Elan Valley Visitor Centre – Caban-Coch Dam and Reservoir loop from Elan Valley Visitor Center

Elan Valley Visitor Centre – Caban-Coch Dam and Reservoir loop from Elan Valley Visitor Center

Hard

riders

Elan Valley Visitor Centre – Caban-Coch Dam and Reservoir loop from Elan Valley Visitor Center

04:07

47.3km

1,220m

Gravel riding

Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 12, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 47.1 km for 92 m

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

19 m

Elan Valley Visitor Centre

Highlight • Monument

Visitor Centre below Caban Coch Dam is a good place to learn about the remarkable building of the dams and the alternative ways to explore

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353 m

Claerwen Dam

Highlight • Monument

Good spot to stop for refreshment but take cash!

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482 m

Elan Valley Visitor Centre and Café

Highlight • Parking

As well as a huge and delightful cafe, you'll also find loos, a museum and a little shop here, so it's well worth popping in for a visit. There's extensive seating outside too, perfect if you have dogs, kids or bikes to look after!

Check out seasonal opening times and more at elanvalley.org.uk/visit/visitor-centre

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2.95 km

Stone Wall Lane

Highlight • Structure

Beautiful stonewall lanes, you may encounter farmers in tractors, but otherwise it’s completely deserted!

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11.0 km

Rhos Saith-Maen

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Very boggy but a fun alternative way to get across. Good luck keeping your feet dry!

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36.3 km

Stone Cairn on Grassy Hillside

Highlight (Segment) • Natural Monument

A big, but very beautiful push/ride/singletrack that climbs up the valley. Rideable in places but steep and rocky in others. Really lovely scenery but needs a bit of shoving to get a bike up it.

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45.3 km

Caban Coch Dam and Viaduct, Elan Valley

Highlight • Bridge

Made long time ago and still looking stunning

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46.6 km

Caban-Coch Dam and Reservoir

Highlight • Structure

The Caban-Coch Reservoir is one of four reservoirs in the Elan Valley Reservoirs, which supply the city of Birmingham in particular with drinking water. This one is the second largest and its dam is quite impressive.

The cycle path goes to the right of the lakeshore and there is a small rest area at the top. Here you can relax a bit and watch the large water surface or admire the dam. Swimming is unfortunately not allowed, and would be no fun anyway, as the shore is hardly accessible.

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