Craig Goch Dam, Elan Valley

Craig Goch is the highest and most beautiful of the Elan Valley dams, a graceful curved wall with a row of arches and a domed valve tower, spilling into a reservoir that snakes away into the Cambrian Mountains. When the reservoir is full and overtopping, the water sheeting over the crest makes for spectacular aerials, and the remote, treeless uplands give a real sense of scale and isolation. There is roadside parking near the dam and the mountain road climbs alongside the water, giving easy elevated take-off points on public ground. The Elan Valley Estate is owned by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water and managed by the Elan Valley Trust; they operate a drone code and generally expect hobby pilots to fly considerately from public areas, so avoid the visitor honeypots and check their current guidance before flying commercially. There is no flight restriction zone out here. This is red kite and upland bird country, so keep clear of nesting sites in spring and do not chase wildlife. Weather turns fast in these hills and the wind over the dam can be fierce, so pick a settled day. Low sun raking down the valley in the reservoir arm is the signature shot.