Join the Second Elan Valley Walking Festival this September here in Mid Wales. There are a great variety of walks for all abilities. Spread over ten days, between September 3-11, all events are free and all walks are guided.

Discover where the famous RAF Dambusters perfected the bouncing bomb in World War II, explore the solar system learn about the wonderful heritage and landscape of the beautiful Elan Valley during walking festival, which begins this weekend.

Walking

The festival begins on Saturday, September 3 with the Cwm Elan Mines Experience, a five-mile circular walk led by Elan Valley trustee Bob Vaughan to explore the history and remains of the local mines. The walk meets at Nantgwyllt Church car park SN 909639 at 10am.

Visitors are invited to join Elan Valley Rangers at a Dam Open Day on September 4, between 1pm and 6pm, at Penbont Car Park, which will provide an exclusive chance to venture into Pen y Garreg Dam and up to the central tower. find our more here

Also on September 4, walkers will be able to complete the Garreg Ddu roundabout, a moderately strenuous nine-mile walk taking in enclosed farmland, open hill and reservoir fringe, with Max Walker. Walkers are asked to take a packed lunch for the all day event, which starts at 10am at Elan Valley Visitor Centre.

Join Terry Smith, a Mid Wales Orienteering Club member, for a hands-on day of map and compass reading at a navigation workshop at Elan Valley Visitor Centre on September 5 from 10am to 3pm. With both theory and practical application, this workshop aims to improve understanding of maps and access to the countryside. Book a place by calling Tel: 01597 810880.

The Dambusters Walk is a four-mile guided walk to learn about the area, including the remains of Nant y Gro Dam, which was used for tests leading to the development of the Barnes Wallis bouncing bomb before the famous Second World War Dambusters raid. The walk takes place on September 6 from 2pm to 5pm.

The Foel Experience, a guided energetic seven-mile walk led by Tudor Davies, follows on September 7 at 10am, from Y Foel car park SN 914645. This circular hill walk visits “Y Foel” cairn and passes the highest farmhouse ruins on the Elan Estate while exploring the open hills and taking in great valley views.

On September 8, from 10am to 12 noon, the Railway Ramble offers a gentle three-mile walk following the line of the old railway from the Elan Valley Visitor Centre to Cwmdauddwr, looking at historical features of interest along the way. A lift back to the Visitor Centre will be available afterwards.

Elan Valley Rangers

For those interested in astronomy or those who just want to have a gentle walk with a difference, join the Elan Valley International Dark Sky Park Astro Rangers and voyage to the outer edges of our Solar System on their walk of 3,720,000,000 miles – or two, easy earth miles – on September 9.

The Solar System has been laid out to scale along a one-mile section of the cycle path, a level flat walk to the Y Foel Tower and back from the start point at Caban Coch Dam. En route walker will discover the planets and stop at each destination for a short descriptive talk and question and answer session. Meet at Caban Coch car park SN924645 at 6pm for a level walk along the Elan Valley Trail to the Foel Tower and back, with an expected return time of around 7.30pm. Due to the technical nature of this walk and talk, this may be unsuitable for younger children and walkers are asked to wear suitable footware and clothing and to be armed with insect repellant as a precaution.

On September 9, from 10am to 2.30pm, the Medieval Monks’ Trod is a six-mile, high-level, hill walk with just a 150 metre ascent, following in the footsteps of the Cistercian monks. Walkers will meet at Elan Valley Visitor Centre.

Learn about the history of Caban Coch Dam, the workers’ village and other stories on an easy, one-mile Village Tour walk on September 10 from 2pm to 3.30pm. Meet at the Visitor Centre.

Elan Valley, near Rhayader is a place of peace and tranquillity but there is always something to see and do, whether it is the natural changes of the seasons to organised events within the estate.

For more information, or to book a place on any of the walks or the dam open day call the Elan Valley Visitor Centre on 01597 810880 or visit http://elanvalley.org.uk/