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To make a booking at the Elan Hotel, Rhayader please follow the link below to our reservations page.

Rhayader and the surrounding area

Aptly named the gateway to the Lakelands of Wales, Rhayader offers a spectacular countryside setting for anyone who enjoys the 'great outdoors'. Whether it's the appeal of the Elan Valley lakes, offering an abundance of rare wildlife and plants, or the call of the rugged, surrounding hills for some heart stopping mountain biking, The Elan Hotel has a lot to offer visitors right on its doorstep!

Elan Valley Lakes and Claerwen Resevoirs, Rhayader

Rhayader is the first town you'll visit on the river Wye and it has well established links with the Elan Valley Lakes and close by are the Caban-Coch, Carreg-Ddu, Penygarreg, Craig Goch and Claerwen resevoirs offering a superb variety of fishing.

If river fishing is more your thing then choose a comfortable spot on the river Wye, sit back, enjoy the breathtaking scenery and wait for that bite!

Wye Valley walk

A short distance form the Elan Hotel is the Wye, a 218km (136mile) long river that snakes its way through Rhayader's town centre town from its source in Llangurig.

Along the banks of the river is the spectacular Wye valley walk offering peace and tranquility within the confines of the best countryside and mountainscapes Wales has to offer, lose yourself for an hour or enjoy a whole day exploring the hedgerows and river banks of the river Wye.

If it's a short stroll in the country you're after then the 13km (8mile) Elan Trail will be for you. Running from Rhayader town centre through scenic countryside around the Elan Valley reservoirs it's ideal for walking and is suitable for wheelchair users.

Cycling in Rhayader

With hundreds of bridleways, quiet lanes and rugged mountainscapes, Rhayader offers something for every type of cyclist and Cycle hire is available in Rhayader town centre if you haven't come prepared!

For the family there's the 13km (8mile) Elan Trail which runs from Rhayader town centre and around the Elan Valley reservoirs. A safe and dedicated trail for all visitors, it's ideal for walkers, cyclists with children and is suitable for wheelchair users.

For the more adventurous cyclist, however, on the outskirts of Rhayader is the Sustrans National Cycle route (8) ideal for the experienced, long distance cyclist.

Red Kite Centre

The UK's leading red kite centre is based at Gigrin farm, just on the outskirts of Rhayader. Over 150 kites gather for the daily feeding sessions at the Gigrin Kite Centre and there's a chance for the kids to explore the farm along countryside nature trail, a perfect day out for all the family.

Other attractions

Enjoy an afternoon witnessing the art of glass blowing at the Elan Glass Studio and nearby Welsh Royal Crystal showrooms.

A few miles north of Rhayader is the Gilfach Nature reserve a unique wildlife experience set in 200 acres of dramatic countryside. The reserve provides an opportunity to explore Wales's rich natural diversity, from otters to polecats and is home to a restored Welsh longhouse.

Or for some Welsh historical interest visit the nearby Abbey-Cwm-Hir (The Abbey in the Long Valley). This was once hometo the second largest religious building in Europe and its ruins house the grave of Llewellyn ap Gruffyd, the last of the Welsh Princes.