Elan Valley

Caeau Cnwch a Ty'n-y-graig is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Brecknock, Powys, Wales. It occupies sloping ground on the south west side of Pen-y-garreg Reservoir in the Elan Valley. Caeau Cnwch a Ty'n-y-graig comprises four traditionally managed fields in a small valley below Craig Cnwch, near Elan Village. They provide a type of herb-rich grassland that is characteristic of the upland fringe of central Wales.

Elan Village (Welsh: Pentre Elan) is a small purpose-built community in Powys, Wales. It was designed by architect Herbert Tudor Buckland as part of Birmingham Corporation's scheme to construct a series of water supply reservoirs in the Elan Valley between 1892 and 1904. It housed workers and their families responsible for maintaining the scheme's dams and the filtration systems. Elan Village is the only purpose-built Arts and Crafts "Model Village" in Wales. It is served by the B4518 road which runs three miles southwestwards from Rhayader to end at the village, though continuing as a minor road to Caban-coch Reservoir. The road continues over the Elenydd to Cwmystwyth and a cul-de-sac branch runs to the dam of Claerwen Reservoir. It is in the community of Rhayader.

Carn Gafallt is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Breconshire, Powys, Wales, and a hill of 466 metres (1529 feet) which is a Marilyn.

The Principality of Wales (Welsh: Tywysogaeth Cymru) was originally the territory of the native Welsh princes of the House of Aberffraw from 1216 to 1283, encompassing two-thirds of modern Wales during its height of 1267–1277. Following the conquest of Wales by Edward I of England of 1277 to 1283, those parts of Wales retained under the direct control of the English crown, principally in the north and west of the country, were re-constituted as a new Principality of Wales and ruled either by the monarch or the monarch's heir though not formally incorporated into the Kingdom of England. This was ultimately accomplished with the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 when the Principality ceased to exist as a separate entity. The Principality was formally founded in 1216 by native Welshman and King of Gwynedd, Llywelyn the Great who gathered other leaders of pura Wallia at the Council of Aberdyfi. The agreement was later recognised by the 1218 Treaty of Worcester between Llywelyn the Great of Wales and Henry III of England. The treaty gave substance to the political reality of 13th-century Wales and England, and the relationship of the former with the Angevin Empire. The principality retained a great degree of autonomy, characterized by a separate legal jurisprudence based on the well-established laws of Cyfraith Hywel, and by the increasingly sophisticated court of the House of Aberffraw. Although it owed fealty to the Angevin king of England, the principality was de facto independent, with a similar status in the empire to the Kingdom of Scotland. Its existence has been seen as proof that all the elements necessary for the growth of Welsh statehood were in place.The period of de facto independence ended with Edward I's conquest of the principality between 1277 and 1283. Under the Statute of Rhuddlan, the principality lost its independence and became effectively an annexed territory of the English crown. From 1301, the crown's lands in north and west Wales formed part of the appanage of England's heir apparent, with the title "Prince of Wales". On accession of the prince to the English throne, the lands and title became merged with the Crown again. On two occasions Welsh claimants to the title rose up in rebellion during this period, although neither ultimately succeeded. Since the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542, which formally incorporated all of Wales within the Kingdom of England, there has been no geographical or constitutional basis for describing any of the territory of Wales as a principality, although the term has occasionally been used in an informal sense to describe the country, and in relation to the honorary title of Prince of Wales.

The Craig Goch Dam, often called the Top dam, is a masonry dam in the Elan Valley of Wales and creates the upper-most of the Elan Valley Reservoirs. Construction on the dam began in 1897, and it was completed in 1904. The primary purpose of the dam and the other reservoirs is to supply Birmingham with water. In 1997, a 480 kW hydroelectric generator began operation at the dam.

The Claerwen Fault is a major SW-NE trending fault in central Wales. It was active as a normal fault during deposition of Late Ordovician to mid-Silurian sedimentary rocks, downthrowing to the northwest. The estimated throw on the fault increases from about 100 m at a shallow level to about 1000 m at depth. There is no discernible change in the grade of metamorphism associated with the Caledonian Orogeny across the fault, suggesting that it was not reactivated later.

The Afon Elan (English: River Elan) is a tributary of the River Wye which runs through the wide expanse of upland moors, traditionally known as Elenydd, in central Wales. Its valley is the Elan Valley. The name probably arises from elain meaning 'hind' or 'fawn' in reference perhaps to the rushing, bounding nature of its course.It has its source in wet moorland on the eastern flank of Pen y Deunant in Ceredigion. It is joined by Nant Dderwen, Nant Cwta and Nant Hirin before entering the top of the Elan Valley Reservoirs at Craig Goch Reservoir which in turn discharges to Garreg-ddu Reservoir and then Caban-coch Reservoir. It emerges from this chain of reservoirs in a north-easterly direction and passes through Elan Village before turning south-east after 2 miles and making its confluence with the River Wye.

Marteg Halt railway station was a station to the northwest of Rhayader, Powys, Wales. The station closed in 1962.

Cwmdauddwr (rarely referred to by its correct full name of Llansanffraid Cwmteuddwr) is a village in Powys, Wales. It is contiguous with the town of Rhayader on the opposite side of the River Wye. The village is located on the B4518 road linking Rhayader with the Elan Valley Reservoirs. The parish of Cwmdauddwr corresponds approximately to the medieval commote of Cwmwd Deuddwr (Welsh for 'Commote of the Confluence'; lit. 'commote of the two waters'). It was so called because of its location where the rivers Elan and Wye join. It has also been referred to as Elenydd and Elenid. It was in the area known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren. It was also associated with Gwrtheyrnion on the east of the Wye, together they formed a cantref. This commote should not be confused with the commote of Deuddwr in Ystlyg which is also in Powys. The village is home to a pub (The Triangle Inn), village hall and a parish church dedicated to St Bride (Welsh: Sant Ffraid). The Groe, a large park on the banks of the river, has walks, play areas and sports pitches. Rhayader railway station was situated in the village until its closure in 1963.

Rhayader railway station was a station serving the town of Rhayader, Powys, on the Mid Wales Railway line. It was opened in 1864 in Cwmdauddwr, a village on the opposite bank of the River Wye. The line, which took over 5 years to build, was closed in 1962 and dismantled within months. The station was the junction for the Elan Valley Railway which was in operation between 1896 and 1916. The site of the station is now occupied by Powys county council's highways department.

Rhayader was, from 1894 to 1974, a rural district in the administrative county of Radnorshire, Wales. The district was formed by the Local Government Act 1894, based on the existing Rhayader Rural Sanitary District. The rural sanitary district had included the Brecknockshire parish of Llanwrthwl, and this was administered by Rhayader Rural District Council until 1934, when it was transferred to Builth Rural District. The rural district comprised nine civil parishes: Abbey Cwmhir Cefnllys Rural Llanbadarnfawr Llanfihangel Helygen Llansanffraid Cwmdeuddwr Llanyre Nantmel Rhayader St HarmonThe district was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, which completely reorganised local administration in England and Wales. Its area became part of the District of Radnor in the new county of Powys.

Rhayader Town Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl-droed Tref Rhaeadr Gwy) are a Welsh football team. The club dates from around 1884 and their ground is called Y Weirglodd, which accommodates 435 seated spectators. The club plays in the Central Wales Football League Southern Division, which is at tier four of the Welsh football pyramid.