Canoe Wales - Canw Cymru

Map:	116 Denbigh & Colwyn Bay Area 125 Bala & Lake Vyrnwy
Grade:	III
Length:	14 km
Access:	B5015 Cerrigydrudion to Ruthin road
Notes:	Wires and weirs - one of which is very dangerous
Quality:

The Alwen is not a marvellous river by any stretch of the imagination, but it certainly has a few good rapids along its length. There were various fences en-route, all of which could be sneaked when paddled in ‘97. The big weir below the Ceirw confluence is potentially lethal!

Turn off the A5 in Cerrigydrudion and head eastwards on the B5105 towards Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr. Access can be made on to the river from the little road upstream of the bridge, GR992493. The river flows out of Llyn Brenig and the flow is often restricted. When the other rivers are in spate there tends to be a limited release which is topped up by various side streams entering the river. Shoot the first weir, (which, in big spate, might be quite nasty) and navigate your way around the following Island. Apart from a few fences that were easily passable, the river is easy until a little way above the first proper road bridge (Hendre). Just above here is a splendid mini gorge, graded III

Between here and the next road bridge at Bettws Gwerfil Goch is a steep weir, which was runnable middle to right over its large constructing blocks. A little way below the bridge itself was a difficult-to-sneak fence. From here on down, the rapids get a bit better, just about touching Grade III.

The Ceirw enters from the right, significantly increasing the volume downstream. In flood it is like a steam train, leading the paddler through some bouncy grade III rapids and a broken weir. The water eases off, down to where a footbridge crosses the river at Pen-y-Bont. With any kind of water level above low, the weir that is immediately below becomes exceptionally dangerous. Don't be deceived by the first bouncy ramp that puts paddlers into a stilling pool. This sanctuary could better be described as a prison as, once captured, the canoeist is forced to run the following step. This carries an exceptionally dangerous stopper which looks like a "drowner". I paddled this river with a couple of young hotshots, who ran the weir without inspection! They signalled me down their line - a hard boof on the left. I got a tremendous shock when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the horrendous stopper beckoning. The moral of this tale is: don’t always trust hotshots - I would never contemplate doing this weir again.

I strongly recommend an easy portage along the road on the left. It is also easy to finish the trip here, GR043437. Otherwise, continue down to the main A5 road bridge, shoot the broken weir and pull out below on the right bank GR051435.