Banwy, Llanfihangel and Llanwddyn

The Banwy, Llanfihangel and Llanwddyn ward lies within the upper Banwy Valley in north-west Powys. This is an upland area defined by its rural character, with scattered farms and small settlements set within a landscape of rolling hills and river meadows. The ward encompasses the communities surrounding the Afon Banwy, a tributary of the River Vyrnwy. Land use is predominantly agricultural, with forestry also a significant feature on the higher ground. The sparse population is distributed across hamlets and isolated dwellings.

The ward includes Llanwddyn village, situated at the head of the valley. This location is directly adjacent to the expansive Lake Vyrnwy reservoir, created in the late 19th century to supply water to Liverpool. The lake and its surrounding managed woodland, owned by the water company, form a dominant part of the local environment. The area's infrastructure and history are intrinsically linked to the reservoir's construction, which involved the relocation of the original village. The landscape offers a sense of quiet isolation, shaped significantly by this engineered water catchment.