Elan Valley, near Rhayader, Powys

Caban-coch Reservoir

Reservoir

Place photograph

7.8

Wildland

1–2 hours

Time

Check

Cost

Dramatic

Feel

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Why it's Wildland

7.8

Built to supply Birmingham with water, Caban Coch’s 37-metre dam was designed to resemble a waterfall when water spills over its crest.

This is more than a reservoir viewpoint: the monumental stone-faced dam was deliberately designed to turn floodwater into a vast waterfall. It anchors a landscape of reservoirs and walking routes, with the Elan Valley’s engineering story visible in the structure itself.

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Elan Valley, near Rhayader, Powys

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The experience

Start at the dam, a short walk from the Visitor Centre, and take in its scale and stonework. For a longer outing, the official site describes the Nant y Gro walk as a two-hour route with views of the dam and Garreg Ddu Viaduct.

Things to do

Study the waterfall-like dam

See how Caban Coch was designed to resemble a waterfall when storm water spills over the crest.

30 minutes

Make a day of it

Quick escape · Allow about 30 minutes, including the five-minute walk each way from the Visitor Centre.

Quick Escape: See the dam

01
Start at the Elan Valley Visitor Centre.
02
Walk the five minutes to Caban Coch Dam.
03
Take time to view the dam’s scale, stonework and waterfall-inspired design.
04
Return to the Visitor Centre.

Verified history

Caban Coch was the first dam on which work began in the Elan Valley scheme. The official site gives its height as 37 metres and its length as 186 metres. Nearby-quarried stone was used inside the dams, while the facing sandstone was brought from the Vale of Glamorgan. The dam was designed to resemble a waterfall when water spills over its crest. Eustace Tickell, a senior engineer on the scheme and chief engineer of Pen y Garreg, described the effect he expected during floods. The release of compensation water from Caban Coch into the River Elan was written into law when Birmingham Corporation bought the Elan Valley estate.

Hidden details

Look closely at the dam’s facing stone — The facing sandstone was brought from the Vale of Glamorgan; stone from a nearby quarry was used inside the dams.

Notice the designed waterfall effect — Caban Coch was designed to look like a waterfall when water flows over the crest. The supplied source does not establish when overflow occurs.

When to go

· Not established by the supplied sources.

The supplied sources do not identify seasonal highlights or the best months to visit.

Check local weather and route conditions before setting out; no specific weather guidance was supplied.

Worth pairing with

Elan Valley Visitor Centre

Caban Coch Dam is described as five minutes’ walk from the Visitor Centre, which is also the starting point for several routes listed by the official site.

What to look for

Look for the dam’s stone facing and its waterfall-like profile. The official account notes that the facing sandstone came from the Vale of Glamorgan, while stone from a nearby quarry was used inside the dams.