Wondered any members had driven their Yeti (back on topic) around the Elan valley lakes and if there was any preference as to which might be better for whatever reason?

Done it a couple of times both clockwise. Actually, if you start at the visitor centre and do a clockwise circuit you eventually leave the main scenic bits for the drive back to Rhayadar, so you could turn around at that point and go back anticlockwise and get the best of both views. There are several good viewpoints on the route and you can get to the bottom of some of the dams to look up at them and also walk across the top of them to look down. Great drive in my opinion. Starting and ending at the visitor centre means refreshments / lunch etc depending on when you start / finish. Best after some heavy rainfall for the most dramatic views. :-)

Depends where you start from and the time of day and the weather . The suggestion below is in the evening with a setting sun.

 

My Aunt and Uncle used to live at Llandrindod he traveled all over that part of Wales as a Rep for the NFU.

 

His advice was if you drive around the 'dams' in the evening on a clear day and the sun is setting go from Rhayder on the minor road to Craig Goch Resr' first, the first part of the route is into the setting sun, then turn left at the end of the Resr' on to the minor road  which takes you anti clockwise  with the sun at your back most of the time, apart from the first bit to Graig Goch.

 

Then you arrive at Penygarreg Resr' then on to Carreg-ddu Resr' and then to Elan Village. The road to Claerwen Resr' is a dead end so obviously its back the way you arrived.

 

Its about the best way to see the 'dams' as a route in a car but you can go the otherway round if the weather is a bit 'off' and no sunshine.

 

Hope this helps you.

Wondered any members had driven their Yeti (back on topic) around the Elan valley lakes and if there was any preference as to which might be better for whatever reason?

 

Well being as it is only a few miles away....................

 

Rhayader, up to the Elan Valley Centre for a coffee, then clockwise from there.

There is a house part way up that now does teas and cakes some days.

Take the diversion up to the Claerwen Dam and you will pass a Dam that was destroyed in practice for the Dam Busters raid in WW2.

If you are adventurous you can drive the track along the northern side of the Claerwen Reservoir to the head of the lake, then you have to turn around and come all the way back again.

There is a new bridge at Pont Elan, at the top, so no more rattling over the Bailey Bridge.

If you want to continue with a spectacular run don't turn right back into Rhayader, but turn left and take the Cwmystwyth road to Devils Bridge.

 

With the amount of rain we've had in the last couple of days the dams might be over-topping! 

thanks for all that extra info all .........graham      I might try and fit in Cwmystwyth route and on to glan Conway as it looks well worth it

The Elan Valley, Cwmystwyth, Devils Bridge, A44 to Llangurig, A470 to Rhayder circle is a popular route, and can easily be done in a day with plenty of comfort stops. 

It was route I did in April this year in the Lomax, on "Drive It Day"; following things like a Model T Ford and a Clan Crusader.

 

Nice photo ,some good oldies there's.

I'm actually quite warming to the Lomax!

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It's nice but is it as fast as the model T?

Martin, who owns the T, says he has never got more than 48mph from it, using a GPS as it hasn't got a speedo. He says that isn't much fun!! He normaly trundles along at around 35. He has offered me a driving lesson in it; no gear stick, and 2 speeds you change with a foot pedal.

The fastest I've had the Lomax is 65, again on GPS. It is happier at around 55. 

Devils bridge is well worth a visit around £5 each the water is spectacular.

I wanted to go on the train from Aber. but it was a bit pricy for me.

Went there to the falls, Lyn clywedog and Aberystwyth couple of years a couple of years ago,yes it's well worth a visit.

Thank all for the tips............had a great drive over the bridge up thro South Wales and around the Elan valley at the week end,really enjoyable with very little traffic and good weather,set the sat nav on a scenic route and ended up turning off before Rhayader thro Llanwrthwl (almost a road) to Elan village,then on to Devils bridge and up thro Dolgellau .

The lower "road" from Llanwrthwl to Elan village is rather nice and one I occasionally take for a change, It can be very "interesting" after a few days rain!!

Glad you enjoyed yourself.

just the spot for a pic

Edited 8 July, 201610 yr by Sad555

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Clockwise or Anti Clockwise

 

 

 

In the Northern Hemisphere the water goes down the plug hole clockwise.  In the Southern Hemisphere it's anti Clockwise.

... or is the other way round?

It rains DOWN here but I'm told it rains UP in Scotland

It often rains sideways here............