Afon Cwm Nantcol

Nearby Rivers: Barmouth Area

Map:	124 Dolgellau and surrounding area
Grade:	V+
Length:	2 km - extended to 5 km
Access:	from Harlech A496
Notes:	a few portages
Quality:

A hard and dangerous run that will attract the brave of heart. It has, unfortunately been the scene of a fatality and is not to be undertaken lightly.

Pont Cerrig to Artro confluence

5 km grade V+

Purists can start the run at Pont Cerrig GR634262 if you wish to bash along a ditch (even by my standards) over the moors. However, there is a short section of class III and with one steep drop to contend with at the top (IV+) before the tufted grass and tree bashing begins. One footbridge is too low to get under and has to be portaged before the next stone bridge is reached. A little way below a class IV+ drop leads around an island best taken on the right. Easier water leads into the first of the Nantcol gorges. This is a narrow and formidable class V+ run with certain drops you may wish to portage (with difficulty). After this nasty and frightening experience easier class II water leads past a picnic site and into a small lake. The "outflow weir-type thing" needs portaging, below which starts the second gorge. In good water (the only time to run this) this is a continuous and hard class IV rapid running below a large water pipe and eventually under two stone bridges to join the Artro. Egress here (or further down the Artro) GR601272.