Top 5 Lakes around Bronllys

Llangasty (St Gastyn's Church). A lovely place to stop on the southern shore of the largest natural lake in south Wales.

Lovely shaped reservoir at the top of the col on the climb up to Banc y Celyn - a near natural infinity pool

Monks Pool is the largest of the small pools on the common land of the Begwns. It's noted for having uncommon pond plants such as certain ferns, pillwort and tubular water-dropwort.

Grwyne Fawr Reservoir nestles in the valley below Waun Fach, the highest summit in the Black Mountains range on the eastern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. At the reservoir's northern end a bothy, run by the Mountain Bothies Association, is available for free overnight stays with basic facilities. The reservoir itself is a peaceful place, built in the early 20th century but since decommissioned so it no longer supplies drinking water.

Highly recommend ❤️ Gwyne Fawr Reservoir -is located in the valley of the river Grwyne Fawr in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales. Completed in 1928, it has the capacity to hold 400,000,000 imperial gallons of water... There were Serious water shortages in most parts of the historic county of Monmouthshire. In fact By the end of the 19th-century, The area had seen a massive population increase as a result of the steel and coal industries but the supply of water to the area was complicated due to its high altitude. A site for a New Reservoir was chosen at the head of the Grwyne Fawr Valley mainly because at the height of, 1,725 ft / 526m above sea level making it the perfect plan with it being high enough to allow all of the Reservoirs water to be freely gravity fed to Abertillery and the surrounding areas. Work started 1912, but immediately hit numerous problems. The road up the valley could not take the weight of the heavy traction engines used for haulage. So It was decided that a new railway would be required. Then hit the first world war and proceedings were put on hold. Work recommenced 1919, the railway was completed, connected to the main line at Llanvihangel Crucorney. A village of construction workers and their families grew in the valley at Blaen-y-cwm. A community of some 300 people lived there with a hostel, canteen, day school, police station and hospital. Workmen quarried 200,000 tons of sandstone for the construction of the dam. Large boulders weighing up to 5 tons each were set in concrete to form the dam, which is 130 feet thick at its base, the walls were then faced with dressed stone. A 16-inch diameter steel pipeline was tunnelled through Coity Mountain carrying water to a holding reservoir in Cwmtillery. The dam was finally completed in February 1928, after which the railway and structures that served its construction were quickly dismantled including the workers village. The total cost of construction was reported to be £1 million.

Take camera great views

The largest natural lake in Wales is a perfect spot for fans of the wildlife. You can set out on the lake on a boat, but a permit is required to do so, and not all areas are accessible by boat. Part of the land is privately owned, so it is not possible to walk all the way around.