GUIDE TO THE AFON TAFF AND AFON ELY

(Ely Bridge to Millenium Stadium Bridge via Cardiff Bay)

NAME OF RIVER: Taff and Ely.

WHERE IS IT?: All within Cardiff City.

PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Put in from Cowbridge road west by the Bottled Gas Depot, ST147768.

Take out Castle Street Bridge, ST177765 .

APPROX LENGTH: 14 km each way.

TIME NEEDED: 5 hrs return trip.

ACCESS HASSLES: No agreement but no trouble either.

WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: Generally good at all water levels as the barrage controls levels. Do not run in high flows, as these rivers collect huge amounts of debris.

GRADING: 1.

MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Very strong winds in the bay section may cause problems in Canadians, being run down by gin palaces or the bay river bus!

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Run past the site of the old Wiggins Teape paper plant, the weir here was removed in 2000. Follow the Ely down for about 7 km of easy canal like river. Plenty of wildlife on this urban fringe river. Enter Cardiff bay past the yachts and oxygen bubble machines. Play around in the bay but be aware of being run down by Gin Palaces.

Turn North and head up the River Taff. Be careful under the railway bridge (tunnel), it can get a bit rough in there. You then pop out under the Millenium stadium and can carry on up river to Blackweir at ST170780 or takeout out at Castle street bridge.

OTHER NOTES: Good quality Campsite at Pontcanna.

Also see, the guide to the Taff from Pontypridd.

CONTRIBUTED BY: Paul Kent.