MID Wales is well-known for its stunning reservoirs and feats of Victorian dam design.
Elan Valley and Lake Vyrnwy both stand today as testament to our Victorian ancestors who reshaped the valleys of Powys to sustain Birmingham and Liverpool.
However the region is also home to some stunning, but often forgotten, natural lakes.
Llangorse Lake
Llangorse Lake is the largest natural lake in mid and south Wales, and is situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park near the town of Brecon and the village of Llangors.
The lake is famous for its coarse fishing, watersports, the afanc (a monster nicknamed 'Gorsey') and has the only example of a crannog in Wales.
Llangorse Lake is also one of the most mentioned sites in Welsh folklore and a site of international conservation importance.
The crannog is a small artificial island about 40 metres from the north shore.
In 916 Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, sent an army into Brycheiniog to avenge the murder of the Mercian abbot Ecbryht and his companions. The Mercian army seized and burnt the royal fort on Llangorse Lake, and took the Queen of Brycheiniog and 33 others captive.
It was investigated by archaeologists from the National Museum of Wales between 1989 and 1993. Finds included a high quality textile and a bronze hinge from an 8th–9th century reliquary decorated in a style similar to that seen in Ireland.
Fifteenth century Welsh poet, Lewys Glyn Cothi wrote 'The afanc am I, who, sought for, bides; In hiding on the edge of the lake; Out of the waters of Syfaddon Mere; Was be not drawn, once he got there; So with me: nor wain nor oxen wont to toil; Me today will draw from here forth.
Llyn Glanmerin
To the south of Machynlleth lies an area of quiet hills and valleys, in which can be found a quiet and picturesque lake, Llyn Glanmerin. The lake is known locally as Lord Herbert’s Lake in honour of Lord Herbert Vane-Tempest having been lord of the manor at Plas Machynlleth in the early years of the 20th century.
The outlet stream from the lake has the interesting name of Nant Llyn-Gwr-Drwg which translates as 'stream of the bad man’s lake' – perhaps an earlier name for the lake itself?
The route around the lake uses lanes, tracks and field paths, with just one steepish descent and two short ascents.
Llyn Lluncaws
Llyn Lluncaws means 'the lake of cheese' - in which lives a wise fish according to Arthurian legend.
The lake is surrounded on three sides by the steep sides of Moel Sych, the 'Dry Hill' forming a natural amphitheatre in the Berwyn Mountains.
The valley forms the usual more direct approach from the falls of Pistyll Rhaeadr.
Cadair Berwyn or Cader Berwyn is a mountain summit in north-east Wales with a height of 832 metres (2,730 ft) above sea level.
It is the highest point in the Berwyn range, the highest in North East Wales and the highest significant summit in Wales outside the National Parks.
Cadair Berwyn and Foel Cedig to the west are the two Marilyns that form the Berwyn range.
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