Clawdd Du Mawr

Rising above the remote Claerwen Reservoir, this expansive moorland plateau offers a lonely, untamed experience characteristic of the Elan Valley. The terrain is often pathless and heavy with peat, but rewards those seeking solitude with wide views across the Cambrian Mountains towards the heights of Plynlimon and Drygarn Fawr.

• •The name is Welsh, where 'Clawdd' translates as a dyke or bank, 'Du' as black, and 'Mawr' as large. It likely refers to a prominent, peat-stained ridge or an ancient earthwork boundary that traverses this high ground.
• •It sits within the Elan Estate, a vast area managed for water catchment that is also designated as an International Dark Sky Park, making the summit a prime spot for stargazing if you can navigate back in the dark.
• •From the high point, the view is dominated by the massive profile of Drygarn Fawr to the south-west and the long, winding ribbon of the Claerwen Reservoir far below.
• •Reaching the summit usually involves a masterclass in 'peat-hagging,' a local necessity where walkers must leap between relatively dry mounds to avoid the saturated ground common in this part of mid-Wales.