to the playground's gates and walk along the river until you come out on Bridge Street. Cross over the road bridge. "Y Gro" park is on the banks of the river on the left hand-side of the road.

  The park is a grassed area with swings and a lovely view of the river looking towards the road bridge (see photo 2). The bridge end of the park is also a great place to skim stones. My kids just love to run about in this park.

Information last reviewed: 7th/9/06.

Shops and Eating

The shops are centred at the cross-roads in the centre of the town (where West, East and South Street meet, see photo 1). The shopping is quite limited but there is a small grocer on West Street by the cross-roads.

There are places to eat in the shops area.

• We usually use the cafes on either side of where South Street meets the cross-roads. With children, "Caroles" is more for cake and drink stops. "The Strand" has a childrens' menu and a high chair.
• We also use "Evans Plaice" fish and chip shop between the cross-roads and Saint Harmon Road.

Information last reviewed: 7th/9/06.

Toilets

• In the main car park (basic).
• On the left after you cross the bridge on Bridge Street leaving the town centre (basic).

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Elan Valley

This valley is a must visit for anyone coming to this area, even if you just drive through it. It is beautiful all year round, but my favorite time is when the Autumn leaves are turning and the day is mirror-water still.

For a map of the Elan Valley click here. Details of printing the map are given on this site's "Maps" page.

On the map the road from Rhayader to the valley is the B4518 towards Elan Village.

See the Elan Valley website for more information about the valley.

Visitors Centre

The Visitors Centre (see photo 3) is the best place to start exploring the valley. It is situated below the dam at Elan Village and is open mid-March to mid-October.

The Centre features:

• A large child friendly cafe.
• Toilets with nappy changing facilities.
• Gift shop.
• Tourist Information Centre. Has lots of booklets etc on visiting the valley. A great place to seek advice. Phone: 01597 810898.
• A very well maintained fenced playground suitable for all ages. My kids love this.
• An excellent interactive exhibition on the history and wildlife of the valley. Both my children enjoy exploring this on every visit. There is a wall puzzle that my daughters enjoyed even at 2. The wooden drawers under the exhibits contain examples of the local plants and animal remains the kids can touch. These include skulls, a closed dish of owl pellets (containing little bones), feathers, pine cones etc. Great entertainment and educational too.

The Centre also runs holiday activities for children.

Information last reviewed: 30th/6/06.

Walks

The valley is fall of walks of all levels of difficulty. Here are a few short ones we use regularly:

• Visitors Centre (possible with large wheeled buggy). Walk from the Centre towards the dam. Cross over the footbridge and head-back along the river through the mature woods. When the path branches take the lower branch by the river. You will arrive back at the entrance to the Centre.
• Visitors Centre (not possible with a buggy). Walk along the road towards the bridge by its entrance. Cross the bridge and turn left. Walk through the village, at its far end follow the path across the green and cross the footbridge. Follow the path from the bridge to the tarmaked footpath by the houses. Turn left and you will arrive back at the entrance to the Centre.
• Penygarreg Reservoir Dam (not buggy friendly). This is a walk through lovely woodland by a particularly attractive part of the river. Park under the dam, either in the car park by the hump-backed bridge or the parking area on the road nearer the dam. Walk through the car park by the hump-backed bridge and follow the path towards the dam. Cross the river, follow the path up the valley side and then back along the river to the hump-backed bridge again.
• Claerwen Reservoir Dam. The car park under the dam has toilets (only open at the same times of the year as the Visitors Centre) and a picnic area by the river. From here you can stroll with a buggy to look at the dam. There is also a steep stony walk up to the dam's top. My daughter did this with me at three and a half.

Information last reviewed: 7th/9/06.

Drives

• See the "Devil's Bridge to Rhayader" drive on the "Drives" page of this website for a scenic route that includes Rhayader and the Elan Valley.
• Drive from Rhayader to the Visitors Centre along the B4518. Follow the road through the valley until you reach the far end of Craig Goch Reservoir, cross the bridge and go up the steep hill with hair-pin bends. At the the junction at the top turn right back to Rhayader. When you reach Rhayader turn left to go back to the town centre.

Information last reviewed: 30th/6/06.

Other Attractions in the Area

Gilfach Nature Reserve

This nature reserve and visitors centre is set in rolling green hills about 3 miles from Rhayader off the A470 to Llangurig. Follow the sign posts along a narrow lane and then turn right along another sign posted lane to the actual visitor centre.

The visitors centre is packed full of things for children to do. We took our kids there and both our 6 and 4 year old spent an hour and a half exploring (they would have easily spent longer). There are puzzles, real animal and plant artifacts to touch and look at under lenses and a microscope. Three themed rooms cover above ground, below ground and underwater. Each room is decorated to match its theme. For instance the underwater room is set-up as if you are under the surface and so there are giant tadpoles above you and paintings of water creatures all around you on the walls.

The nature reserve has several walks and offers special events like pond dipping. The centre serves tea, coffee and pop. For more information phone 01597 870301 or visit the Gilfach website.

Information last reviewed: 30th/6/06.

Disclaimer: This site is based on the author's experiences with his own children and therefore the advice may not be applicable to other children. The comments provided are the author's own opinions and should be treated as such. The author does not accept any responsibility for any damage, loss or injury resulting from the use of this site.