Elan Valley
Valley in mid Wales
title: "Elan Valley" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["valleys-of-powys", "sites-of-special-scientific-interest-in-ceredigion", "sites-of-special-scientific-interest-in-radnor", "elenydd", "cycleways-in-wales", "cycleways-in-powys", "dark-sky-preserves-in-wales"] description: "Valley in mid Wales" topic_path: "technology/web" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elan_Valley" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Valley in mid Wales ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox valley"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Elan Valley |
| other_name | Cwm Elan |
| photo | Cwm Elan in autumn - geograph.org.uk - 1043096.jpg |
| photo_caption | View of the Elan Valley, looking southwards towards Craig Goch Reservoir. |
| map | Wales Powys |
| relief | 1 |
| label_position | right |
| area | 70 sqmi |
| type | River valley, partially dammed to form the Elan Valley Reservoirs |
| watercourses | Afon Elan |
| towns | Elan Village |
| :: |
| name = Elan Valley | other_name = Cwm Elan | photo = Cwm Elan in autumn - geograph.org.uk - 1043096.jpg | photo_width = | photo_caption = View of the Elan Valley, looking southwards towards Craig Goch Reservoir. | photo_alt = | map = Wales Powys | relief = 1 | map_width = | map_alt = | map_caption = | label = | label_position = right | coordinates = | coordinates_ref = | location = | elevation_m = | elevation_ref = | direction = | length = | width = | area = 70 sqmi | depth = | type = River valley, partially dammed to form the Elan Valley Reservoirs | watercourses = Afon Elan | age = | boundaries = | topo = | towns = Elan Village | traversed =
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Caban_coch.jpg" caption="Caban Coch Dam"] ::
The Elan Valley () is a river valley situated to the west of Rhayader, in Powys, Wales, sometimes known as the "Welsh Lake District". It covers 70 sqmi of lake and countryside.
The valley contains the Elan Valley Reservoirs and Elan Village, designed by architect Herbert Tudor Buckland as part of the same scheme. Elan Village is the only purpose-built Arts and Crafts "Model Village" in Wales.
The area is known for its scenery, and over 80% of the valley is designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. A cycle trail, the Elan Valley Trail, makes a loop from Rhayader around the reservoirs. Part of the cycle trail overlaps with a spur of National Cycle Route 81 (Lon Cambria).
As of 2015 it is an International Dark Sky Park.
References
References
- (2015-07-17). "Elan Valley Estate gets Dark Sky Status". [[ITV News]].
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