Coordinates: 52°19′N 3°30′W / 52.31°N 3.50°W / 52.31; -3.50

Rhayader
Welsh: Rhaeadr Gwy
Rhayader  Rhayader shown within Powys
Population	2,075 (2001)
OS grid reference	SN975685
Principal area	Powys
Ceremonial county	Powys
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	RHAYADER
Postcode district	LD6
Dialling code	01597
Police	Dyfed-Powys
Fire	Mid and West Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Brecon & Radnorshire
List of places: UK • Wales • Powys

Rhayader ( /ˈreɪ.ədər/; Welsh: Rhaeadr Gwy) is a market town and community in Powys, Mid Wales. It has a population of 2,075,^[1] and is the first town on the banks of the River Wye, 20 miles (32 km) from its source on the Plynlimon range of the Cambrian Mountains.

The town is one of the principal centres of population in the predominantly rural historic county of Radnorshire.

It is situated roughly midway between North and South Wales on the A470, 13 miles north of Builth Wells and 30 miles east of Aberystwyth on the A44 - two of Wales' most important trunk roads. The B4574 mountain road to Aberystwyth is described by the AA as one of the ten most scenic drives in the world.^[2][3]

Etymology [link]

The name "Rhayader" is corrupted from the Welsh "Rhaeadr Gwy", meaning Waterfall on the Wye. Little remains of the waterfall itself, having been destroyed in 1780 to make way for the bridge linking the town to Cwmdauddwr and the Elan Valley - the Lakeland of Wales.

History [link]

Rhayader clock

The oldest town in Mid Wales, the abundance of cairns and standing stones bears witness that Man inhabited the area several thousand years BCE. Rhayader has always been a natural stopping point for travellers - the Romans had a stop-over camp in the Elan Valley, Monks travelled between the Abbeys of Strata Florida and Abbeycwmhir and drovers headed to the lucrative markets with their livestock. While Rhayader is known to date to the 5th Century,^[4] it wasn't until the 12th Century that documented history of the town began with the building of a Castle in 1177. Little remains today, with the exception of a dry moat that can be seen from Wauncapel Park.^[4]

In the 19th Century, turnpike roads were only passable on payment of extortionate tolls, imposing additional burdens on already poor communities. This led to the Rebecca Riots across South and Mid Wales from 1839–1842, with no less than six of Rhayader's tollgates being demolished with impunity by local farmers dressed as women. The actions of these 'Rebeccaites' led to a Commission of Inquiry being set up, and most of Rebecca's grievances were righted two years later.^[5]

In the 1890s the rapidly expanding city of Birmingham, 70 miles east, viewed the nearby Elan Valley as the ideal source of clean, safe water. This was to change the face of Rhayader forever, bringing thousands of workers involved in building this massive complex of dams and reservoirs to the area. A new railway was built connecting this huge area with the main network in Rhayader, and the construction of a new village to house the workers was built on the banks of the River Elan. Work started in 1894 and the scheme was officially opened in 1904 by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.^[4][6]

Transport [link]

The station on the Mid Wales Railway line that served the town was closed under the 'Beeching Axe' programme of modernisation on 31 December 1962. The nearest station is now at Crossgates on the Heart of Wales Line, though connections are usually made at the more accessible Llandrindod railway station a similar distance away.

An extensive bus service connects with outlying villages and neighbouring towns, with two-hourly daytime departures to Builth Wells, Llandrindod Wells, Aberystwyth and Newtown, with connections to Hereford, Shrewsbury, Cardiff and further afield.

Due to the volume of traffic generated by the convergence of two of Wales's most important trunk roads, the construction of a bypass to relieve congestion at the town centre crossroads has been an ongoing debate for many years.^[7]

The town is also a popular cycling centre and is on Route 8 of the United Kingdom National Cycle Network - Lôn Las Cymru.

Amenities [link]

Tourism and agriculture are the most important industries locally. Walkers and cyclists are drawn to Rhayader for the abundance of trails and bridleways surrounding the town, which is the gateway to a massive complex of reservoirs and dams (The Elan Valley), known as the 'Lakeland of Wales'. This vast area is home to some of Britain's rarest wildlife and plants, including red kites, along with magnificent feats of engineering.

There are a number of hotels, bed and breakfasts and campsites to accommodate the large amount of visitors that travel to the area all year round. Rhayader is also home to a museum, a leisure centre, numerous parks and all the amenities expected of a larger town. There are an abundance of shops, banks, restaurants, takeaways and supermarkets catering to both the local population and visitors to the area. Rhayader is also renowned for being the town with the highest concentration of pubs and drinking establishments, per capita, in the UK with one to each 173 people.^[8]

In nearby Llanwrthwl the Living Willow Theatre, an open air theatre constructed of living willow trees, was opened in 2007.

A carnival week is held every July.

Sport [link]

Rhayader Town F.C., despite previously having some success in the League of Wales - the top-tier of domestic Welsh football between 1997 and 2002, ceased to exist in the summer of 2006. The club has since reformed, and in its inaugural season gained promotion into the Spar Mid Wales League.^[9] A subsequent promotion to the Cymru Alliance followed, but a finishing position of 15th saw the team relegated after just one season. The town's rugby union team play in the Cambrian Training Mid Wales League. There is also a cricket club and thriving local darts, dominos and pool leagues.

The town is also well known by motocross fans. Every summer a series of events take place at the nearby Cwmythig Hill circuit, with many of Britain's top riders taking part. The race series regularly attracts over 5,000 spectators.

As part of the annual carnival celebrations, Rhayader also plays host to a number of World Championship events in lesser celebrated sports, including wheelbarrow racing and rock-paper-scissors.

Town Development [link]

Rhayader and its surrounding districts are supported by Development Organisation Rhayader 2000 Ltd. Rhayader 2000 Ltd is a voluntary sector, community development organisation representing a cross section of the local community. The group was established in March 1995 and became a non-profit making company limited by guarantee on 3 July 2001.

Rhayader 2000's objectives are: • To strengthen the economy of the town and surrounding area • To strengthen and maintain the natural and man made environment. • To encourage the development of skills and opportunities, personal and professional. • To make best use of the human and material resources within Rhayader

The business of Rhayader 2000 is conducted through its Board of Directors which is made of a maximum of fifteen individuals who wish to take a lead in future developments of the area.

Rhayader 2000 Ltd. has learnt a lot from its experience over the years and is stronger and eager to build on the foundations it has established. In that time strong links have been created with Powys County Council, Rhayader Town Council, local businesses, a selection of charitable and voluntary organisations and the local community, to enable a variety of initiatives to be undertaken which have had a real and lasting impact on the life of the town.

Rhayader 2000 manages the town's website: www.rhayader.co.uk

References [link]

• Rhayader Website

External links [link]

• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Rhayader and surrounding area
• Rhayader carnival website
• Rhayader Website

v t e Powys Principal settlements Brecon Builth Wells Crickhowell Hay-on-Wye Knighton Llandrindod Wells Llanfair Caereinion Llanfyllin Llanidloes Llanwrtyd Wells Machynlleth Montgomery Newtown Presteigne Rhayader Talgarth Welshpool Ystradgynlais Communities Abbey Cwmhir Aberedw Aberhafesp Beguildy Berriew Bettws Brecon Bronllys Caersws Carno Churchstoke Cilmery Clyro Duhonw Erwood Gladestry Glantwymyn Glasbury Guilsfield Kerry Knighton Llanbadarn Fawr Llanbrynmair Llanddew Llandinam Llandrindod Wells Llandrinio Llandysilio Llanelwedd Llanerfyl Llanfechain Llanfrynach Llangamarch Llangedwyn Llangors Llangunllo Llangurig Llangynidr Llangyniew Llangynog Llanidloes Llanigon Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant Llansantffraid Llansilin Llanwddyn Llanwrthwl Llanyre Llywel Machynlleth Meifod Merthyr Cynog Montgomery New Radnor Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Old Radnor Painscastle Penybont Presteigne Rhayader St Harmon Talybont on Usk Trallong Trefeglwys Tregynon Trewern Welshpool Ystradfellte Ystradgynlais Towns and Villages Abbeycwmhir Aber Clydach Aberbechan Aberbran Abercegir Abercraf Aberedw Abergwesyn Abergwydol Aberhafesp Aberhosan Aberllynfi Abermule Abernant Abertridwr Aberyscir Adfa Aithnen Arddlin Bacheldre Beguildy Berriew Bettws Cedewain Beulah Bont Dolgadfan Boughrood Bronllys Builth Wells Burgedin Buttington Bwlch Caehopkin Caersws Capel-y-ffin Carno Cathedine Cemmaes Road Church Stoke Cilmery Clatter Clyro Coelbren Commins Coch Crickhowell Criggion Crossgates Cwmdauddwr Cwmdu Cwmtwrch Cwrt y Gollen Derwenlas Dolanog Dolfach Dolyhir Dylife Erwood Esgairgeiliog Forge Four Crosses Gladestry Glasbury Hay-on-Wye Heartsease Heol Senni Kerry Knucklas Libanus Llan Llanafan Fawr Llanbrynmair Llanddew Llandinam Llandrinio Llandysilio Llanelwedd Llanfair Caereinion Llanfechain Llanfihangel Nant Bran Llanfyllin Llangadfan Llangammarch Wells Llangedwyn Llangors Llangurig Llangynidr Llangynog Llangynyw Llanllwchaiarn Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant Llansantffraed Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain Llansilin Llanwchaiarn Llanwrin Llanwrthwl Llanwrtyd Wells Llanwrtyd Llanymynech Llanyre Llawryglyn Llyswen Llywel Meifod Milebrook Morben Nant Glas New Radnor Newbridge-on-Wye Old Church Stoke Painscastle Pandy Pant-y-Dwr Partrishow Penegoes Pennant Penwyllt Penybont Pilleth Plas Esgair Pont Crugnant Pontdolgoch Pontrobert Sarn Sennybridge St Harmon Staylittle Sycharth Talerddig Talgarth Talybont-on-Usk Tirabad Trecastle Trefeglwys Tregynon Trewern Tylwch Van, Llanidloes Ystradfellte Castles Aberedw Castle Castell Dinas Castell Du Cefnllys Colwyn Castle Dolforwyn Castle Llangoed Hall Mediomanum Montgomery Castle Painscastle Powis Castle Tretower Castle Reservoirs and lakes Cantref Reservoir Clywedog reservoir Elan Valley Reservoirs Llangorse Lake Lake Vyrnwy