Spooky Dam Open Day

Our popular Spooky Dam Open Day is back! Walk through Penbont Woods and enter Pen y Garreg dam – if you dare!

Do you have what it takes to become a Sorcerer’s Apprentice?

Test your bravery through Penbont Woods and inside Pen y Garreg Dam before emerging onto the central platform to become a Sorcerer’s Apprentice and claim your Halloween reward! Then continue your journey through the dam, through the woods and back to your car.

The dam will be decorated and made to be spookier than usual! This may involve spooky noises and things to make you jump. Costumes are optional but also encouraged!

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Don't miss an exclusive chance to venture into Pen y Garreg Dam and up the central tower. One of our rangers will be on hand to answer all your questions so don't be shy...

These short self-guided tours are a perfect addition to your day's itinerary at Elan Valley. Walk through the dam at your own pace, before emerging onto the central platform where you’ll enjoy a bird's-eye view of the dam wall – and learn about the feat of engineering that made Elan.

Booking ahead highly recommended, either online or from the Visitor Centre shop. Please bring the receipt from the shop if you buy on the day. We can take walk ins at the dam, but you must have the correct change for your party (£5 per adult, £1.50 per child), but booking is recommended to ensure we have the correct amount of goodies!

Park at Penbont car park and take a walk through the woodland, up the steps to the dam entrance. The walk from the car park will take between 10-20 minutes.

If you feel that the access through the woodland to the dam is not suitable for yourself/a member of your party, please speak to a member of staff at the lower car park. They will be able to direct you if appropriate to a small space at the top of the dam that allows easier access, which has fewer steps and is closer to the dam.

Please be aware that you may have to wait outside the dam before entering. There are a number of steps to get to the dam, which can be uneven and muddy. The steps inside the dam may be wet and in some areas there are low light levels and narrow corridors. Children should be carefully supervised at all times. Dogs are welcome on short leads.

Entry is £5 for adults and £1.50 for those aged 18 and under with half of all proceeds going to our chosen charity WaterAid. Babies do not need a ticket.

Refunds: there will be no refunds issued to bookings made on the day. If you need to rearrange your booking to another time/date due to unforeseen circumstances then this may be possible, depending on availability.

Car Park Grid Reference: SN 914 673

Note - please don't use the postcode LD6 5HP as this covers much of the Elan Valley estate.

COVID - 19 Requirements

Before travelling to site we ask that you follow the current government advice and do not travel if you have any of the following symptoms:

1. A high temperature: this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
2. A new, continuous cough: this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
3. A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste: this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.

Guests should be able to climb around 40 steps in both directions to get into the dam as well as a series of steps in the woodlands.

Waterproofs and sturdy footwear (Wellies or Boots) is highly recommended as the paths can be muddy and there are steps and wet areas in the dam.

A torch is also a must!

Costumes are optional but also encouraged!

A sense of humour - the dam will be spookier than usual and things may go boo!

Arrive at the car park and follow the instructions to walk to the dam within your chosen slot - you don't have to arrive on the hour/half hour.

Walk though Pen Y Garreg dam at your own pace to the central tower where you can collect a Halloween treat, then continue your journey through the dam, down through the woodlands and back to your car.