Spring Hill Cottage

If you would like more information on the local area, please call us on 01348 837871 to speak to one of our friendly team.

Elan Valley

• Part of the rugged Cambrian Mountains, the Elan Valley is a beautiful and unspoiled area. The dams and reservoirs are a working legacy of impressive Victorian engineering, as were the railways which served in their construction. Together, landscape and technology make a compelling combination - the views are stunning all year round and you are never far from points of interest.

Bird Watching

• The Elan Valley is a haven for wildlife and one of the most important sites in Wales. The Elan Estate is covered by 12 separate Sites of Special Scientific Interest. It is run as a 'not-for-profit' organisation and the reserve works to protect species like bog mosses, bog rosemary, cotton grasses and heather. It is also a breeding ground for scarce birds like the dunlin and golden plover.

Elan Valley Dams

• You can learn about the remarkable science of the building of the dams at the Visitor Centre below the Caban Coch dam. There is a gift shop with useful maps, local produce and souvenirs. Try out the homemade cakes and meals in the lovely riverside cafe.
• In an area which stretches 72 square miles, you could take a week to investigate the countryside and constantly changing scenery and you will only scratch the surface of what Rhayader has to offer. It is a delight come rain or shine. But if you would like a more structured approach to understanding this lovely environment, the Elan Valley Rangers are pleased to organise Ranger Safaris - contact them on 01597 810880.

Cycling & Walking

• The Elan Valley Cycle Track is a 'there and back' trail. The very short steep section on the way out of Rhayader may make your cheeks rosy but it's quite do-able and soon turns into more level terrain.
• If biking isn't your cup or tea, you can drive about half way up on the road parallel to the trail, to the Elan Valley Visitor Centre and start the ride up past the reservoirs from there.
• With its breathtaking landscapes and abundance of wildlife, there is no better way to explore this hidden gem in the very heart of Wales than by bike. You can bring your own bikes but if you prefer to hire, Clive Powells in the town is a great starting point.
• The Elan Valley hills are very popular with keen cyclists. However, there are plenty of less taxing routes on the flat for those wishing to take life at a more relaxed pace.
  

Rhayader

• The name Rhayader (or Rhaeadr Gwy in Welsh) means 'waterfall on the Wye'. This small but busy historic market town, just 2 miles away from Spring Hill Cottage, is the first town on the banks of the River Wye and has long been a vital centre for the farming community with its flourishing livestock market.
• The town has significance as a crossroads of important routes from south to north and east to west through central Wales with a bridge over the River Wye.
• Following the Rhayader Town Trail will let you learn about the town's past and appreciate its lovely architecture.

Gigrin Red Kite Feeding

• If you love birds you'll find this place jaw dropping when the kites come in to feed. To see them in such numbers and so close up can be an emotional experience. The Centre does an excellent job and the money collected from the entrance fees is used to buy the meat to feed the kites. An amazing place to visit.
  

Trekking through the Valleys' on Horseback

• To get an alternative view of the area spend a few hours trekking on horseback through the countryside around the Elan Valley. Whether you've ridden before or not, it is the most wonderful experience. Lovely countryside & plenty of stops to paddle in rivers!

Gilfach Nature Reserve

• Just a few miles from Rhayader is the Gilfach Nature Reserve. Walk through hillside meadows with butterflies and rare plants in abundance and stop off in the Otter hide - there is local information available on the Reserve's plentiful Information boards. The fantastic tumbling river Marteg with its waterfalls and secluded pools is quiet and calming with plenty of rustic benches. Lose yourself for hours in a rich landscape with a dream-like quality. At the end of the day you can enjoy a cup of tea in the ancient farmhouse.

Arts, Culture & Heritage

• St Harmon, to the north of Rhayader, with its Church of St. Garmon, was for a short time served by the famous diarist, Reverend Francis Kilvert (1840-1879) whose writing about the ordinary people and the way they lived is recognised as a minor classic.

Abbey Cwm Hir

• The Abbey in the Long Valley - the building of an Abbey commenced in 1143 and, had it been completed, it would have been the largest in Wales. It is reputed that the headless remains of Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, the last of the Welsh Princes, was buried there. The abbey ruins can still be seen and nearby the Hall at Abbeycwmhir has been splendidly restored, decorated and furnished and is a visitor attraction open by appointment - well worth a visit.
• There is the small friendly CARAD museum located opposite the fire station on the outskirts of Rhayader town. The excellent World War 1 exhibition follows the lives of 10 soldiers who died for the cause. Upstairs, exhibits tell the life of hill farmers in the surrounding area and an interesting film showing interviews of locals in bygone days.

Willow Globe Theatre

• Situated at Penlanole, Nantmel across the River Wye from the village of Llanwrthwl between Llandrindod Wells and Rhayader, the Willow Globe is similar to the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park, London and is a magical space formed from living willow trees woven together. It seats about 150 people and is powered entirely from green electricity; almost certainly the first venture ever of its kind.

Wyeside Theatre & Cinema

• Perched on the brink of the picturesque river Wye in the market town of Builth Wells, 30 minutes from Spring Hill Cottage, Wyeside Arts Centre is a great venue for live, visual arts and cinema. Wyeside's varied programme ranges from Cerys Matthews to Tchaikovsky and from Pinter to Pantomime
  

Eating out

• There is a good selection of restaurants, cafes' and Inns serving good food in Rhayader town centre and beyond. Also a great fish and chip shop that comes highly recommended.
• The ancient Triangle Inn is a beautiful 16th century drovers' inn located at the edge of Rhayader in Cwmdauddwr (right next the river). They serve locally sourced home cooked food - a lovely place to have a meal. (01597 810537).
• Featured in the Lonely Planet Guide, The Wild Swan is set in a restored 17th-century building on the main street. This organic deli and wholefood shop is a great place to pick up picnic supplies and stocks everything from home-cooked quiches to lavender biscuits and fair-trade clothing.