Usk Reservoir, reservoir on the boundary of Carmarthenshire and Powys, Wales, UK
Usk Reservoir is a large body of water in the Welsh mountains near Myddfai and Llywel, surrounded by tall conifer forests and open moorland. The calm surface stretches across the landscape with wide views of distant mountains on all sides.
The reservoir was built in 1955 to supply water to Swansea, flooding much of the open moorland that existed before. The landscape holds older traces including Bronze Age standing stones, a medieval chapel dedicated to Saint David, and tilestone quarry workings from later centuries.
The reservoir takes its name from the River Usk, whose upper reaches are dammed here to supply water to surrounding areas. Today, the place reflects how the local community has shaped the land for practical needs while maintaining its natural character.
The reservoir is easily accessible by car with free parking on both sides of the dam and no entrance fee required. Hard-surfaced walking paths run along the waterside and are suitable for wheelchairs, making it simple to explore the views at your own pace.
The area now underwater was once home to farms and a medieval chapel dedicated to Saint David that vanished beneath the surface. Archaeological finds like Bronze Age standing stones and ancient Neolithic tools scattered across the moorland reveal that people have worked this landscape for thousands of years.
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