Claerwen National Nature Reserve, a national nature reserve in Powys, Wales, is situated within the expansive Elan Valley Estate. This area is characterized by rugged mountains, rolling hills, and vast expanses of moorland, bog, and acid peatland, including the largest area of blanket bog in the central Welsh uplands. The landscape features several reservoirs, with the Claerwen Reservoir being a prominent natural feature. Its challenging terrain and diverse habitats make it suitable for several sports like road cycling, hiking, mountain…
68
Routes
4.5
(79)
Average rating
1503
People visited

5.0
(1)
3
riders
63.2km
05:53
1,300m
1,300m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

2
riders
48.9km
04:34
900m
900m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

3.8
(5)
59
riders
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
2
riders
55.8km
05:07
1,050m
1,050m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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4.3
(15)
153
hikers
9.83km
02:52
260m
250m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.2
(5)
60
hikers
12.3km
03:35
320m
320m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(4)
33
hikers
13.8km
03:55
290m
290m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
25
hikers
5.99km
01:38
90m
90m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(4)
165
riders
30.9km
01:41
370m
370m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

112
riders
115km
06:27
1,920m
1,920m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

91
riders
63.7km
03:16
990m
990m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

48
riders
111km
05:37
1,720m
1,710m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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5.0
(2)
15
riders
47.4km
04:05
1,040m
1,040m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(2)
9
riders
20.8km
01:55
430m
440m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
6
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4
riders
69.8km
05:44
1,500m
1,500m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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10
riders
42.7km
04:04
670m
670m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

12
riders
40.4km
04:16
1,010m
1,010m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
riders
21.6km
01:36
500m
500m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
4
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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20
runners
8.10km
01:00
200m
200m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

18
runners
13.4km
01:34
320m
320m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
runners
9.31km
01:07
230m
230m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
6
runners
6.93km
00:45
100m
100m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Claerwen National Nature Reserve is located within the Elan Valley Estate in Powys, Wales. It features rugged mountains, rolling hills, and extensive moorland, bog, and acid peatland, including the largest area of blanket bog in the central Welsh uplands. The reserve is known for its remote beauty and diverse habitats.
Claerwen National Nature Reserve offers opportunities for various outdoor activities, including Road cycling, Hiking, Mountain biking, Jogging, Touring cycling, and Gravel biking. The area provides routes for different skill levels across its diverse landscape.
Yes, road cycling routes are available on paved roads leading to and around the reservoirs within the wider Elan Valley Estate. For detailed information on routes, consult the Road Cycling Routes around Claerwen National Nature Reserve guide.
Claerwen National Nature Reserve offers various hiking routes, from challenging treks over rough terrain to more accessible paths within the broader Elan Valley. A comprehensive overview of trails can be found in the Hiking around Claerwen National Nature Reserve guide.
Mountain biking is popular in the Claerwen Valley, offering challenging routes with remote Welsh landscapes and reservoir views. Trails often feature gravel paths, with some sections potentially boggy. Explore options in the MTB Trails around Claerwen National Nature Reserve guide.
Yes, the wider Elan Valley Estate, which encompasses Claerwen, offers options suitable for families. Specific family-friendly hiking routes are detailed in the Family-friendly hikes around Claerwen National Nature Reserve guide.
The reserve features rugged mountains, rolling hills, and vast expanses of moorland, bog, and acid peatland, including the largest area of blanket bog in the central Welsh uplands. The Claerwen Reservoir is a significant man-made feature, blending with the natural landscape.
The Elan Valley, including Claerwen, is rich in wildlife, with over 180 bird species recorded. Red kites, buzzards, golden plovers, and ravens are often sighted. The area also supports otters and various fish species.
There are no facilities directly within the Claerwen National Nature Reserve. However, the Elan Valley Visitor Centre, located nearby, provides a café, public toilets, a shop, and an information desk.
Claerwen National Nature Reserve is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 17,000 visitors sharing their experiences. Routes in the area have an average rating of 4.62 out of 5 stars.
Yes, the broader Elan Valley Estate offers traffic-free cycling routes. Information on these can be found in the Traffic-free bike rides around Claerwen National Nature Reserve guide.
Running trails are available within the Claerwen National Nature Reserve and the wider Elan Valley. For specific routes and details, consult the Running Trails around Claerwen National Nature Reserve guide.
Claerwen National Nature Reserve is part of the Elan Valley Estate. The official website for the Elan Valley, which provides information about the reserve, is elanvalley.org.uk.

