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Elan Valley To Teifi Pools Loop
Route Type: Loop
Distance: ~50 km
Ascent: ~1,150 m
Time: 2 days
Start/End: Elan Valley Reservoir Car Park, near Elan Village
Difficulty: Moderate–Hard (remote terrain, limited paths)
Day 1 – Elan Village → Claerwen Reservoir → Teifi Pools / Claerddu Bothy (~25–27 km)
Start at the Elan Valley Reservoir Car Park (SN928646).
Follow the gravel track southwest along the reservoir's northern shore.
At the confluence of Afon Claerwen, turn south and follow the river upstream (no formal path).
Continue west until reaching the Claerwen Dam (SN878633).
Follow the rough vehicle track along the north side of Claerwen Reservoir.
Near the far end of the reservoir, leave the track and ascend northwest across open moorland, keeping south of Afon Claerddu.
Veer toward Nant Melyn, then Llyn Egnant and the Cambrian Way near the Teifi Pools.
Wild camp discreetly near the pools or follow the Cambrian Way north ~2 km to reach Claerddu Bothy (SN828661).
Day 2 – Claerddu Bothy / Teifi Pools → Monk’s Trod → Craig Goch → Crugyn Ci → Elan (~22–25 km)
Head east from the bothy or pools to cross Afon Claerddu.
Join Monk’s Trod bridleway heading northeast. This section is often boggy and indistinct.
Continue approx. 10 km to reach the north end of Craig Goch Reservoir (SN903671).
Join the tarmac/farm track heading east, then southeast along the reservoir.
At Nant Gwynllyn, turn southwest and ascend to the summit of Crugyn Ci (SN910643).
Follow the ridge south over Cefn Rhydoldog, passing Moelfryn Mawr.
At the trail split (SN922645), take either:
SE descent to Elan Village, or
SW return via Elan Reservoir for a full loop.
Finish at the original car park near Elan Village.
Route Notes:
Remote terrain: Some sections are trackless; carry OS Explorer OL200 or GPS.
Weather: Fast-changing. Bring layers and waterproofs.
Water: Streams available throughout — treat or filter before drinking.
Accommodation: Wild camping permitted discreetly. Claerddu Bothy is free and basic (no booking).
Navigation: Mobile signal is limited. Map and compass essential.
About the Calorie Calculator
Our Calorie Calculator estimates how many Calories you will burn using Metabolic Equivalent (MET) values from Compendium of Physical Activities. The Compendium idenitifes the relative energy cost of undertaking various activities compared with doing nothing. We then combine this with your weight and the estimated duration of the activity, taking into account the length of the route and the hills involved, to estimate the total Calories burned.
When selecting an Activity setting, select the speed you would normally travel at on flat ground.
Please remember, the estimated number of Calories is just a guide and the actual number of Calories burned may vary depending on other factors such as weather and terrain.
This route can be downloaded in the following formats (click to download):
- GPX
- KML
- TCX
- FIT
- JPG
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- PNG
Warnings
Please be careful to observe all signs for rights of way when following other people's routes, as we cannot guarantee that they do not cross private or hazardous land.
Please also be considerate and mindful of the interests of local residents when parking and following routes.
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