Canoe Wales - Canw Cymru

Access Officer: Andy Hall, Shropshire Centre, Arthog, Dolgellau LL39 1BX - 01341 250455

Map:	124 Dolgellau & Surrounding Area
Grade:	sections of II, IV and V
Length:	21 km
Access:	off A470(T)
Notes:	portages for most on upper section - one big weir needs caution in flood
Quality:	sections of and

Rising, as it does, in the high marshland of Waun y Griafolen (‘the moor of Rowan’) the Mawddach is a true river of gold. Not only is it still producing small amounts of the precious metal but it is real gold in canoeing terms. Cascading over large drops, and surging through rapids and waves, it is paddleable from source to sea with just a few portages for most mortals. More important is that there are sections that can be enjoyed by all.

To reach the upper Mawddach an OS sheet is useful. Otherwise, head up the small roads through Coed y Brenin forest, paralleling the Wen, and carry on until you reach Pont Abergeirw crossing the river GR769291. The river needs to be in a reasonable spate to be worth doing. A few years back, a friend and I made the mistake of launching when the river was too low - it made for a long day. We were eventually ‘rescued’ by the Forestry Commission - but that is another tale.

The first couple of kilometres of river are straightforward but very pleasant, before the first of several steep falls is reached. This vicious class V drop has a nasty left hand slot that I have seen a couple of good paddlers have religious times in! Most portage. Increasingly interesting rapids, over the next one and a half kilometres or so, lead to the next big drop. This is about six metres in height, solid class V and with a big hole at the bottom, but goes hard through the guts over the centre slab. Many choose to portage.

A little way down from this, and with the appearance of workings and about 50 metres below a stone bridge, is the awesome Rhaeadr Mawddach. In days gone by the power of this waterfall was exploited in the turning of a huge water wheel. To do this the water was directed, in part, down a mine shaft! This large double drop has been run several times! The original pioneers netted the entrance to the shaft as a precaution! Most of us portage easily down the right hand bank. As you do, look up the Afon Gain (also a great river) at Pistyll y Cain - it says something about the determination of paddlers that this has now, reputedly, had one or two descents !

Below the confluence, class III water leads to the first of two class V gorges which contain some fabulous drops. Before this gorge is a weir-like structure next to some houses on the right hand bank. This has a big stopper in high water but can be run on the left. However, it is formed by a stone footbridge which is sumped in the middle. It would be extremely dangerous to swim above this! This first gorge is known locally as "the three nasties", which gives some indication of its enclosed, and difficult to inspect, rapids. The second gorge, possibly a little easier, ends with a bang just above the confluence with the Eden. There is a new footbridge, visible from the water, immediately below the last drop before the confluence. Egress can be made onto the little road on the right GR729248, or down below Public Toilet Falls.

This section contains the famous Public Toilet Falls (PTF) or, as Terry Storry so succinctly stated, "the SHF". This is a good section in big flood, hard and testing, but nowhere (bar the wrong place in the big weir) desperate. When new to the grade, a run down PTF in big water will stick in mind for a long time.

Immediately below the Eden confluence is a large sloping weir that produces a nasty keeper in times of high flow. There is normally a good central shoot but, if unsure, then discretion is the better part of drowning … as they say. A little below is PTF, a good class IV that can be inspected by walking upstream from the public toilets car park in Ganllwyd. In good flood there is a big wave dead centre that provides an exciting shoot. When lower, a boulder is exposed with a left or right choice. Below this the mighty Gamlan rages in from the right, and a little while after is a short, bouncy rapid. Below is a bridge that provides egress, if required, into a suitable car park GR730234.

Below this, on a sharp bend is an excellent rapid extending over a few 100 metres or so. Scattered with boulders at the right levels, this is filled with excellent waves and holes. It is possible to egress close to the Wen confluence or, continue downstream for about two kilometres on fast flowing class II, to where an angled footpath allows a more sedate carry up to the small back road on the true left bank of the river. There are a couple of small pull-ins and the river is obviously close to the road GR729210.

To reach the put-in, turn off the A470 just south of the Mawddach bridge and head upstream past Cymmer Abbey. After about three kilometres you reach the get-in, as described above. You may wish to pick an outgoing tide for this journey but, even with the tide on the flood, it is a lovely journey. The river can, with the odd scrape, be descended even when low. There are a few rapids and a couple of gentle weirs,

before a large bouldery weir stretching diagonally from left to right across the river is reached. This has a safe shoot on the right. Cruising under the beautiful Llanelltyd bridge, the grip of the sea is felt and the water becomes tidal. With the sun setting the colours are just so typically Welsh over the ramparts of the majestic Cader Idris. The paddler can egress just before, or just after, the toll bridge at Penmaenpool, river left GR695185. In either case, The George is less than a stone’s throw away.

No access at the tidal limit. Access at Barmouth via public slips GR616154. At Spring tides the return trip from Barmouth to the tidal limit can be accomplished in one tide. Beware becoming stranded on the sands and launch where the deep channel passes close to the shore.