Address: Elan Valley, Rhayader, LD6 5HP, United Kingdom
Phone: +441597810880
Rating: 4.6
based on 367 reviews.
Visitor Centre & Staff
Pros:
"Helpful staff who clearly love their jobs."
"The staff are so pleasant and are always available to answer any questions or to give out any Information about the surrounding areas or history."
"Staff friendly and knowledgeable."
"Knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful staff making coming to the Elan Valley for a day out feel much easier."
"The staff are very helpful and welcoming."
"Excellent customer service by members of staff especially Tom/Joe."
"The staff at the visitors centre are always welcoming and very helpful."
Cons:
"Shop is expensive & staff were a bit disinterested when we visited."
"Only criticism is cafe was closed at 4 pm which was disappointing after a long all day walk."
"The cafe was unfortunately understaffed and didn't have a warm welcoming vibe."
"Staff not at their best either."
"Staff have one speed even when the queue is massive, slow to clear tables, generally unclear communication."
"It was sad to see the bird feeders were empty."
"The only minor is that they have built an adventure playground between the visitor center and the dam."
Scenery & Environment
Pros:
"Elan Valley is a very picturesque place, the whole experience traveling around all the dams it's relaxing and its a great day out."
"Breathtaking scenery. Perfect for walks."
"Amazing views, there are 5 or 6 separate sites, it's worth driving to each of the Dams since they all have unique features and landscape."
"Absolutely beautiful scenery, dams, waterfalls."
"Beautiful, truly stunning place."
"Breathtaking views of the valleys, dams and beyond with the most beautiful dark skies."
"Absolutely beautiful place to visit! The scenery is stunning and the reservoirs/dams are magnificent to look at."
Cons:
"Some footpaths aren't as some paths have steps and go through the woodlands."
"If you're thinking of driving more than an hour to get there, it's not worth it."
"It's a nice place but didn't like the way the wild life trust had set there section up showing how they are taking over land making rough ground for cattle and horses like a vegan wilding meadow no sheep in sight."
"Be aware, the roads can be quite narrow in places, especially for larger vehicles/campers, the traffic can be busy and slow moving and please be aware of the Motor Cyclists."
"Only slight disappointment is that despite this being a visitor centre in the middle of an area with lots of walks, dogs are not welcome in any part of the centre which can make logistics complicated if you have dogs with you."
"Please note if want to climb to see reservoir steps steep in places -130 of them and not for people with mobility problems."
"Pushchair friendly just about - getting pushchair over the one footbridge closest to the dam was challenging if passing other people on foot - definitely wouldn't have passed another pushchair just not enough room."
Facilities & Amenities
Pros:
"Amenities also good with indoor and outdoor facilities."
"The small museum went down really well with the kids as they have some old victorian costumes for them to dress up."
"Very good kids playground."
"Great walks from the centre up to top of dam or around woods."
"Good size car park with low cost for the day."
"Wheelchairs welcome with free parking for disabled with blue badge."
"Further down is a larger footbridge so both sides are accessible for wheelchair users and pushchairs."
Cons:
"Rented a bike. All the e-bikes had mysteriously failed on the day in question despite booking one."
"Cafe has selection of drinks and snacks but didn't appear to serve main meals."
"I went to the visitor centre to have cake and a coffee only to be told the vegan carrot cake was gf as (despite them having gf none was displayed apparently)!!! WRONG!! IT WAS NOT GLUTEN FREE."
"The parking places get filled up very quickly, so say get there early."
"Cafe a bit disappointing food wise, fine if you want a coffee and a cake, but not much in the way of choice for lunch."
"I asked the lady serving just for some toast and I was refused claiming it was a 'breakfast item'."
"The cafe is somewhat frustrating esp when busy."
Food & Dining
Pros:
"Having said that the food we had and the coffee was very good."
"We had a lovely lunch here after a lovely walk along the Dams, the cafe has large windows with excellent views along the river and up to the dam."
"Home made food and really good cakes. Lovely view from inside the cafe and tables outside."
"A lovely place to stop. Great clean Loo's. A great cafe with good home cooked food."
"The food was delicious and extremely good value."
"Some excellent food at reasonable prices."
"The food in the cafe is brilliant and there’s such a vast selection of cakes!"
Cons:
"Cafe meals basic good food but expensive for what they are."
"Shop is expensive."
"Unfortunately the day we visited there was no hot meals available only pasties but nice atmosphere."
"Lovely walks from here and helpful staff to direct."
"We promised ourselves lunch out but were not prepared to pay the extortionate prices for mediocre looking food."
"The only down side was the price in the cafe £5 for two small sausage rolls."
"The cafe was clean and pleasant with a good choice of food."
Parking & Accessibility
Pros:
"Parking is £3 all day with automatic barrier for exit in case your walk takes longer than you think."
"Parking £2.50 for the day!"
"Free EV charging available."
"Car park prices at £2.50 for the whole day isn't a bad price. Machines do not take cash but tickets can be purchased by card in the gift shop."
"You can park a car there all day for £2.50."
"They have a good sized car park which If I remember rightly was only £3.00 all day."
"Car park charge is just 2.50 per day."
Cons:
"Bit annoyed with parking - The signs in the carpark say that it's free to park for less than an hour - was there 40 mins & charged £3."
"It is such a shame that what once was a free carpark, is now £3, inc disabled, which if you only want a cuppa and the loo is impossible in the free 20mins you are given."
"Disaster couldn't get the pay to park to work saying I already had an account when tried to register then saying I hadn't registered so couldn't reset my password!!!"
"BEWARE of the eco toilet roll holders. Nothing more frustrating than sitting on a toilet and realising there is no toilet."
"The Carpark for the visitor centre is free for the first 60mins or £3 for all day. I didn’t know this until I saw a sign in Welsh and had to translate it."
"Undergoing changes to car park. Parking fees now. Stays less than 60mins free. Then £3 for stays more than 60 mins. Parking cameras in operation."
"Just beware of the 60 minutes free parking, after that is chargeable."