Canoe Wales - Canw Cymru

Map:	125 Bala & Lake Vyrnwy 126 Shrewsbury & Area
Grade:	II to II+ and III
Length:	22 km
Access:	Off the B4500 Chirk to Glynceiriog road
Notes:	Weirs, two of which are best portaged, in flood it is an altogether more nasty river
Quality:	upper section, lower section has irritating portages

A reasonable river - consistent at the grade and best paddled in medium levels. A few fences and a fallen tree required portaging at time of paddling.

During a thunderstorm, the drive up the B4500 towards and through Glyn Ceiriog is a sombre affair. One can almost picture ancient skirmishes between the Welsh and the English in the valleys below, and on the slopes above. The river is best done in a medium spate and, maybe, with luck the sun will be out, brightening up the valley. As the road passes through Pandy it rises away from the river to where, about a kilometre later, a small road goes off to the left and down to a bridge over the Ceiriog. There is a convenient yard for parking and access can be made down the short bank GR196352.

The rapids are pretty continuous class II to II+ and excellent value. Just before the village of Glyn Ceiriog is reached there is a weir. With care this can be shot through the salmon steps on the right in medium levels. This drop can easily be seen during the drive up the road. The rapids ease off as the river swaps sides now and again with the road alongside.

In between Castle Mill and Pont Eaen bridges is a boulder weir across the river. This is easily shot on the left by the ‘Beware Guard Dogs’ sign. Egress can be made river left downstream of Pont Eaen bridge onto the convenient footpath GR280371.

This part of the river is found on the OS sheet covering Shrewsbury and surrounding area, no. 126. In flood this hammers down under the huge viaduct and aqueduct, and the paddler is dwarfed as he passes underneath. The river here is ‘no man’s land’, the right bank being Shropshire, the left Clwyd. The next bridge, the B5070, used to be the A5 until the new by-pass was built. A few 100 metres below this is an unpleasant double-stepped weir. A horizon line and a weir hut on the right gives indication of its arrival. This is best portaged on the right. Just below is a fence, so make sure you put on below.

Below the huge following (A5) road bridge, on a left hand sweep, is a further weir where the river passes over a concrete ford. This is again unpleasant at high flows and, again, has a fence below. Portage left or right with a bit of effort. There is another fence at the end of the next field so care is needed - portage right. The beautiful little stone bridge leading to Brynkinalt is passed - a fine place this, for photos. Good rapids lead under Pont y Blew. Halfway between this and the next bridge is the best surfing wave on the river - marvellous fun. A couple more fences need to be negotiated before the get-out at Ddôl bridge on river right GR316392.