Tucked away near Llanidloes in Powys, Clywedog Reservoir is all wide water, winding roads, open hills, and dramatic Mid Wales skies. It sits at the headwaters of the River Severn and is home to the tallest concrete dam in the UK, completed in 1967.
Below the dam are the ruins of Bryntail Lead Mine, an old lead mining site now cared for by Cadw. The remains of the mine sit in the shadow of the dam, with shafts, crushing houses, ore bins, roasting ovens, a smithy, and a miners’ footbridge still visible across the site.
If you’re visiting with kids, this works well as a slow drive-and-stop kind of day rather than a big planned hike. There’s parking at several spots around Llyn Clywedog, including Y Dremfa Deg, Bryntail, Clywedog Viewpoint, and Clywedog Dam car park. The circular drive around the reservoir has viewpoints and picnic spots, so you can take it at an easy pace and stop whenever the view looks too good to drive past.
The dam area also has Caffi Clywedog, which is handy for drinks, snacks, homemade cakes, and ice cream, though opening days and times are worth checking before you go. Bryntail Leadworks is free to visit and open during reasonable daylight hours. The walk down to the site is sloped and can be slippery, especially after rain, so decent shoes are a good idea and younger kids will need keeping close around the ruins.
One thing to note if you’re in a campervan or planning a longer stop: the car parks are not for overnight parking. Some of the paths around Clywedog also aren’t suitable for wheelchairs or anyone who struggles with uneven ground, although the main car park does have accessible viewpoints.
