Llyn Brenig

Llyn Brenig is a large, remote reservoir spread across the Hiraethog moors of north-east Wales, a place of big skies, dark conifer edges and open heather that feels far wilder than its easy access suggests. For pilots it offers sweeping water panoramas, the dam and draw-off tower as focal points, and long shoreline tracks for tracking shots, with almost no crowds outside the visitor centre. There is a proper car park at the visitor centre and quiet forestry parking around the perimeter. The reservoir is owned by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, which has its own rules on drone use around the site, so check their current policy and, ideally, launch from public land away from the visitor centre, cafe and any anglers or watersports users. There is no flight restriction zone here, but the surrounding moorland is important for ground-nesting birds including curlew and black grouse, so avoid the heather in spring and summer and keep well clear of any birds. Wind sweeps unbroken across the open water, so watch your reserves on the exposed downwind legs. A still evening with the low sun gilding the moor and the water flat calm is the one to wait for.