Families are being encouraged to visit Lake Vyrnwy throughout August as the reservoir opens its summer treasure hunt. 

The FREE activity is open to all, making it the perfect opportunity to get children out and exploring nature around the reservoir, while looking for clues and finding answers to uncover the hidden treasure.  

Between August 1^st and August 31^st, visitors can collect a treasure trail sheet from the Welcome Hut at the end of the dam and start their quest around the top end of the reservoir, with prizes up for grabs at the end of the summer for some of the lucky treasure finders.  

The trail is available the hours of 10am and 4pm, it is best suited for ages 8 to 12, but all can take part with some support – remember to bring a pen or pencil!  

Griff Watkins, Lake Vyrnwy Visitor Site Manager, said: “We want everyone to be able to make the most out of our beautiful visitor sites, especially during the summer holidays. 

“There are lots of great prizes to be won - once you’ve completed the treasure hunt just pop your sheet into the box to be entered into the draw.”  

Work continues to clear the site of trees uprooted during Storm Darragh with the full circular route remaining closed, but even as this work is ongoing the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel, Artisan’s café, The Chocolate Cabin and the toilets continue trade and are open.  

Blue Monday will also be open and offering coffee from Rhiwargor car park Friday to Monday every week over summer. The main car park, Rhiwargor Car Park and trails near to the village are open and accessible.   

Nestled in the heart of Powys, Lake Vyrnwy, which is owned and operated by water company Hafren Dyfrdwy, also offers a whole host of walks, activities and volunteering opportunities for everyone to take part in. There is more than 20km of walking trails, an abundance of wildlife, hidden sculptures and plenty of history and heritage to uncover, there is something for everyone. 

The visitor site is also a haven for wildlife and is perfect for twitchers looking for a bit of birdwatching with three RSPB bird hides located around the site.  

Visitors are being reminded that the reservoir is a not only beautiful and scenic to visit, but it is also a working site supplying water around the network to customers. 

This means there are hidden dangers that people cannot see such as extremely cold water, strong currents, machinery below the surface and everyone is being reminded to have a good time while visiting the site but stay land and not enter the water. 

Customers are also being reminded that it has been one of the driest and sunniest spring and start to summer in many years and with that there’s of course less water in the rivers and reservoirs. 

To help there are some simple steps that customers can take to make sure that water is being used in the right way this summer which are:   

• Turn Off Taps When Not in Use – Did you know that a running tap uses over SIX litres of water every minute. So, by turning them off while you brush your teeth, you’ll be saving over 12 litres of water. Similarly, if you’re washing the dishes, filling the bowl with water rather than having a running tap will help to save water.   
• Collect Rainwater – Water butts are a great way to store rainwater in your garden for you to use on plants and your grass. Your roof collects enough rainwater to fill a water butt 450 times a year, allowing you to ditch the hose and save hundreds of litres of water.   
• Fix Leaks Promptly – We often find people tend to put off getting leaks fixed, yet even small leaks can waste significant amounts of water. So regularly check your taps, showerheads and toilets for leaks and repair them as soon as possible. For more information on leak-detecting, visit - www.hdcymru.co.uk/my-services/leakage/how-to-check-for-a-leak    
• Use Water-Efficient Fixtures – We all love a refreshing shower, but some showers use A LOT more water than others, so consider installing water-saving devices such as efficient showerheads or dual-flush toilets which do the same job while using less water.   
• Try a shower timer – Showers are one of the largest users of water in a household. And while you might love singing through your setlist while washing the suds out of your hair, a shower timer might just keep you on track to spend less time in there. Not only will that help lower you water bill, but it could also cut your energy bill – and your neighbour’s ears will also benefit!   
• Run Full Loads – Dishwashers are much more energy and water efficient and can save even more water and energy by selecting cooler and shorter wash cycles and by only using them when it is full, can be more efficient than washing dishes by hand. Similarly, only using your washing machine on a full load will mean less cycles and less water used.   
• Get a water meter – Once installed, most customers make a conscious effort to use less water once they switch to a water meter. The meters mean you’ll only ever pay for what you use, putting you in charge of your bills. To see if you can apply, visit - www.hdcymru.co.uk/my-account/my-water-meter/apply-for-a-water-meter    

Hafren Dyfrdwy provides a water only service in Wrexham and parts of Denbighshire and Flintshire and both a water and wastewater service in Powys.          

For further information about Lake Vyrnwy visit www.hdcymru.co.uk/our-visitor-sites/lake-vyrnwy