AFON TAWE (Glyntawe to Abercraf)

[boom]

There are two big trees down in a small gorged in section downstream of of the 10ft drop but before Abercraf (about as specific as I can get sorry). They are at water height, so would probably be passable in high water but you definately wouldn't want to swim!! It would be a difficult portage.

[wezzzy]

It IS a difficult portage.
The water is deep and fast near the tree but deceptively shallow only 4 foot from it.
1 group went for the drag the boats near the middle aproach while the other went for the river left option through/over the trees.
Both had someone swimming and grabbing on to tree roots, one group nearly pinned a boat and paddle.

[chris_hackett]

Hi Guys,
After paddling the Tawe (south Wales) yesterday I thought it best to put a note up before the (possible) heavy rain this week. There is a RIVER WIDE tree blockage. this is too big to be cut with a hand saw. its about 500 meters above Abercraf village. (after the dog leg grade 3 after the falls)
Have contacted the environment agency.
thanks

[mthompson]

Hello all,
We paddled the Tawe (south Wales) on Saturday, and thought it best to post a second warning note following the heavy rain. Take head of chris Hacketts warning below:-

'There is a RIVER WIDE tree blockage. this is too big to be cut with a hand saw. its about 500 meters above Abercraf village. (after the dog leg grade 3 after the falls)'. This is not the first tree river left you see after the small gorge wall below the weir but the second tree half submerged at the bottom of a wave train (river right) on a left hand bend (on right is a waterfall and large eddie running off small bluff).

A second double block ( 2 trees interlocked RIVER WIDE) further down (approx 100- 150 yards) around another left hand bend blocks the river. This may be passable at lower water? In high water all you could see was tops of trunks and branches. It is possible to egress and portage on river right although it is steep and a little difficult.

Great river though - worth a paddle.

[gonepaddling]

The only Egress or Access to the Tawe at Abercraf is: River Left, Just Upstream of the road bridge.

Don't exit through any private land downstream of the road bridge. Locals are friendly and will show you where the access is if you ask ... before trampling their gardens!

Steve

[flipt]

Paddled today - Still a full river width tree blockage below the slab section after penycae falls (as the cliffs raise in front of you around a left hand bend)

Due to level we and the group after us were able to boof over it as there really wasnt any other way but I would reccomend extreme caution if you have any intermediates with you and advise group leaders to set up safety on the tree to avoid having the near epic we had when one of the group was sucked under it....not resurfacing for a concerning amount of time.

We got in above the country park and got out below the main road bridge (normal get out) and that was the only blockage.

[justin-g]

Wanted to reiterate the comments above - I was in the group follwing and we saw the member of the group go under the tree NOT NICE! This tree is potentially very dangerious - please be extra careful.

[morsey]

Paddled on Monday 23rd Aug. There is still a tree blockage on the section from Glyntawe to Abercraf.

It is some time since I have been down here, but the tree immediately below the ledge drop and after Pen y Cae falls now has two trees joined across the river from left and right bank. There is a lot of branches at different heights/angles blocking most of the river. You can paddle around on the left hand side, in high water, the flow will push you into middle! When you have paddled the ledge drop you want to look before leaving the eddy!

No other notable trees on this section.

There appears to be some work being carried out, either agricultural or engineering, on the Nant Tywynni. It is causing massive silting of the river, so much so that I doubt any fishing above Abercraf is likely for some time. Makes for an interesting chocolate coloured paddle!

[jmmoxon]

There's a new tree in the last big sluice drop / recirculating eddy before the bridge above Abercraf - no problem if you keep far left.

Mike

[jmmoxon]

Link to Guide

[AlexHolt]

Several trees downstream of the 10ft waterfall.

All passable with care at low flows, one was causing problems, so we dragged it out of the way.

Could cause problems in higher flows, proceed with caution

[AndyBucs]

There is a river wide tree next to the bridge just before pen-y-cae could be really dodgy in higher flows as it was pretty much empty today and we could just squeeze under it.

I'm sure this could be a serious hazard if it was even just a little bit higher! personally I would say try to inspect from the bridge.

[Ieuan Belshaw]

The tree under the bridge at the get on is still there, managed to squeeze under it on the right (was super low).
Will be okay with about 1-2ft more water in it... Medium levels will cause a problem.

[jmmoxon]

Don't think the tree on Pen y Cae bridge is still there, although we may have paddled over it at today's levels.

There is still the tree at end of rapid after the ledge drop & a couple of new big trees on the rapid where all the flow goes up against the left side cliff, which are a hazard at high flows.

The tree I mentioned above (last Jan) is still there but there has now been a collapse of the roadside wall & several trees at the bottom of that eddy which could be washed downstream to create problems elsewhere.

Mike