Elan Valley Visitor Centre

Home » Visit » Visitor Centre

The Elan Valley Visitor Centre is operated by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and is set in a fantastic location against a spectacular backdrop of a Victorian stone dam.

April to October 9am – 5pm

November – March 10am – 4pm

The perfect starting point for your visit to the area. There’s something for everyone.

Open all year except for Christmas Day.

Phone 01597 810880 for enquiries.

What’s Here

  • Information Desk
  • Gift Shop
  • Cafe
  • Bike Hire
  • Exhibition Area
  • Easy Disabled Access
  • Car and Coach Parking
  • Children’s Play Area
  • Large Picnic Area
  • Dog-friendly

Coach Parties

We welcome a large number of coach parties all year and we advise booking ahead to ensure you get the most from your visit. We have a detailed Coach Operators Pack that we can email to you on request. We also offer guided tours of the Estate with a Ranger, even including inside Pen y Garreg Dam, please get in touch to discuss your trip.

Please note that coaches need to follow a clockwise route around the valley due to the narrow nature of the road! Contact the Ranger Team at the Visitor Centre for more information about the Estate: 01597 810880. We also provide free refreshments for Coach Drivers and their Tour Guide.

Bike Hire

E-Bikes, trail, mountain and children’s bikes… We have it all. Reserve your bike online and we’ll have it ready for you on the day. You can also hire one of our bikes on the day of your visit.

Phone 01597 810880 for more details.

Angling

A fishing information leaflet and permits are available from the Visitor Centre.

Fishing further afield on the Rivers Wye/Elan and Marteg as well as Llyngwyn Lake is managed by the Rhayader and Elan Valley Angling Association, contact 01597 810383 or visit www.rhayaderangling.co.uk

All anglers in Wales who are 12 years and over need a rod licence. These are available from Post Offices and on-line. Permits will not be issued without a valid rod licence. For details about rod licences visit Natural Resources Wales.

Car Parking

Entrance to the Visitor Centre is free, and the £3.00 parking charge covers you for the whole of the Estate’s car parks, all day.

We have introduced new parking controls at Elan Valley with continuous monitoring (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) and new options to pay. This will make it an easier and quicker experience, giving you more time to enjoy the stunning Elan Valley.

Visitors by car can pay by cash or card at the Visitor Centre or via the machines by credit/debit card. Parking may also be booked and paid for on a mobile device using the NexusPay-GroupNexus app (downloadable via QR codes on site).

Regular visitors may purchase an annual parking pass for a single vehicle for £35.00 which will give unlimited parking for that vehicle on the site for one year.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water continues to provide fantastic facilities for visitors to enjoy. For this to continue, we need to have car parking charges at our visitor attractions. Income will be used to service the sites, ensuring they are kept to an exceptional standard and provide a clean and well-maintained environment.

Phone 01597 810880 for more details.