Ystradfellte Reservoir, reservoir in the United Kingdom
Ystradfellte Reservoir is a large body of water in the upland area of Fforest Fawr within Brecon Beacons National Park in Powys, Wales. The water stretches across a wide area surrounded by rolling landscape, with the embankment nearly 1000 feet (300 m) long holding calm water.
The reservoir was built between 1907 and 1914 to store water for nearby towns and villages, with a special railway constructed to carry building materials to the site. The dam was made from limestone and clay sourced locally and has remained in service for over a century.
The reservoir is a quiet spot where visitors observe wildlife and local people enjoy leisurely walks along marked trails. The simple beauty of the water and surrounding hills shapes how walkers experience this part of the Brecon Beacons.
Paths around the reservoir are well-marked and easy to follow, suitable for families and those seeking a gentle countryside walk. Early morning and sunset are the quietest times to visit, when the water surface reflects the sky and surrounding hills.
Visitors often overlook the story of a wooden railway viaduct built over the Afon Hepste during construction to carry a special railway for bringing materials to the dam site. This engineering feat from the early 1900s disappeared from the landscape once the work finished and now lives only in local memory.
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