Walking in the Elan Valley

The Elan Valley is in the Cambrian Mountains and has multiple walks, some to venture alone and others that you can do with rangers, and this is what they say…

Whether you just fancy a leisurely stroll or a challenging hike Elan has something for everyone. There is open access over most of the 70 square mile Estate, and there are over 80 miles of designated rights of way. There are many walks and trails with a good mixture of lengths to cater for all, including nature trails and scenic walks.

The Elan Valley Trail (a couple of hundred yards from the door of Mid Wales Holiday Lets) is a particular favourite with its surfaced paths which follow the route of the old Elan Valley Railway. It is for use by walkers, horse riders and cyclists and suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Terrain on the hills of the Estate can be challenging, varying between tussocks of purple moor-grass to deep patches of sphagnum moss, plus there are frequent sheep tracks which are easily mistaken for upland paths. Some navigational skills are essential, and Ordnance Survey maps and compasses are necessary for the longer routes in the Hillwalks pack.

Dog Walking at Elan.

Here in the Elan Valley we love Dogs! What better way to get out and about walking in the fresh air and experiencing such beautiful countryside.

As with anywhere we ask that you are responsible while out walking your furry friends. Our estate has a lot of free-roaming livestock so keeping dogs under close control and on leads is essential for the safety and welfare of our estate animals. We have many lovely walks and trails on the estate – please ask at the Information Desk in the Visitor Centre for advice and suitability.

Dog Mess – We’re extremely proud of our 72 square mile estate, and with thousands of visitors every year we’re keen to ensure the countryside in our care is kept in excellent condition for everyone. To minimise the health risks associated with humans coming into contact with dog poo, we operate a ‘stick and flick’ policy on the trail. Please bag and take your dog litter home with you, or find a stick and flick it well off the paths and under bushes. If you can’t bag and bin it, stick and flick it! You can also dispose of bagged dog litter in the bins around our visitor centre. Please don’t bag dog poo and leave the plastic bags out on the estate – We have many sites of SSSI Importance and plastic interferes with the fragile eco-systems. We offer free poo bags at the Information Desk in the Visitors Centre if you arrive without one.

Please note mobile phone coverage is very poor on all networks in this area. And please do not enter fenced areas around farms unless you have been given permission by the farmer.

Guided walks are also available through the year. Visit our events calendar for upcoming guided walks and Dam Open Days.

If you would like advice on walks at Elan please get in touch with our Rangers or pop in to the Visitor Centre.