Sennybridge to Aberbran

[mattg1975]

Hi

Just wondering if anyone has paddled Sennybridge to Aberbran Bridge a lately. WUF saying the section is closed due to unstable bridge but that was 2 years ago and it is still standing, not sure why WUF get to say what is closed and what isn't?

[twopigs]

Apart from the fact that the Usk is dog low at the moment and it would be no fun to paddle ..... I'm sure this is down to the usual "it is not safe to be on rivers, land owners might get sued if paddlers hurt themselves" scaremongering.

As soon as there is enough water I'm sure folks will be paddling this section again.

(Is it only two years since the bridge was damaged? Seems longer than that.)

[stonercanoe]

I have not paddled this section recently due to covid and no water.
Before that went under the bridge several times. Still alive!
WUF have no power to close a river.
I will do this section again as soon as it rains.
Jason

[mattg1975]

Thanks Jason and twopigs, very helpful.

I agree with the water level. Sort of hoping the rain due this week may change this for Friday. Would you know what level on the brecon scale would make this section paddleable?

Thanks Matt

[twopigs]

Thanks Jason and twopigs, very helpful.

I agree with the water level. Sort of hoping the rain due this week may change this for Friday. Would you know what level on the brecon scale would make this section paddleable?

Thanks Matt

I tend to use the Trallong NRW guage - 0.6 metres gives a good paddle but people tell me it goes at 0.5 metres!

[mattg1975]

Great thanks for info twopigs 👍

[G7AFM]

Think you will find you are not supposed to paddle these stretches until after 17th October anyway

[stonercanoe]

Who says ?
I have chatted to the farmer who owns the bank river left at Trallong from my kayak. He is happy to see people using the river any time.
Jason

[G7AFM]

This is for the usk & wye all to do with the fishing season.

River Usk (UNSIGNED) (grade 2 - 4)

From: Sennybridge

To: Tidal Waters

Time of year: October 18th to 1st March; year round spate agreement.

Conditions: Permission must be obtained before paddling. No canoeing on Brecon Weir.

River Wye (UNSIGNED) (grade 2 - 4)

From: Newbridge on Wye

To: Glasbury

Time of year: 18th October - 15th March; year round spate agreement.

From Glasbury to Hay on Wye there is a permissive agreement all year, while from Hay on Wye to the tidal waters, the Wye is a free navigation.

[G7AFM]

more info here.

https://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/upper- ... rangements

[Chris Bolton]

The question is, what legal authority do WUF have to set rules?

[twopigs]

Think you will find you are not supposed to paddle these stretches until after 17th October anyway

I restrained myself knowing Jason would be along to say something like "Who says?" After all the work over the last ten years to get paddlers to stop doffing their helmets to fishing interests....

[twopigs]

Hi

Just wondering if anyone has paddled Sennybridge to Aberbran Bridge a lately. WUF saying the section is closed due to unstable bridge but that was 2 years ago and it is still standing, not sure why WUF get to say what is closed and what isn't?

Paddled Sennybridge to Brecon today passing under the bridge at Abercamlais. Bridge looks lovely - repaired. Big boulders have been put into the river upstream of the bridge stanchions to protect them for damaging trees floating down in future floods. I think the WUF relationship with paddlers depended upon one individual who is no longer part of WUF, which might explain why they have not updated their website since July 2020.

[stonercanoe]

Ran it today Monday, 0.6 on the Trallong gauge. Low but still do able.
The fishing ladder on river left on the big drop has finally gone. Make portaging a bit harder?
The boulders on the bridge were interesting. The set river left were displacing the flow left. It will be interesting to see what erosion this causes on the left hand bank?
Jason

[twopigs]

Canoe Wales tell me that the owner of the land at the WUF get on in Sennybridge got tired of paddlers leaving their vehicles parked at the get on and so has withdrawn permission for paddlers to use the get in.


So back to the old days - other get ons might be found but please park with consideration for the locals.

[twopigs]

Canoe Wales have informed members that the Sennybridge launch point has reopened. Just don't leave vehicles there to upset the landowner. There is a car park in Sennybridge - and it is free (at the moment).