Discover Elan

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Discover Elan Welcome to Discover Elan (formerly Elan Links: People, Nature, Water), a page managed by the Elan Valley Trust.

This page will celebrate how special the Elan Valley Estate is for its wonderful nature, heritage and stunning dark skies. Sign up to our monthly newsletter: https://shorturl.at/X9Bce

Elan lies at the heart of the Cambrian Mountains in Mid Wales. Its unique landscape combines remote hill land, isolated farmsteads, steep-sided wooded valleys and an extraordinary feat of Victorian engineering that brought clean water to the then rapidly expanding industrial city of Birmingham. Today, Elan’s 20,000 hectares - 1% of Wales - is a haven for wildlife and people. It has a host of nature and landscape designations; and the 154,000 visitors a year enjoy the breath-taking scenery, nature, recreational facilities and extensive free educational and heritage-based resources for schools, families and communities. Our vision is ambitious - to generate a step-change increase in beneficial outcomes from this special place – for people, for communities and for heritage. To achieve this we have developed a strategic programme of investment to safeguard our heritage and to increase enjoyment, education, training, and recreation for the
benefit of all.

☄ Dust from the most famous comet in history is about to light up our night sky. The Orionid meteor shower is active fro...
16/10/2026

☄ Dust from the most famous comet in history is about to light up our night sky. The Orionid meteor shower is active from 2nd October - 7th November, peaking on the night of October 21st.
Derived from Halley’s Comet, these meteors are famous for being fast, exceptionally bright, and leaving stunning, lingering trails of light. Expect around 15 meteors per hour during the peak.
The Moon’s waxing gibbous phase will interfere with seeing the peak of the shower but it will set at 3am on 22nd October, providing a couple of hours of darkness.

📸Matthew Larkin at Unsplash

☄ Mae llwch o'r gomed enwocaf mewn hanes ar fin goleuo awyr ein nos. Mae cawod meteor Orionid yn weithredol o 2 Hydref - 7 Tachwedd, gan gyrraedd ei hanterth ar noson 21 Hydref!
Yn deillio o Gomed Halley, mae'r sêr gwib hyn yn enwog am fod yn gyflym, yn eithriadol o lachar, ac yn gadael llwybrau golau syfrdanol, hir. Disgwyliwch tua 15 seren wib yr awr yn ystod yr anterth.
Amser Gorau i Wylio: Yr oriau di-loer, cyn y wawr yw’r amser gorau i gael golwg glir. Ewch i fan tywyll, gwisgwch yn gynnes, ac edrychwch i fyny!

Before modern supermarkets and digital delivery, old communities such as the Navvies Village in Elan Valley, revolved ar...
15/10/2026

Before modern supermarkets and digital delivery, old communities such as the Navvies Village in Elan Valley, revolved around storefronts like this one. Nestled against a lush hillside, this wooden and corrugated iron shop served as the hub of its local community. The shopkeepers look very smart with their bleached-white aprons, and you even can see some of their wares in the window.

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Camwch yn ôl i oes arall...
Cyn archfarchnadoedd modern a dosbarthu digidol, roedd hen gymunedau fel Pentref y Navvies yng Nghwm Elan, yn cylchdroi o amgylch siop fel hon. Wedi'i leoli yn erbyn llechwedd ffrwythlon, roedd y siop bren a haearn rhychog hon yn gwasanaethu fel canolbwynt ei chymuned leol. Mae'r gweithwyr siop yn edrych yn smart iawn gyda'u ffedogau gwyn wedi’u cannu, a gallwch chi hyd yn oed weld rhai o'u nwyddau yn y ffenestr.

Would you like to work in the stunning Elan Estate in the heart of mid Wales?We are seeking an enthusiastic, self-motiva...
14/10/2026

Would you like to work in the stunning Elan Estate in the heart of mid Wales?
We are seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated Farm Worker who can manage livestock in an upland farm environment and fulfil a range of tasks across our in-hand holdings.
👉Find out more: https://elanvalley.org.uk/about/careers/
📸 Jane Phillips
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Hoffech chi weithio yn Ystâd hyfryd Elan yng nghanol canolbarth Cymru?
Rydym yn chwilio am Weithiwr Fferm hunan ysgogedig a brwdfrydig a all rheoli da byw ar fferm ucheldirol, gan gyflawni amrywiaeth o dasgiau ar draws ein daliadau mewn llaw.
👉Rhagor o wybodaeth: https://elanvalley.org.uk/cy/about-cymraeg/swyddi/

Our volunteer officer has had a very busy year, and their team of volunteers have achieved an astounding amount of essen...
13/10/2026

Our volunteer officer has had a very busy year, and their team of volunteers have achieved an astounding amount of essential conservation work! Read their update here:https://elanvalley.org.uk/volunteering/a-thank-you-from-the-volunteer-officer/

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Mae ein swyddog gwirfoddolwyr wedi cael blwyddyn brysur iawn, ac mae eu tîm o wirfoddolwyr wedi cyflawni swm anhygoel o waith cadwraeth hanfodol! Darllenwch eu diweddariad yma: https://elanvalley.org.uk/cy/uncategorized-cy/diolch-gan-y-swyddog-gwirfoddolwyr/

The beautiful Nantgwyllt Church is a familiar landmark as you travel around the Elan Valley. Nantgwyllt is Welsh for 'Wi...
11/10/2026

The beautiful Nantgwyllt Church is a familiar landmark as you travel around the Elan Valley.

Nantgwyllt is Welsh for 'Wild stream", referring to the to the fast-flowing stream that runs into the Claerwen Valley.


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Mae Eglwys hardd Nantgwyllt yn dirnod cyfarwydd wrth i chi deithio o amgylch Cwm Elan.

Mae Nantgwyllt yn cyfeirio at y nant sy'n llifo'n gyflym ac yn mynd i mewn i Ddyffryn Claerwen.

Since the arrival of summer, the peat bogs of the Elan valley saw the typical influx of dragonflies and damselflies, flo...
08/10/2026

Since the arrival of summer, the peat bogs of the Elan valley saw the typical influx of dragonflies and damselflies, flocking to the stagnant pools to breed.
A recent survey conducted by County recorder Martyn Moore, revealed an abundance of over 100 Black Darters egg-laying across one of the restored peat bogs. Not only is this a beautiful and magical site, but it is only the 3rd time in Radnorshire where black darters have been recorded in this abundance!
But the real cherry on the cake was a very special record of a Small Red Damselfly. This damselfly is a Nationally Scarce, Red List species of shallow heathland pools and flushes. It is clear that the peatland restoration work that has been completed in the Elan Valley creates the exact type of habitat these damselflies prefer! This record made only the second record in Radnorshire! The last being a whopping 37 years ago!
This is great news for these red list species and for the Elan Valley peat team who are working to restore these bogs and attract biodiversity.
Field notes from Elan Valley Ecologist, Hazel Lee.
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Ers dechrau’r haf, mae corsydd mawn Dyffryn Elan wedi gweld y mewnlifiad nodweddiadol o weision y neidr a chwilod mursen, yn heidio i'r pyllau llonydd i fridio.
Daeth i’r amlwg mewn arolwg diweddar a gynhaliwyd gan y cofiadur sirol Martyn Moore, fod dros 100 o bicellwyr yn dodwy wyau ar draws un o'r corsydd mawn sydd wedi'u hadfer. Nid yn unig y mae hwn yn safle hardd a hudolus, ond dyma'r trydydd tro i gynifer o bicellwyr gael eu cofnodi yn Sir Faesyfed!
Ac i goroni’r cyfan, cafwyd cofnod arbennig iawn o fursennod bach coch. Mae'r fursen hon ar y Rhestr Goch fel Rhywogaeth sy’n Brin yn Genedlaethol mewn pyllau a rhuthrau dŵr rhostiroedd bas. Mae'n amlwg bod y gwaith adfer mawndiroedd sydd wedi'i gwblhau yn Nyffryn Elan yn creu'r union fath o gynefin sydd orau gan y chwilod mursen hyn! Dim ond yr ail record oedd hon yn Sir Faesyfed! Roedd yr un diwethaf 37 mlynedd yn ôl!
Mae hyn yn newyddion gwych i'r rhywogaethau hyn ar y rhestr goch ac i dîm mawndiroedd Dyffryn Elan sy'n gweithio i adfer y corsydd hyn a denu bioamrywiaeth.
Nodiadau maes gan Ecolegydd Dyffryn Elan, Hazel Lee.

Why is our Peatland Restoration Officer bouncing on a bog? Because a wet bog can be surprisingly bouncy.Sphagnum moss ca...
07/10/2026

Why is our Peatland Restoration Officer bouncing on a bog?
Because a wet bog can be surprisingly bouncy.

Sphagnum moss can hold 16–26 times its dry weight in water, depending on the species. Acting like a natural sponge, it helps hold water within the bog, while the vegetation and structure of the peatland help slow its movement through the landscape.
This was filmed on 19 August, during one of the driest periods of the summer, yet you can still quite literally feel the water beneath your feet.
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Pam mae ein Swyddog Adfer Mawndiroedd yn bownsio ar gors?
Oherwydd gall cors wlyb fod yn syndod o sbonciog.
Gall mwsogl sffagnum ddal 16–26 gwaith ei bwysau sych mewn dŵr, yn dibynnu ar y rhywogaeth. Gan weithredu fel sbwng naturiol, mae'n helpu i ddal dŵr o fewn y gors, tra bod llystyfiant a strwythur y mawndir yn helpu i arafu ei symudiad drwy'r dirwedd.
Cafodd hwn ei ffilmio ar 19 Awst, yn ystod un o gyfnodau sychaf yr haf, ond gallwch chi deimlo'r dŵr o dan eich traed.

06/10/2026

Gathering in the Elan Valley hills.

A changing of the guard at Tynllidiart.
September’s autumn gather marked a significant moment for the farm. After 32 years managing the Tynllidiart flock, Tudor Davies is stepping away, while new tenants Cynan and Mared are beginning their own chapter.
Cynan joined farmers and shepherds from across the Elan Estate to bring the flock down from the hill, before he and Mared began selecting the ewe lambs and tup lambs that will become part of their farming enterprise.
And there are always unexpected jobs along the way. When one ewe turned up having missed shearing in the summer, tenant farmer Brian Lewis put his hand-shearing skills to work.
Gathering a hill is a communal effort, with neighbouring farmers, shepherds and their dogs coming together to get the job done, a tradition and camaraderie Tudor says he’ll miss.

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Cyfnod newydd yn Nhynllidiart.
Roedd cyfarfod yr hydref a gynhaliwyd ym mis Medi yn foment arwyddocaol i'r fferm. Ar ôl 32 mlynedd yn rheoli praidd Tynllidiart, mae Tudor Davies yn rhoi’r gorau iddi, a bydd y tenantiaid newydd, Cynan a Mared, yn dechrau eu pennod eu hunain.
Ymunodd Cynan â ffermwyr a bugeiliaid o bob rhan o Ystâd Elan i ddod â'r praidd i lawr o'r bryn, cyn iddo ef a Mared ddechrau dewis yr ŵyn benyw a'r hyrddod a fydd yn dod yn rhan o'u menter ffermio.
Ac mae wastad tasgau annisgwyl ar hyd y ffordd. Pan gyrhaeddodd un ddafad ar ôl colli cneifio yn yr haf, rhoddodd y ffermwr tenant Brian Lewis ei sgiliau cneifio â llaw ar waith.
Mae ymgynnull ar fryn yn ymdrech gymunedol pan fo ffermwyr cyfagos, bugeiliaid a'u cŵn yn dod ynghyd i wneud y gwaith. Dywedodd Tudor y bydd yn gweld eisiau’r traddodiad a’r cyfeillgarwch hwn.

In 2016, a small group of seven wanted to do a walking challenge, so they decided to do the Elan Estate Watershed Walk.....
04/10/2026

In 2016, a small group of seven wanted to do a walking challenge, so they decided to do the Elan Estate Watershed Walk....

👉 Read the final instalment of the three-part series of Tudor's Trails: Walking the Watershed: https://elanvalley.org.uk/walking/tudors-trails-walking-the-watershed-part-3-of-3/

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Yn 2016, roedd grŵp bach o saith eisiau ymgymryd â her gerdded, felly aethant ati i wneud Taith Gerdded Cefndeuddwr Ystâd Elan....
https://elanvalley.org.uk/cy/uncategorized-cy/llwybrau-tudor-rhan-3-o-3/

With the grandeur of the Elan Dams, it is easy to forget that the human history of the Elan Valley dates back many thous...
01/10/2026

With the grandeur of the Elan Dams, it is easy to forget that the human history of the Elan Valley dates back many thousands of years. The piles of stones and stone pillars you may see in the area are protected historical monuments, with many stories to tell.
One such landmark is Maen Serth, a 2.1 metre standing stone situated on the old Aberystwyth Road. Dating back to 3000 BC, this may have marked an ancient ceremonial boundary of a tribe or a geographical waymark. Around 800 AD, Christians carved a cross into the face of the stone. In more recent history and folklore, it served as the spot where Welsh Chieftain, Einion Clyd, was killed by the Mortimers during the 12th Century. (Source: CPAT Photo: David James)

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Gyda mawredd argaeau Cwm Elan, mae’n hawdd anghofio bod hanes dynol yng Nghwm Elan yn ymestyn yn ôl filoedd lawer o flynyddoedd. Mae llawer o’r twmpathau a’r pileri cerrig a welwch chi yn yr ardal yn henebion hanesyddol gwerthfawr, sy’n llawn straeon. Un o’r henebion hyn yw Maen Serth. Mae’r maen 2.1 metr hwn wedi’i leoli ar yr hen ffordd i Aberystwyth. Yn dyddio'n ôl i 3000 CC, byddai’r maen hwn, o bosibl, wedi nodi ffin hynafol llwyth neu farc ffordd ddaearyddol. Tua 800 OC, cerfiodd Cristnogion groes ar wyneb y garreg. Yn ddiweddarach ac fel y tystia llên gwerin, dyma lle lladdwyd y Pennaeth Cymreig, Einion Clyd, gan y Mortimeriaid yn y 12fed ganrif. (Ffynhonnell: CPAT Llun: David James)

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