GUIDE TO THE AFON DYFI
(Bridge at GR 894177 to A470 Bridge)
NAME OF RIVER: Dyfi.
WHERE IS IT?: Mid Wales. Dinas Mawddwy. OS Landranger Sheet 125.
PUT-INS/ TAKEOUTS: Put in - Road Bridge GR 894177, Take out - Road Bridge on A470.
APPROX LENGTH: 9 Km.
TIME NEEDED: 4 Hours.
ACCESS HASSLES: Unknown.
WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: If the large rock on river left downstream of the put in is covered the hardest drop will be at grade 5. Sufficient water to float at the get in would make the run viable.
GRADING: 3 (4/5)
MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Update from Andy: Looked at the Dyfi this weekend (26-1-03) and there is a major tree strainer in the grade 4 rapid that would need portaging at all levels.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This river provides the perfect warm up before the harder section. It flows through several small gorges with several rapids/drops that reach grade 3. At the time of writing there were 2 river wide tree strainers in this section, both of which could be paddled over at high levels but could be portages at lower levels. Shortly after the next road bridge the first of the harder drops (grade 4) appears around a right hand bend, break out river left above to inspect. Safety cover is possible and may be needed for those who have an affinity for unwanted splats. After this a tributary enters from the right and a small rapid leads into the break outs (river right) above the next major drop (grade 4+/5 depending on level). Below this there is a large eddy on river right (where the town folk dump their unwanted fridges etc.) anybody portaging the grade 5 can put back on here. The last little gorge (grade 3) is clean before the river opens up for the last kilometre of easy water down to the road bridge. Take out immediately above the first road bridge on river left, walk over the road and stuff your face with tea and cakes from the excellent Station Cafe, which has very considerately got tables and a toilet block outside (I recommend the Date and Walnut cake). There is also plenty of parking here.
OTHER NOTES: There is another possible 5 Km of river upstream of where we put in but it looked mostly flat.
CONTRIBUTED BY: Andy Wilson.