Rare Access: Walking Through a Historic Victorian Dam

Описание: Pen y Garreg Dam, located in Wales' scenic Elan Valley, is a historic Victorian dam built in 1903 as part of Birmingham's water supply system, featuring a unique central tower accessible on special open days, offering stunning views and insights into its construction, serving as a beautiful spot for walkers and photographers amidst the larger Elan Valley reservoirs.

The Dam was open to the public for a few days over the Christmas period so I had to go and see what its like inside a dam!

Starting from the car park below the Ty Penbont Cafe, the walk takes you along the wager towarss the dam. Yhen after a short, steep climb up the steps, the entrance appears.

Pen y Garreg is the smallest dam and reservoir. When full, it holds just over two weeks’ worth of water. The tower was built in the Birmingham Baroque style. Pen y Garreg means Head of the Stone. Eustace Tickell was the chief engineer for Pen y Garreg dam, and lived nearby during the nine years of construction (1895 – 1904).

The woods around Pen y Garreg are made up of many species of trees, including Atlantic Sessile Oaks, which are important for many lower plant life forms. Nearby are beautiful carvings in felled tree stumps that had to be felled due to disease. Many of the footpaths in the woods follow the routes of the old railway branches and sidings. (https://elan-valley.co.uk/pen-y-garreg/)