North

River Guides to North Wales

Playspot

Title
Stanley Embankment - Tidal playspot (Tidal playspot) - Anglesey's saltwater playspot.

Easy White Water / Touring River

Title
Afon Banwy - Llanefyl to Vyrnwy confluence (and part of the Vrynwy) - a gorgeous paddle.
Afon Dwyfach - Pont Wen to Plas Talhenbont - tree-strewn adventure on the Lleyn Peninsula.
Afon Glaslyn - Llyn Dinas to Beddgelert (Llyn Dinas to Beddgelert) - easy WW below Snowdon.
Afon Llugwy - Plas y Brenin to Pont Cyfyng (Plas y Brenin to Pont Cyfyng) - a popular beginners trip.
Afon Rheidol - Capel Bangor to Aberystwyth (Capel Bangor to Aberystwyth) - gentle cruise to the sea.
Afon Rhiw - Caravan site at GR 157023 to Berriew - exciting whitewater near Llandiloes.
Afon Tryweryn - Campsite to Bala (Campsite to Bala) - includes the tricky Bala Mill Falls.
Afon Wnion (Bontnewydd to A493 Bridge) - easier section than the classic Wnion gorge.
Montgomery Canal - Aberbechan to Welshpool - placid touring.
River Dee - Corwen to Horseshoe Falls (Corwen to Horseshoe Falls) - pleasant touring.
River Dee - Llangollen Town to Ty Mawr Country Park/ Newbridge (Llangollen to Ty Mawr Park/ Newbridge) - the site of the UK's first canoe slalom.
River Dee - Ty Mawr Country Park to Overton Bridge (Ty Mawr Country Park to Overton Bridge) - easier paddling.
River Severn - Newtown to Abermule (Newtown to Abermule) - including a high water playspot.

Intermediate / Advanced Whitewater

Title
Afon Aled - Llansannan to Elwy Confluence (Llansannan to Elwy confluence) - easy WW.
Afon Alwen - Betws Gwerfil to Dee confluence - continuous grade 2-3 near Corwen.
Afon Arddu - Llanberis Falls to Llanberis (Llanberis Falls to Llanberis) - short run near Llanberis.
Afon Arddu - Upper section to Railway Falls (Upper Section to Llanberis Falls) - Snowdon ditch.
Afon Artro - Cwm Bychan lake to Llanbedr - a grade 3 river near Harlech.
Afon Ceirw - GR 976455 to Grade 6 gorge (Upper section) - can be added to the lower section with a big portage.
Afon Ceirw - Grade 6 gorge to the Alwen confluence (Lower section) - a nice intermediate trip.
Afon Clywedog - Bryn y Tail Lead Mine to River Severn confluence - Dam release near Llanidloes.
Afon Conwy - Ysbyty Ifan to Rhydlanfair Bridge (Ysbyty Ifan to Rhydlanfair Bridge) - a great grade 3 trip.
Afon Cwm Llan - Main Falls to treeline (Main Falls to treeline) - spate ditch on Snowdon.
Afon Cynfal - Bont Newydd to Pont Tal y Bont - Tree-choked, but with potential.
Afon Cynfal - Lower section (Lower section, Pont Tal y bont) - Marmite type run.
Afon Dulas - Forge to Dolguog (Forge Dulas, near Machynlleth) - a river with everything!
Afon Dulas - Tylwch to Llanidloes (Tylwch to Llanidloes) - Severn tributary.
Afon Dwyfor - B4411 to Llamstumdwy - a larger volume Tryweryn on the Lleyn Peninsula.
Afon Dyfi - Bridge at GR 894177 to A470 Bridge - grade 3-5 run near Dinas Mawddwy.
Afon Eden - Pont y Grible to Mawddach Confluence - usually combined with the lower Mawddach.
AFON ELWY - Llanfair Talhaiarn to Bont-newydd
Afon Gain - SH 734312 Bridge to Mawddach Confluence - great spate grade 4-5 leading into the upper Mawddach.
Afon Gam - A458 to Banwy confluence - spate river near the Banwy.
Afon Glaslyn - Aberglaslyn Gorge (Aberglaslyn Gorge) - one of the best short sections of whitewater in the UK.
Afon Glaslyn - Cwm Dyli Power Station to Llyn Gwynant (Cwm Dyli Power Station to Llyn Gwynant - frantic spate stream at the head of the valley.
Afon Irwch (SJ120291 to Bridge at SJ 134267) - adventurous creek in the Berwyn Mountains.
Afon Lledr - Blaenau Dolwyddelan to Pont y Pant (Blaenau Dolwyddelan to Pont y Pant) - Mostly easy but with some big rapids.
Afon Llugwy - Miner's Bridge to Betws y Coed (Miner's Bridge to Betws y Coed) - short but worthwhile.
Afon Llugwy - Pont Cyfyng to Forestry Falls (Pont Cyfyng to Forestry Falls) - great grade 3 paddling in high water.
Afon Llugwy - Swallow Falls to Miner's Bridge (Swallow Falls to Miners bridge) - short run with a nasty portage!
Afon Llugwy - Upper section to Capel Curig (Upper section to Capel Curig) - a narrow spate trip.
Afon Llyfni - Nantlle to Pontllyfni - Grade 2-3 to the sea, south of Caernarfon.
Afon Mawddach - Eden confluence to GR 730234 (lower section from Eden confluence) - often run along with the Afon Eden.
Afon Mawddach - Pont Aber-Geirw to Eden Confluence (upper section to Eden confluence) - great trip through quiet forests.
Afon Nantygwryd - Pen y Gwyryd Hotel to Llynnau Mymbyr - There's only one line on this ditch...downhill!
Afon Ogwen - Ogwen Bank Falls to A55 Bridge (Ogwen Bank Falls to A55 Bridge) - a true classic Grade 4 trip.
Afon Prysor - Pont Dolydd Prysor to Trawsfynydd (Upper section) - spate paddling near Llyn Trawsfynydd.
Afon Tryweryn - Llyn Celyn to Campsite (Llyn Celyn Dam to Campsite)- a superb year-round facility for paddlers.
Afon Twrch - Banwy tributary, Bridge to GR 987133 to Foel (Banwy tributary) - Grade 3 but needs rain.
Afon Twrch - Talardd to Llanuwchllyn (Lake Bala) - small ditch with some good falls.
Afon Twymyn - Tafolwern to A470 bridge - Grade 3, big and bouncy when full.
River Dee - Horseshoe Falls to Llangollen Town Weir (Horseshoe Falls to Llangollen Town Weir) - a classic river, famous for the Mike Jones Rallies.
River Vyrnwy - Lake Vyrnwy Dam to Pont Llogel (Lake Vyrnwy Dam to Pont Llogel) - a dam-fed intermediate trip.
River Vyrnwy - Pont Llogel to Pont Robert (Pont Llogel to Pont Robert) - more of the same.
River Wnion - Bridge off A494 to Bont Newydd (Bridge off A494 to Bontnewydd) - grade 4 gorges near Dolgellau.

Very Dificult / Extream Whitewater

Title
Afon Ceirw (Gorge section) - Steep tight gorge.
Afon Clywedog - 'Torrent Walk' (Torrent Walk) - steep boney falls near Dolgellau.
Afon Colwyn - National Park campsite to Glaslyn confluence - a great addition to the Aberglaslyn Gorge.
Afon Conwy - Fairy Glen (Fairy Glen) - a classic gorge paddle.
Afon Conwy - Rhydlanfair Bridge to Penmachno Bridge (Rhydlanfair Bridge to Penmachno Bridge) - a short section with an interesting takeout.
Afon Croesor - 'Drops off the face of the Earth'.
Afon Cwm Llan - GR 620522 to GR 624517 - Steep carry-in and steep paddling on Snowdon.
Afon Einion - Artist's Valley to Furnace - Hairy waterfall run near Furnace.
Afon Gamlan - headbanging Mawddach tributary.
Afon Goedal amp; waterfalls.
Afon Lledr - Pont y Pant to Beaver Pool (Pont y Pant to Beaver Pool) - a moderate trip with plenty of harder sections.
Afon Lliw - West End of Bala Lake to Llanuwchilyn - West End of Bala Lake to Llanuwchilyn
Afon Nant Peris - Pont y Cromlech to Gwastadnant (Pont y Cromlech to Gwastadnant) - a steep run from Pen y Pass.
Afon Rheidol - Parson's Bridge to Allt Y Gigfran footbridge (Parson's Bridge to Allt Y Gigfran footbridge) - very committing, take your climbing gear!
Afon Rheidol - Ponterwyd to Parson's Bridge (Ponterwyd to Parson's Bridge) - paddling and portaging.
Afon Tryweryn - Above Llyn Celyn (Above Llyn Celyn) - rarely paddled spate section, hugely variable in difficulty.
Lower Prysor - Has to be one of the best steep creeks in the UK.

Photos 55

Photos of rivers of the North Walse

River Updates North Wales