Rheidol, Ystwyth & Caron

The Rheidol, Ystwyth & Caron area is defined by its three major river valleys, which carve through the central Ceredigion landscape. The Rheidol Valley is a transport corridor, carrying both a main road and the Vale of Rheidol Railway towards Aberystwyth. The parallel Ystwyth Valley is quieter, its course followed by a minor road past abandoned mine workings. Between them lies the broad basin of the River Caron, characterised by its patchwork of improved pastureland and areas of raised bog.

The human history here is deeply tied to metal extraction, particularly lead and silver, with the 19th-century industrial complex at Cwm Ystwyth being a prominent relic. Forestry plantations now cover large sections of the upper valleys, especially around the Nant-y-moch Reservoir. The area's specific character is shaped by this mix of pastoral farming, managed forestry, and the enduring, visible legacy of its mining past scattered across the hills.