Boatside, Aberedw

Boatside is ideally situated as a base for visiting a variety of attractions and venues. The Royal Welsh Showground is a few minutes away, as is the delightful market town of Builth Wells, with its modern facilities, including an excellent golf Course, Tennis Courts, Swimming Pool, Cinema, riverside park and a good selection of shops offering local produce and crafts. There is a very helpful Tourist Information Centre situated on the car park.

No visit to this area would be complete without at least one trip to the Elan Valley, just beyond Rhayader. Here the reservoirs which supply Birmingham lie in stunning settings, and there is a large choice of walks and drives to suit every taste. First stop must be the Visitor Centre, the gateway to the dams.

     The Elan Valley

For the more literary minded, the town of Hay on Wye is about half an hour away to the south. With its famous bookshops and antique market it is an ideal place to visit, especially on a rainy day. It is also on the approach to the Black Mountains, which brood over the town and offer marvellous opportunities for walking and pony trekking. Across the Wye from Hay is Clyro, once the home of the Rev. Francis Kilvert, whose diaries offer a glimpse into life in this area in the mid to late nineteenth century. There is a connection between Kilvert and Boatside. In his entry for April 13th 1875 he reminisces about a walk he did ten years earlier from Clyro to Builth, passing through Aberedw on the way. It finishes; " and cross the shining ferry at sunset, when the evening shadows lie long and still across the broad reaches of the river. Oh, Aberedw, Aberedw." The ferry was at Boatside.

    The Black Mountains

Further afield lies Brecon, with the famous Beacons as a backdrop. The town boasts an interesting museum and old pubs, coaching inns and eating places. The army and SAS train in the hills and a military prescence is often in evident in the town. Beyond Brecon lies the Black Mountain (not to be confused with the very similarly named hills of Hay!) and Dan-yr-Ogof Show caves and dinosaur park.

  Brecon Beacons

The Cathedral city of Hereford is about forty miles away and offers good shopping facilities as well as the Cathedral itself - another venue for a rainy day perhaps?

   Hereford Cathedral

Aberystwyth is the closest seaside town, a little over fifty miles away via Rhayader and Llangurig. For a more exciting and scenic drive, the mountain roads from Rhayader (just off the approach to the dams on the right) offer a good alternative.

    The mountain road to Aberystwyth

And finally, if you just wish to wile away an hour or two, the craftshop a few miles south on the B4567 (ten minutes drive) serves refreshments, has a picnic area, and a pleasant riverside walk. There is usually an art or photography exhibition, and maybe you will see the woodturner at work!