Bears Head Inn, Activities

Toms Farm, Mid Wales, UK - A great 4x4/Motorbike/Quad site

The site is near Rhayader in mid-wales (Take the B4518 St Harmon road, follow signs from Pant-y-dwr). The farm is called Cwmderw and there are a few signs once you get to the last long track to the farm itself. There is a gate to the site itself and beyond this you will see the car park and caravans. Tom himself is usually hanging around, but if not just pick a place to camp and he will show up sometime to talk to you and take payment etc.

Walking

The is a wealth of walking in and around the Bears Head Inn. These include the Wye valley walk Glyndwr's way, the Elan valley as well as hundreds of footpaths and bridleways. These walks go through open fields mixed forests and along rivers and streams of all sizes. These walks can be moderately strenuous to mild, so the area is suited to any fitness level.

Wildlife

The wildlife is undisturbed and therefore flourishes. Mid-Wales is famous for its Red kites but there also buzzards, herons, all types of tits, finches, flycatchers and wagtails.Otters can be seen along the river banks. The Elan Valley visitors centre organises wildlife spotting walks for both adults and children of all levels of fitness. There is also Gigrin farm where Red Kites are feed daily and has shelters where you can get close up views of these magnificent (and until recently rare) birds.

Fishing

Mid-Wales is ideal area for all sorts of fishermen, but it is particularly famous for game fishing.The most popular sites are:-

* Llyngwyn - Rainbow and brown trout

* River Wye & Marteg - Trout and grayling

* River Elan - Trout and grayling

* Elan Valley Reservoirs - Brown trout

For more information visit the Rhayader and Elan Valley Angling Association's website at This Link

The Dambusters

The british scientist Sir Barnes Wallis developed the bouncing bomb which destroyed and damaged some of Germany's main dams after using the Nant-Y-Gro dam in the Elan Valley, near Rhayader in Powys for initial trials. The 35-feet high dam was used for the secret experiments by government officials who needed a testing site for the bombs.