Beacons Reservoir, reservoir in Powys, Wales, UK
Beacons Reservoir is a large body of water sitting in the Glyn Tarell valley, surrounded by green hills and the peaks of the Black Mountains. The water stretches out calm and flat, and an earthen dam holds the basin together while small paths along the shores invite walks.
The reservoir was built in the 1890s to store water for nearby towns and villages. Workers transported stone and clay by railway to the site and built a temporary village for the workforce, showing what a major project this was for the region.
The name of the reservoir comes from the nearby Brecon Beacons, those distinctive mountain peaks that shape the landscape. Visitors can see today how the water is woven into local culture through walkers and anglers who come here to enjoy quiet moments in the hills.
Access to the reservoir is via country roads through Glyn Tarell, with limited public transport and few parking areas nearby. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes, stay on marked paths, and be prepared for changeable mountain weather, as conditions can shift quickly.
When water levels are low, visitors can see the foundations of old houses and longhouses that were underwater before the reservoir was built. These traces of the past show how people lived in this area long before the modern structure existed.
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