Elan Valley & Mountain Road
B4518 + mountain road · Rhayader → Cwmystwyth · Wales
- Length
- 20 miles
- Drive time
- 45–60 min
- Type
- Mountain pass
- Region
- Wales
A ribbon of tarmac threading past a chain of Victorian dams and reservoirs, then over wild Cambrian Mountains moorland to Cwmystwyth on one of the highest through-roads in Wales.
Highlights of the Elan Valley & Mountain Road
- Craig Goch & Caban Coch dams
- Remote single-track moorland
- Red kites overhead
Where to stop on the Elan Valley & Mountain Road
- Craig Goch dam viewpoint viewpoint — Stopping bay right on top of the stone viaduct and reservoir
- Elan Valley Visitor Centre Café café — By Caban Coch dam — freshly made food, Welsh produce; last proper stop before the moor
- Caban Coch public toilets toilets — On the reservoir circuit road
- Station Garage, Rhayader fuel — Fuel in town before you head up — nothing westward for 20+ miles
Drive the Elan Valley & Mountain Road
Open Elan Valley & Mountain Road on the map → ⬇ Download GPX
GPX works with Garmin, TomTom, Beeline and most bike sat-navs. Free, no sign-up — these are indicative waypoints, so follow the road signs, not the arrow.
Plot it, add it to a club run with a meeting point and pit stops, then share the whole trip as one link. Free, no account, works offline.
Route research: Top Gear
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