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Lake Vyrnwy, Powys, Mid Wales
Get back to nature and experience the walks, trails and abundance of wildlife.
A visit to the RSPB Lake Vyrnwy Visitor Centre is a great starting point.
Pick a viewpoint around the Lake to observe the amazing variety of birds and scenery. With its woodland, moorland and farmland, Lake Vyrnwy has become an internationally important nature reserve for wildlife and habitats. It has so little light pollution that it is one of the best locations to stargaze in the UK.
Cycle the 12 miles all the way around the lake and take in the remote mountains, ancient woodlands, expansive waters and the iconic neo-Gothic water tower. Bike Hire is available.
Stroll along one of the 6 woodland walks, through mysterious forests dating back to the last ice age and walk the award winning Lake Vyrnwy Sculpture Trail with superb works of art dotted around its shores.
Take to the water - Canoe’s, Kayak’s and sailing boats are also available to hire. Enjoy horse riding, carriage driving, walking, cycling or just exercising the dog on a series of trails of varying distances throughout the nearby Dyfnant Forest.
Visit local craft shops and have a bite to eat and drink. Stay a while in the wide range of high quality accommodation. The luxurious Lake Vyrnwy Hotel & Spa provides visitors with one of the best places in Wales to relax and feel pampered.
Glyndŵr's Way is an 135 mile (217 Km) long National Trail that passes through Lake Vyrnwy. Meandering through the open moorland, rolling farmland, woodland and forest of mid-Wales. The trail was officially opened in 2002 and is dedicated to the 15th Century Welsh warrior and self proclaimed 'Prince Owain Glyndwr'
The nearest towns are Llanfyllin, Welshpool and Bala in Snowdonia National Park.
Lake Vyrnwy Reservoir & RSPB Lake Vyrnwy Reserve
The RSPB, in partnership with Hafren Dyfrdwy, manages part of the reserve as the largest organic farm in England and Wales and the Lake Vyrnwy Reservoir and surrounding estate is great for bird-watching.
Hafren Dyfrdwy's hydro turbine at Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, which has been in place since 1904, is the first UK-based hydro turbine to ever be inducted into the Hydroworld Hall of Fame. Lake Vyrnwy hydro generates 130kW of renewable energy and continues to supply the city of Liverpool with fresh water.
Lake Vyrnwy has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) as well as a Natura 2000 site.
Although the hillside makes for difficult terrain, one of the hides in the nature reserve is accessible by wheelchair. There's plenty for children too, including nestbox trails and bat and owl walks. Hire a back-pack and go on a creepy-crawly search; hire binoculars as you play bird bingo around the reserve; solve the clues on the animal puzzle trail or explore the Wild Play Park to have fun and get muddy in the Mud Kitchen.
Top 5 Facts
- The Lake Vyrnwy reservoir was built in the 1880s to supply Liverpool with fresh water.
- No fewer than 40,000 brown trout from Loch Leven in Scotland were introduced into the lake: fishermen are still catching their distant descendants today.
- Lake Vyrnwy has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) as well as a Natura 2000 site.
- The dam holds back enough water to fill 13,500 Olympic swimming pools.
- The approaching route to Lake Vyrnwy from Dinas Mawddwy includes the highest pass in North Wales, standing at 545m (1788ft).
Getting to Lake Vyrnwy
By train
Welshpool station is 20+ miles away.
By bus
At the end of the dam. Walk in the opposite direction to the lake, with the visitor centre on the right.
By road
Lake Vyrnwy is located 30 miles east of Dolgellau, which is on both the Cambrian Way and the Coastal Way.
There is plenty of free car parking when you get here.
From Llanfyllin, take the B4393 to Llanwddyn. Continue along the B4393 to Llanwddyn by taking a right turn. At the dam, turn left, then left at the end of the dam. The RSPB visitor centre is on the right.
Postcode SY10 0LZ for RSPB Lake Vyrnwy Visitor Centre.
Postcode SY10 0LY for Lake Vyrnwy Hotel & Spa.
On foot
Nearby is Glyndwr's Way National Walking route and the Dyfnant & Vyrnwy Forest with an extensive network of bridleways and trails
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