GUIDE TO THE AFON DWYFOR
(B4411 to Llamstumdwy)
NAME OF RIVER: Afon Dwyfor (means two seas as in dwy(two) for(sea)).
WHERE IS IT: Near Criccieth, Lleyn Peninsula, N Wales. Map.
PUT INS/TAKE OUTS: Put in at road bridge on the B4411, near Tyddyn Cethin.
Take out at the main bridge in Llamstumdwy or where the river crosses the A497.
APPROX LENGTH: 3 km.
TIME NEEDED: 2 hours.
ACCESS HASSLES: We met some fishermen who were chatty and friendly, some who told us we were breaking the law and one who told us to "f**k off". Nice.
Parking is limited at the top and the bottom, one car at the most. There are also lots and lots of "No Access" and "Private Land" signs.
Sam received this, August 2005...'PLEASE AMEND YOUR PUT IN POINT FOR THE RIVER DWYFOR AS THE LAND HERE IS PRIVATE AND NO ACCESS IS AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS. PEOPLE USING THIS POINT AS ACCESS TO THE RIVER WILL BE PROSECUTED UNDER THE FULL LETTER OF THE LAW AND ANY VEHICLES INVOLVED WILL BE BLOCKED IN SO AS TO PREVENT REMOVAL. IN ORDER TO PREVENT ANY UNPLEASANT CONFRONTATIONS PLEASE AMEND YOUR INSTRUCTIONS. KIND REGARDS MARK (THE OWNER OF SAID ACCESS POINT TO THE RIVER DWYFOR)'
...seems like a perfectly reasonable chap. What's wrong with these people?
WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: The river needs to look like grade 2-3 in Llanstumdwy.
GRADING: III+ continuous.
MAJOR HAZARDS: No fallen trees as of September 2004 but the banks are heavily lined and there is plenty of potential for them.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The river is fast from the start and quickly becomes continuous II+/III. There is nothing nasty but there are plenty of stoppers to avoid and waves to surf. The grade quickly becomes a continuous III as the river heads downhill at a fantastic gradient. The overhanging trees and sharp bends caution vigilance and occasional scouting.
Shortly, about 200m after passing under a small footbridge, the biggest drop on the river is reached, run on the river left, which might just about touch grade IV. A tree almost blocks the river 75m below this but can be sneaked on the right.
As the trees open up, a footpath appears on the left and the nicest section of the river appears. A series of five or six broken weirs, all with eddies just downstream, lead down to the road bridge in Llanstumdwy. Egress is possible here or paddle through either arch and down to the A497 road bridge where egress is possible river right.
Below this the river loses its gradient and the fishermen are out in force so continuing is not recommended.
OTHER NOTES: This is the next river along from the easier Dwyfach. Chris Sladden describes this as being like a bigger volume Tryweryn and he's right. Only there are fewer
rafts and no water fee.
CONTRIBUTED BY: Sam Moore (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
