GUIDE TO THE AFON EINION

(Artist's Valley to Furnace)

NAME OF RIVER: Einion.

WATER LEVEL, ACCESS AND HAZARD UPDATES:Here.

WHERE IS IT?: Aberystwyth / Machynlleth. Map: Aberystwyth Surrounding area no.135.

Map.

PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: South of Machynlleth in the village of Furnace. Head up the small road marked Artist's Valley. After about 1.5 miles the road meets the river again put on here. Take out in Furnace.

APPROX LENGTH: 2 km.

TIME NEEDED: Depends on water level, give at least 2 hours lots of inspecting.

ACCESS HASSLES: No access agreement but it is farmers land, dont scare the sheep.

WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: If you want to do just the falls you don't want it in flood. If the water is brown, it's going to be hard. Check the falls as you over the bridge in Furnace.

GRADING: 5 - 5+

MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Most of it, but there are two classic falls upstream and the falls at the mill in Furnace. Trees are a major problem as it goes through a wood.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Grade lV rapids lead to what Chris Sladden describes as 'the finest big class V+ hits in Wales'. Both go in lowish to medium water (see photos), however in high water would be crazy. After this is easier grade 4 - 5 rapids depending on water level. Chris Sladden also warns of another 'two huge class V+ rapids' however we couldn't find them, but maybe in higher levels there are. You pass under a pipe and take out above the falls at Furnace river right. The story is they have been run but when the river was so high you couldn't paddle under the road bridge!

Pictures of the Einion

OTHER NOTES:

CONTRIBUTED BY: Patrick Clissold.