Afon Sawdde - Llwynfron to Three Horseshoes Pub
Re: Afon Sawdde - Llwynfron to Three Horseshoes Pub
Thought I'd comment since there's nothing here on what I think is a classic G3 section of river. Most trees mentioned in the guide are not there any more. Caution is needed because the narrow gorge does seem to hold them up. But currently there are no portages needed. Just be alert. Wire fence and pipe is still an issue and could be hairy in higher water levels. We paddled it at 0.69 on the Rainchasers Felin Y Cwm gauge, which according to that is a low level, although speaking to the guys I was running it with when we got there it was more like a medium (they all said it was the highest they had run it), running brown, with the first slot drop starting to wash out and becoming less of a sticky issue than at lower levels. So view that gauge with some scepticism. The best way to judge is to be there. If I had judged the level by the gauge rather than regular paddlers who knew the river I probably wouldn't have gone.
Overall a fantastic river and I wish I had run it long before now. The gorge is like a G3 version of the Coe gorge in Scotland, a beautiful place. You'd never know there was a road right above it! Those who are happy and confident on the Upper Wye (Llangurig to Rhayader) will be happy on the Sawdde at anything other than high levels.
Overall a fantastic river and I wish I had run it long before now. The gorge is like a G3 version of the Coe gorge in Scotland, a beautiful place. You'd never know there was a road right above it! Those who are happy and confident on the Upper Wye (Llangurig to Rhayader) will be happy on the Sawdde at anything other than high levels.