Around Caban Reactive Dog Hike, The Elan Valley

Nestled in the heart of mid-Wales and brought to you by Welsh Water, Elan Valley is the perfect year-round escape from the crowds, offering 72 square miles of breath-taking scenery, rich history, and activities for all ages and abilities.

Elan Valley is a dream destination for dog walkers seeking space, serenity, and stunning scenery. Open all year round, it offers peaceful trails, woodlands, and open landscapes, perfect for stretching legs (both two and four). Wander through the beautiful estate on foot or by bike, stop for seasonal food at the café (with dog-friendly seating outside), and take in the views as your pup explores new sights and smells. Rich in history, Elan’s tranquil beauty once sheltered Stone Age communities, welcomed Celts and Romans, and later became home to lead and copper miners. The iconic dams, opened by royalty in the early 1900s, now stand as peaceful monuments in a place where nature thrives. With its mix of open space, quiet paths, and a warm welcome at the Visitor Centre, Elan Valley is the perfect backdrop for memorable dog walks and outdoor adventures.

Mulder with the Elan Valley backdrop

Mulder taking a small snack stop, lying on the grass floor

When to Go

When my friend and I went, it was mid-morning on a Sunday in half-term so we expected it to be absolutely rammed. By the time we had been in the visitor centre shop, bought a map and had been to the toilet it was about midday.

We were actually pleasantly surprised that the walk was very quiet once we headed out from the visitors centre.

While we saw a good amount of people around the visitors centre, very few had dogs. Dogs are required to be kept on a lead or under strict control due to grazing livestock, and luckily everybody stuck to the rules. It is also considered a cycle route, and some places are shared bridleways so it is worth noting that you could come across both cyclists and horses on this hike. I imagine if your dog struggles with people reactivity, a mid-morning hike during the week would be even quieter than when we went.

How to Get There

Elan Valley is situated in the county of Powys in mid-Wales, just a couple of hours from Birmingham and Cardiff. The nearest town is Rhayader. If you are coming from Rhayder, then follow the B4518 west, the left turn to the visitors centre is signposted after approximately 3 miles down the road. If you are using a Satnav it is recommended to put the postcode LD6 5HP into the satnav. This will take you almost to the Visitor Centre and car park. It is important to note that after turning left from the B4518 you should ignore the Satnavs instructions to go over the iron bridge, instead, go straight over the cattle grid and the Visitors Centre will be in front of you.

For public transport, the nearest train station is 8 miles away at Llandrindod Wells. Buses are available, I believe these are the X47 and B57 routes. To get to Elan Valley from the train, there is a Taxi Link service but you need to provide 2 hours advance notice.

The parking is £3 all day, and isn't just limited to the car park at the Visitors Centre. You can use the parking in any of the estate car parks for that day- which is fantastic! The car parks are ANPR operated

Walk Statistics

Map highlighting the circular trail

Walk distance: 12.2Km

Time to complete: 4-5 Hours

Difficulty: Challenging

Elevation: 507ft

Terrain: Wide paths in places, some roads, rocky in other places with steep inclines, not wheelchair friendly.

Pub or Grub: There is a nice cafe at the visitors centre alongside a shop, and toilets.

This particular Elan Valley route is moderately challenging and best suited to confident walkers. Some sections include steep inclines and narrow pathways that could become slippery or unsafe during winter or wet weather, so good footwear is essential. One of the perks, however, was how quiet it was. We saw very few people and even fewer dogs, which made for a calm and uninterrupted hike. The trail starts with a tough climb up to the first dam, but from there the path flattens out into a lovely stretch of tarmac shared with cyclists and walkers alike. After crossing the second dam (where we couldn’t resist grabbing an ice cream from an ice cream parked nearby), the path heads into the woods, where clear signposts guide the way. Eventually, you cross a quiet road and pass through a farmyard. We had a brief standoff with a very persistent sheepdog, but after some strategic ignoring, it gave up and wandered off. From there, the trail climbs into the hills before gently looping back down toward the dam and Visitor Centre. It’s a walk with a bit of everything: views, forest, farmland, and hills for those up for a bit of a challenge.

Mulder in the forest

Mulder and I with the cows

Be Prepared:

• Wear the right footwear. While some of the walk is on tarmac there are steep inclines and declines, and a section is on quite loose ground.

• Open fires are not advised

• Mobile phone coverage is unreliable so make sure people know where you are if hiking alone.

• There are no bins, all rubbish (and dog poo) must be taken back to the car park with you and not left on the trail.

• If you are planning on wild-swimming its advised to bring a wetsuit, towel and a change of clothes

• Respect the countryside code, there are sheep grazing and there are cows in some of the fields, dogs are asked to be kept on lead for this reason

• Leave all gates as you find them, shut the farm gates behind you

• Leave plants, livestock, crops and machinery alone

• There is no swimming or boating in the dams

  
  

Our Rating:

Scenery Score:

• The elevated views of the dams and surrounding hills are beautiful.

• The forests and pathways boast serene country views

Accessibility Score:

• Due to the steep ascents and descents this walk is not suitable for wheelchair users or disabled dogs.

• I would be cautious taking children on this route

Reactivity Rating:

• Dogs are to be kept on-lead

• Despite going on a popular weekend, and there being a full car park we saw very few dogs throughout the entire hike

• Good passing places on the trail and wide paths near the start, near the end the paths become quite narrow and thin

• Looses one star because of the free roaming annoying sheepdog we encountered while going through the farm, and because of the livestock that prey driven dogs will struggle with.

Amenities:

• The car park is a great size and all of the machines work

• The toilets are well kept and clean

• The visitors centre has a shop, and a café. The shop stocks any items that you could have left behind, and even has a section for dogs! The cafe is reasonably priced and has a good selection of food and cakes. We bought a map of the trail for just £1.50 which was a huge help!

Final Thoughts- Do we Recommend the Around Caban Trail For Reactive Dogs?

Mulder with the ram

This route could be a great option for reactive dogs, thanks to its quiet paths, varied terrain, and minimal foot traffic. During our visit, we saw very few people and even fewer dogs, which made for a peaceful walk with plenty of space to decompress.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind. The narrow paths may make passing others tricky in places, and steep inclines could be challenging if your dog pulls.

If you visit during quieter times (mid-week) then it could definitely be a really rewarding hike for both you and your reactive dog

Thank you for reading!

Ella, Mulder and Scully