Cymdeithas Ganwa Cymru - Welsh Canoeing Association
River Tawe
Source to Pontardawe
River Twrch
Source to Tawe Confluence
Access Agreement Notes - 18th October 28th February
Source & Upper Reaches Glyntawe: 6km approx
Glyntawe Abercraf: 7 Km approx (can be shortened)
Abercraf - Pontardawe: 14Km approx
Dorwen - Ystrad Owen: 5km approx
Ystrad Owen - Tawe Confluence: 4.5 km approx
Information Contacts
Local Access Officer:
Mark Frohwein
Phone 01792 865 395
14 Brondeg Lane, Allt wen, Pontardawe, Swansea SA8 3AE
Regional Access Officer:
Janice Hearne
Phone 01269 597769
National Access Development Officer:
Ashley Charlwood
c/o Canolfan Tryweryn, Frongoch, Bala LL2 3 7NU
Tel. 01341 422692 Mobile 07817 761125 Email:
Cwmbychan@aol.com
This information is provided solely for the use of the members
of the Welsh Canoeing Association and its affiliates. Whilst every effort has
been made to ensure that the information is correct, no responsibility can be
accepted for errors or omissions herein contained. References to the grade of
the river refer to the internationally recognised numerical grading system and
are provided as an indication of the technical difficulties and water conditions
likely to be found at normal levels. In high water conditions the grade should
be revised upwards and a continuous assessment made. It is the responsibility of
the organiser or the leader to ensure that the group is suitably equipped and
prepared for the conditions likely to be encountered. Canoeists are reminded
that the water level in this catchment can rise quickly in response to prolonged
or heavy rainfall in any part of the catchment. Trees and other obstructions may
be present at any time and due care should be taken at all times.
The WCA acts on behalf of the members of the national canoeing
associations. Non-members should seek permission on their own behalf from the
appropriate owners. It should be stressed that permissive access agreements
negotiated on behalf of WCA members do not include permission for non-members
unless such non-members are part of a group organised by an affiliated
organisation or club.
Access to the sections of the Rivers Tawe and Twrch covered by
this agreement is granted and provided by the kind permission of Tawe and
Tributaries Angling Association, who are the riparian owners and fishing
interests to the sections detailed. Access through the Craig y Nos Country Park
is granted by the kind permission of the Brecon Beacons National Park
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Access has been agreed for passage and play on the sections
detailed under the terms of the agreement.
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Access to the water should be made at the points listed, or
from a public footpath or public access route that links the river to the
highway.
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Do not egress or access from private property or cross private
property without prior permission form the relevant owners.
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When bank scouting or portaging, canoeists must stay within
the 6-foot access strip either side of the river belonging to the Angling
Association, unless a public right of way dictates otherwise.
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Canoeists are advised to seek permission from private
landholders before crossing private property to get to or from the water.
Canoeing on the Rivers Tawe & Twrch is a serious undertaking and
in flood the rivers become a very serious undertaking indeed. It is the
responsibility of leaders and organisers to be properly prepared to deal with
conditions it presents at the time of paddling.
It is in your interest to park your car in a sensible and safe
place where it is not obstructing traffic. Use a public car parks or useable
lay-bys. Ask permission to park in pub car parks and on private property. Keep
valuables out of sight. Car parking is available at Craig y Nos Country Park.
Rivers Tawe & Twrch
Terms of Agreement
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Agreement for WCA (BCU, SCA, CANI) Members& Affiliated Clubs,
Centres and Coach led groups.
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Closed Fishing Season Agreement 18th October 28th February.
No paddling outside these times please.
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Individual canoeists must be covered by insurance, either
individually or as a member of an insured group, against legal liability to
third parties for damage, death or injury.
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Canoeists must not embark unless wearing the appropriate
safety gear.
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Individual canoeists will be responsible for any damage caused
by them to the property of the river areas, or the owners of adjoining land.
The WCA is unable to take on this responsibility on their behalf.
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Refuse must not be deposited in the river or on the bank of
the river. When possible, canoeists may remove such material.
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The WCA undertake to take appropriate disciplinary action
against any member who is proved to have broken the terms of this agreement.
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WCA members operating under this agreement recognise that they
do so at their own risk.
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Canoeists must not access or egress the water at the field
immediately down stream of the first road bridge in Abercraf, nor use this
field as an inspection or portage route. The location of this restricted area
being known as the field immediately right of the river bridge, Station Rd
Abercraf GR826127
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Canoeists must not access or egress the river from private
property, and shall not cross such land without first obtaining permission
from the relevant owners.
River Tawe
The Agreement covers the River Tawe from Source to Pontardawe.
There is no access agreement between Pontardawe and Swansea as the river is
under the control of a separate angling association who will not grant access.
Please egress at Pontardawe as paddling past here will jeopardise the Agreement.
The Agreement is for the closed fishing season only: October
18th February 28th.
Access is not available outside these dates.
OS Maps
Landranger 160 Brecon Beacons. Upper and Majority of
river.
Landranger 170 Vale of Glamorgan and Rhondda area.
Section nearing Pontardawe.
River Outline
These descriptions are a simple guide and as such do not
detail each and every rapid or hazard that you may encounter. The advice is
simple: Inspect as you go, protect when appropriate and portage when you feel it
is necessary.
Source & Upper Reaches Glyntawe: 6km approx
To get to this stretch take the mountain road that sprouts
northwards off the A4067 to Trecastle. It needs a reasonable flow.
Access
Most will start this section at stone circle between GR852213 &
GR853204 as the river runs directly in line with the mountain road. Can be
paddled from the source GR818213 is best left to those who like walking in.
Grade
In higher water it has the potential to reach Grade 6. A
reasonable amount of water will make this section Grade 4 5. Many portages.
Brief Notes
The section is riddled with narrow drops. Trees are a major and
persistent problem that will require inspection and portaging.
Small slot weir soon after entering the Gorge,
Soon followed by a 15-foot drop that has a tree blocking it up.
Inspect and portage. This can be inspected with care before your run if you
scramble down to the river from the where a cattle-grid and gate cross the road
at the start of the moor land road.
A few further small drops and tight corners lead on to a large
diagonal fall.
Footbridge signals a set of hard slides and drops, the final one
having an overhead water pipe and difficult series of rocks to miss.
More Grade 4 falls and trees lead to a Grade 3 4 sections at
the end of the gorge.
Nant Tywynni confluence.
Egress at bridge at Glyntawe footpath river right, or at pub
with prior permission. It is only a short drive / paddle to the safe parking in
Craig y Nos Country Park.
Glyntawe Abercraf: 7 Km approx (can be shortened)
A hard and demanding section, which becomes more so in high
water. Parking is available at the pay and display car park at Craig Y Nos
Country Park. If you do park here please change discreetly and make a note of
what time the park shuts as you may have difficulty in getting out of the car
park if you are late returning. You can access the water from the car park if
you prefer.
Access
Access at bridge at Glyntawe footpath river right: GR846167, or
from Craig Y Nos Country Park.
Egress
Possible at Bridge GR845145 sign posted to Rhongyr Isaf &
Penwyllt.
Possible at GR845137: Pen y Cae Bridge. Care to be taken when
changing and parking as you are in the middle of the village.
Finish section egress at 827128.
Grade
3 /4 until Penwyllt Bridge. Rising to 4 to 5 thereafter and 5 in
high water. Various weirs and falls that become dangerous in high water and will
require inspection and portage. (Some falls are undercut!!!!)
Brief Notes
Grade 3 through the park. Trees!
Picks up to Grade 4 5 after the Penwyllt Bridge.
Significant slabs & falls soon after Pen y Cae Bridge weir-like
in nature with large stoppers.
Shortly followed by large vertical fall (undercut). Clearly
marked on the OS Map 160.
Gorge Section 4 5.
Easing off to egress at footpath river left above bridge.
GR826126
Do not access or egress river at field (GR826127) at river right
below 1st bridge Station Road.
Abercraf - Pontardawe: 14Km approx
River remaining a good paddle with lots of rapids and several
weirs to beware of. The grade can become very challenging in high water.
Access
Bridge and footpath. GR 827128.
Egress
Twrch Confluence. GR770084
Playing Fields river right Pontardawe or at Pontardawe Inn
Bridge GR GR724038 OS 170. Permission is needed to park in the Pontardawe Inn
Car park.
Grade
Mostly a stiff Grade 3 easing off after the Twrch Confluence.
Various weirs need inspecting and Portaging, some bridges along the way can
become jammed with trees. In high water the weirs become very dangerous and the
grade can go up to as much as 5.
Brief Notes
Do not access or egress river at field (GR826127) at river right
below 1st bridge Station Road.
Abercraf weir shortly after the get in. Inspect before you get
on. Clearly marked on OS between the 2 road bridges. Lethal in flood. Portage
well above.
Gorge Section soon after weir.
Giedd confluence river right.
Double weir after small road bridge Nasty in High Water.
Further broken weir steps.
Possible Egress GR770084 on river right.
Next section can be serious in high water!
Bridge across river soon followed by large sloping weir soon
after Twrch Confluence. Inspect right bank well in advance. Can be inspected
before your trip from the bank, pull off road into small (Private? lay-by)
immediately next to sign for Gode r Graig
Several raids lead down to Pontardawe.
WEIR AT GR 732047
PARKING Small area at River right opposite Swansea Valley Tyre &
Exhaust Centre.
Egress at the playing fields in Pontardawe or at bridge next to
Pontardawe Inn. Egress at or before GR724038 OS 170.
Access Agreement ends at Pontardawe. Do not progress further so
as not to jeopardise the agreement.
River Twrch
The agreement for passage with the Tawe and
Tributaries Angling Association runs from the Source to Tawe Confluence at
Ystalyfera.
The terms of the agreement are as listed above.
Reaching the source can be physically problematical.
The Agreement is for the closed fishing season only: October
18th February 28th /Access is not available outside these dates.
OS Maps
Landranger 160 Brecon Beacons.
River Outline
This description is a simple guide and as such
does not detail each and every rapid or hazard that you may encounter. The
advice is simple: Inspect as you go, protect when appropriate and portage when
you feel it is necessary.
Dorwen - Ystrad Owen: 5km approx
Private Opencast mining is still taking place on the section
above Ystrad Owen. The Angling Association is happy for canoeists to use the
river, however no permission has been given by the Mining Operators to gain
access to the water. Paddlers are advised to make their own arrangements and
obtain permission from the landowners before gaining access to the water. At the
time of writing the public rights of way leading to the source of the river were
suspended and signs at entrances to the Mining operation stated that blasting
was still taking place.
Paddlers Seeking full descriptions of this section are listed in
several commercially available river guides.
Ystrad Owen - Tawe Confluence: 4.5 km approx
Grade
3 to 4, harder in spate.
Access
Follow the A4068 to Ystrad Owen. A left turn sign posted as a
dead end leads past a small housing estate to a road bridge Crosses the river at
GR755125. Park sensibly, preferably in a public place.
Brief Notes
This section can be a bouncy grade 3 4. There are many weirs on
this run and tress and man-made hazards such as shopping trolleys can be a
problem.
There are a series of broken weirs that will need inspection and
care.
Nant Gwys comes in at GR 757114 Larger broken weirs require
caution.
2 weirs in Cwm Twrch Uchaf can be dangerous in higher flows.
Inspect and portage if necessary.
Several rapids later lead on to weir at Cwm Twch Isaf bridge.
Inspect.
A4067 Road Bridge has diagonal step above it.
Shortly followed by:
Capital Falls GR 772093 below Aqueduct. This is a large weir in
Ystalyfera, which has a large drop into a plunge pool that is usually cluttered
with debris in the form of trees, shopping trolleys and even repair debris.
Inspect and look at portage route before you get on the water by driving through
Ystalyfera.
Egress GR 773093 above weir or continue to the Tawe Confluence.
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