In 2016, a small group of seven wanted to do a walking challenge, so they decided to do the Elan Estate Watershed Walk.
The friends came from Hereford, Brecon, Tenbury, Knighton, Ystumtuen and Elan Valley, all experienced walkers. Walk Leader Tudor Davies with Andrew Leonard (former Elan Valley Trust Director), Alan Whitby, Chris Franks, Ian Powell, Yvonne Gulley and Sam Price.
To make the walk enjoyable and manageable, they planned to walk once a month, the last Saturday of the month, and complete five stages with some of the legs, they were joined by a few friends and supporters.
May 2016 came around, and the group were off on their first leg, Elan Village to Claerwen Dam. Starting from the Suspension bridge in Elan Village they climbed to Waun Sarn, passing Llyn y Ferlen, reaching the trig point at Gorllwyn, Bwlch y Ddau Faen and onto the mighty Drygarn Fawr (645m). The group’s next point was Cerrig Llwyd y Rhestr, and passing the remote Llyn Carw, down to the Claerwen Dam, this would be the end of Stage One. The weather was good and the views were far-reaching.
June 2016 was the next month for the second leg: Claerwen Dam to Teifi Pools, joined by Andrew & Elinor Pennington and Kev & Bev. Starting from the Claerwen Dam, the group had to retrace their route from Day 1 back as far as Cerrig Llwyd y Rhestr, where they followed the boundary stones, across to Bryn Garw, and the forestry fence of Moel Prysgau forestry. The cairn at Crug Gynon, was a place for a tea break not far from the source of the River Tywi. The weather was good to this point, but heavy rain in the afternoon meant waterproof clothing was the order of the day. Llyn Gynon was the biggest lake the group had passed at this time. Creigiau Coed came into sight and the tarmac road at Llyn Egnant, where some very wet walkers were very glad to meet the minibus, which took the group back to the Claerwen Dam. This leg was very hard and rough going in hill country and often called “the Green Desert”.
July 2016 was the third leg: Teifi Pools to the Dyfed Powys Boundary. A minibus took the group to the Teifi Pools and were joined by David James. The weather was a little foggy to start the day but cleared and it turned out to be a fine day. The group passed above Claerddu Bothy and the impressive lakes of Llyn Fryrddon Fach & Llyn Fryrddon Fawr, the sight of Domen Milwyn (555m) could be seen from a long way off to which the group headed for, photos taken looking down to Cwmystwyth village and looking back for Drygarn Fawr.
Byrlymau Elan was passed, not far from the source of the Elan, from this point you could see the Dyfed/Powys border and further over the cairn at Cistfaen.
Following the boundary stones, the group arrived at Esgair Elan, then Bryn Glas, and the waiting cars at the Dyfed/Powys border. This stage of the walk was remote and hard-walking with a lot of rough ground, heather moorland and boggy terrain.
August 2016, the fourth leg was from Dyfed/Powys border to Moel Geufron. Starting from the Dyfed/Powys border, the group climbed to Cistfaen stones, it was from there the group could look back and see how far they had come on their adventure, with the weather again being kind to us, providing splendid views.
Pyllau Mawn was visited with views overlooking Llangurig. Blaen-y-Clawdd du was passed, with the outlook down into the Elan Valley coming into sight. Gwar y Ty (534m) and onto Cefn Bach, views of Elan on one side and the Wye Valley on the other. On this part of the walk, many of the boundary stones were observed close up and the group were joined by local farmer, Robert Hughes who with the group reinstated a boundary stone which had fallen over. Hopefully this stone will stand firm for another 100 years. This leg of the walk ended on the roadside at Moel Geufron where the group had well-earned refreshments to mark the end of the day. This leg of the challenge was yet again rough hill ground, but the views made up for it.
September 2016, fifth and final leg was Moel Geufron to the finishing line, Elan Village. With the worst and hardest part of the challenge done, the groups spirits were high on their last day, Following the boundary stones Blaen Fign, and onto Crugyn Ci and the views of the town of Rhayader and the Wye Valley and north to Cadair Idris, also from there we could see Drygarn Fawr and Domen Milwyn.
The last stretch took the group through Moelfryn Bach and the Cairn at the Y Foel and finally down to the Severn Trent Water Filter Beds and Elan Village.
The group of seven had completed the challenge of this rugged and remote landscape in generally good weather. As you walk through some of these remote areas it makes you think how small you are in comparison to the landscape and your surroundings.
The group were presented with a medal and certificate by Charlotte Harley, the then Assistant Land Agent (now the Land Agent & Estate Manager) at the Elan Valley Hotel, to celebrate their achievement of walking the Elan Estate Watershed Boundary.
Tudor Davies
Walk Leader and Local Guide
