Western Cleddau

Nearby Paddling: The Bitches, Nyfer, Gwaun, Eastern and Western Cleddau and Pembroke River

A great touring river through beautiful countryside.

Welsh Hook to Haverfordwest

19 km grade II; probable weir portage at egress

Turn off into Wolfs Castle from the A40(T) Haverfordwest to Fishguard road and make the short journey off left up to Welsh Hook. Crossing the river towards Hayscastle Cross the first right allows access to the river by a tiny side stream GR933277.

From here down to Treffgarne the river is exceptionally beautiful. You should pick a day or so after rain when there is an obvious good flow but the water is clear and the sun is out. In flood the trees become dangerous.

Below the second major road bridge the river widens out and meanders down towards Haverfordwest. There is one small weir at Withybush that is generally easy to shoot. As the town is entered, various bridges are passed under and a large weir is reached. This is obvious from the river due to, firstly, its classic horizon line and, secondly, the large sign saying ‘weir’. I always egress left into the convenient car park above the weir GR956156 and, therefore, have not shot it. People do shoot it, but in flood it becomes very dangerous and since the printing of the first book there have been a few epics in here - beware! When I was working in Haverfordwest hospital I couldn’t resist checking out the attractively named Merlin’s Brook but, sadly, it is pretty well uncanoeable - this enters a little way below the weir.

The Tidal Cleddau (Western)

Tidal distance 9.5 km.

Treffgarne Bridge GR959230 - Picton Point GR003117.

The river combines with others to form the Daugleddau Estuary below Picton Point. Access is available at Haverfordwest, but not at the tidal limit. The slip at Landshipping Quay can be used by canoes.