River Levels in South Wales

['Whiskers]

Does anyone locally based know what the water is like over there at the moment, and any predictions for the weekend...? We have our fresher's trip over there this weekend, paddling the Irfon and something else.

All info gratefully recieved :-)

[wonny j]

I did the Tawe yesterday and the level was quite high. Not huge but a bit higher than the minimum for a good run. We had a lot of rain on Wednesday night and a bit more last night, so the level will have dropped a fair bit.

There is water about - certainly enough for taking freshers on easy water, though I'm not familiar with the Irfon.

I'm hoping for more rain tonight so I can go do something else tomorrow.

['Whiskers]

Yeee harrr!

Well, our freshers did amazingly well, they were super-good on the Irfon and rather bored (very few swimmers) so we decided to challenge them a bit on the Sunday and did a short section of the Tawe (Grade II+/III ish). Ran it from Abercraf down to one of the road bridges just north of Ystradgynlais, about 2 miles or so - one weir portage near the start. Levels were perfect, had a reasonable number of swimmers but everyone came off the river smiling, and can't wait for the next trip, woo!

Usk was practically bank-full and a funny reddish brown colour, so thought that wouldn't have been the best choice, plus access agreement seems a bit confusing... Heard UWE were on it though, how did it go...?

[Scumbag_Scout]

Usk in spate this time last year! This is Mill Falls, I wasn't there to paddle this but it was a nasty nasty stopper that had 4 boaters in at one point. If you want to run it at a high level, take river left at Mill Falls whatever you do!

I'm not aware of any access agreement problems for the Usk, they has always been a canoe access sign at the get on in the years I've been there.

[RichA]

Yeh, that was a fun one. I always enjoy watching others getting a communal beating in holes, especially when I'm floating quietly by at the side of it!

[ClaireD]

We did the Usk from Sennybridge down yesterday with our freshers (but we're Bristol Uni not UWE!!). It was at a really nice level, though perhaps not ideal for total beginnners, however I think most people really enjoyed themselves. It was very busy though with the layby at the getout completely full!

['Whiskers]

but we're Bristol Uni not UWE!!

Ooops! My apologies :-) That'll teach me to eavesdrop in future!

Glad it was fun, think the cover/leaders in our group were worried about the sheer speed of the water, the trees at the edges, the length of the section and the lack of defined eddies... We also had some complete beginners and didn't want to scare them too much with looong cold swims :-)

Did you have written access agreed or did you just go with the WCA guide to access on the river? Seems like there are grey areas!

[Bod]

Whiskers

You were not wrong. UWE were on the Usk as well.

[caveman_si]

Di
Yup UWE did paddle the USK on sunday. I nearly went down to join them but some how I got volunterred to play polo at the docks in Liverpool.

After speaking to one of the guys that went it was a blast kicking myself. NOw im in bristol for the week its looking wet all week and Ive only got my small boat and no kit!!! :( damm is an understatement!

[jmmoxon]

Mellte still runnable today, but needs some more rain to top rivers up again.

Mike

[morsey]

UWE paddled from Brecon to Talybont. The plan was to do from Llangynidr to Crick but the folly would have been looming a bit large given the flow rates for the fresh trip.