Afon Lledr
Access Officer: Nick Moore, Tandderwen, Pont Cyfyng, Capel Curig LL24 0EA - 01690 720301
Nearby Rivers: Betws y Coed and Colwyn Bay
| Map: | 115 Snowdon and Surrounding Area |
| Grade: | various sections of class II, IV, V and VI! |
| Length: | 15 km |
| Access: | A470 |
| Notes: | several prudent portages. Beware debris in river bed at Pont y Coblyn |
| Quality: |
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Although brilliant in places the Lledr is not as popular a river as might be expected. This is probably due to the erratic nature of its grade, which varies between II and VI. Saying that, there are some mighty drops to run which are of superb quality. It is probably sensible to break the run down into two sections. Due to the hydrology of the river, the water can rise at an alarming rate during the paddle - a frightening experience.
Blaenau Dolwyddelan to Pont y Pant
9 km of IV to V interspersed with flat
By turning off the small road just west of the A470(T) bridge and travelling for about two kilometres past another bridge, access can be made near Blaenau Dolwyddelan GR699516. The beauty of this section is its two classic class V drops before easing off on the run down to the Roman bridge of Pont y Coblyn. Here is another classic and hard grade IV (or V in very high water) fall. However, at the time this book was going to print, the road was being totally changed with evidence of considerable debris going into the river … beware.
Class III rapids follow in an exciting little gorge but, after a short while the river opens out and meanders, via a couple of broken weirs, down through Dolwyddelan (a good bunkhouse here) to Pont y Pant GR756538.
Pont y Pant to Beaver Pool
6 km of class III to IV, with sections of V to VI
Most people will scrabble down the steep bank to put on above, or below, the last drop of the Pont y Pant Falls. Some will run the drops in low water, but the whole section at class V+ to VI has been run in enormous water by that man from the Towers - and the photos are an impressive sight!
The water eases off considerably until a double drop - visible on the drive up - is reached. This is an exciting class IV to IV+ run, the bottom stopper of which has thrashed a few good paddlers.
This heralds the approach of the class V Rhiw Goch gorge. At a low level - just enough to run the river - the first drop has a runnable tongue by the right wall. Any higher and an exceptionally dangerous stopper forms - I know of no one who has tried their luck with the 15 foot towback that occurs. However, in higher water still, a line over the rock shelf on the left allows clearance of the towback. The consequences of a ‘cock-up’ are immense and I only know a couple of paddlers who have suffered these.
This first drop (or the whole gorge) can be portaged scarily along the (Jacob’s) fisherman’s ladder or, more soundly, along the right hand bank. Below this first drop, the gorge is a fantastic class V with big stoppers to negotiate.
The river eases off before a small bridge and then class III to IV rapids lead towards the railway viaduct falls. Paddled at a hard grade when the river is very low, this is a definite portage at decent levels (right or left). The final two kilometres of water is excellent value with many great play waves, but there is a sting in the tail. It is well worth scouting the double drop below the little stone bridge, found just above the Conwy confluence. At big levels the first narrow squeeze is a definite and dangerous class V, though this drops a grade when the river is lower. There have been some frightening swims in here, and it is quite common for multiple back loops to occur. As you finish into the Conwy, your helmet twisted by the power of the last stopper, you might just have the energy left for a run down to Beaver Pool GR798547.