Rhayader Rural District

Rhayader (; Welsh: Rhaeadr Gwy; pronounced [ˈr̥əɪadar ˈɡʊi̯]) is a market town and community in Powys, Wales, within the historic county of Radnorshire. The town is 20 miles (32 km) from the source of the River Wye on Plynlimon, the highest point of the Cambrian Mountains, and is located at the junction of the A470 road and the A44 road 13 miles (21 km) north of Builth Wells and 30 miles (48 km) east of Aberystwyth. The population was 2,088, with 55% of the community having some form of Welsh identity, according to the 2011 census. The community is the largest in Wales by area, with 137.31 km2 (53.02 sq mi). It includes the Elan Valley.Rhayader holds the record for the lowest-ever temperature recorded in Wales, -23.3 °C on 21 January 1940.

The Old Swan is a former historic public house at the centre of Rhayader, Powys, Wales. The buildings are timber framed and while there is a datestone of 1683, it is very probable that it is late 16th century, if not earlier. The buildings still have their original roof of stone flags and distinctive leaning stone chimney stacks. The buildings were listed Grade II in 1995.

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.

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.

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.

Llanwrthwl is a village and community in Powys, mid Wales, and the historic county of Brecknockshire. Llanwrthwl lies off the A470 road, north by road from Builth Wells and Newbridge-on-Wye and south of Rhayader. It lies on the River Wye and River Elan and the village is accessed by a bridge over the Wye. In 1833, its population was 517; its population in 1841 was 568; in 1845, its population was 563.At the 2011 census the population was only 191.

The Afon Marteg is a river in Powys, Wales. It is about 15 km long, flowing roughly south-west to join the Wye at Pont Marteg (grid reference SN952714) about 5 km above Rhayader.Fishing is available, with appropriate permits, for brown trout, chub, dace, grayling and pike. The river has a run of spawning Atlantic salmon in the autumn.

Doldowlod railway station stood on the Mid Wales Railway between Builth Wells and Rhayader. It was closed on 31 December 1962 and the track removed.

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

Nant Glas (or Nant-glas) is a village in the Elan Valley near Rhayader and Llandrindod Wells in Powys, Wales. It is on a side road between the A44 to the northeast and the A470 to the southwest. There is a small chapel at the southern end of the village. The Willow Globe Theatre is close to the village, to the south just off the A470.

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.