Afon Elwy

Nearby Rivers: Betws y Coed and Colwyn Bay

Somewhere above Llanfair Talhaiarn, the Cledwen becomes the Elwy. It is a surprisingly good river which runs from a few days to about a week after heavy, prolonged rain.

Llanfair Talhaiarn to Bont Newydd

14 km grade III; one portage

Access at Llanfair Talhaiarn from the A548 GR927703. A little way below the main road bridge is a large but easily shootable weir, which can be run left or right, so missing the salmon steps in the centre. Best left for the salmon these, as they are never pleasant to try and descend!

A couple of further weirs follow that are safe enough to shoot, both of which have brilliant surfing waves below. It is very easy to spend a couple of hours at these two play-spots! Further down, bouncy but easy rapids are found. The Aled roars in from the right doubling the volume, and the new power is easily felt as you cruise on by.

From here down to the get-out, the Elwy digs deeply through some beautiful gorge sections, with good grade III rapids to run and play. The gorge itself is really quite unique to the Elwy and the section is excellent at the grade. Two places particularly spring to mind though, where caution is required: the first is at Pont y Ddol (the third ‘proper’ road bridge after the Aled). Immediately under the bridge is a steep weir step with a powerful stopper. It is wise to inspect this and, although it can be punched at normal flows, if in any doubt make a portage. The second is an altogether more vicious, triple-stepped weir found between here and the egress. To the trained eye it is obvious from the river, and looks particularly unpleasant. I recommend a portage on the left. Egress at Bont-newydd by the footpath upstream right of the bridge GR013708.

Alternatively, continue to St Asaph but I haven’t managed to get around to this yet!