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British Mensa Travel Special Interest Group |
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Wet
in Wales The forecast was for a dry day, the first for over two weeks, so we decided to make a dash into Wales for a breath of fresh air and to give our hyperactive spaniel a good run during the gap in the bad weather. Forecasts being what they are, we were not surprised when it started to drizzle as we crossed the border from Herefordshire into Wales. By the time we reached the Elan Valley Reservoir it was raining quite heavily but we decided to sit it out for a while in the Visitor Centre with a steaming coffee and a slice of bara brith. Sadly we discovered that the café did not re-open until March so, with a certain amount of resignation, we parked the car by the Caban-coch Dam and prepared for a wet walk. Quite a few people had gathered to lean over the wall and watch the spectacular sight as the reservoir, full to overflowing, cascaded over the top producing a cloud of fine spray. Birmingham came under increasing pressure in the late 19th century to provide adequate water supplies for its rapidly expanding workforce. Local water supplies were inadequate in volume and had often become polluted resulting in typhoid and cholera epidemics. The solution lay in the Welsh Hills, some 75 miles from the city and a system of reservoirs, dams and valve towers was proposed. The richer valley-bottom fields and farms, roads and bridges disappeared below the water of the reservoirs but what survived was the remnant broad-leaved woodland on the steep, uncultivated valley sides and fields and smallholdings on the fringes of moorland largely devoted to sheep farming. New roads were built to replace the roads and lanes linking the surviving farms around the Elan and Claerwen valleys and a railed lakeside carriage ride, part of the original concept, gave access to a landscape designed to be seen and which would attract numerous visitors. Today, the path alongside the reservoir is tarmac and busy with joggers, dog- walkers, cyclists and people who simply want to enjoy the beautiful scenery. In the novel by Francis Brett Young, The House under the Water, the scene on a fine day is described perfectly: ‘In two shining lakes whose clear surface, swept by the draughts curling through the valley, danced with crystalline wavelets, which lapped their shores in an innocent gaiety, or, when flaws of wind passed, spread mirrors of indigo in whose depths the reflected mountains appeared to dream, as though lost in the contemplation of their own still beauty.’ As we walked the path, however, the driving rain, which soaked us to the skin, sent frantic white horses across the surface of the reservoir. Records of rainfall, kept by the Lloyds of Nantgwilt since 1870, indicated an average annual rainfall in the area of about 70 inches so it does pay to choose the day of your visit with care. Whilst in the area it is worthwhile visiting Gigrin Farm in Rhayader where the rare red kite can be seen at close quarters. Here they have a kite feeding station and visitors are welcome to watch from hides as the kites come down for the meat. Feeding times vary slightly but are usually 3pm on British Summer Time. It is a lovely detour and a wonderful opportunity to observe these beautiful birds. Phone 01597 810243 for information or see: First published in VISA 79 (Jun08) |