Afon Clywedog

Nearby Rivers: Lake Bala to Llangollen   Llangollen to Chester

The Wrexham Clywedog has the dubious distinction of being about the filthiest river I have paddled in Wales. Oddly enough, it starts off in the Country Park running over lovely shingle and pebbly reefs, before being used as a municipal rubbish dump by some local people. Sad that the local children have to fish in such surroundings as, if cleaned, this would be a pretty little stream by which to grow up.

Country Park bridge to Pickhall Hall footpath bridge

9 km grade II

Go there if you dare, but I can’t recommend this to anyone other than salvage workers. The little Country Park found just south of Wrexham can be reached either off the A525 or B5426 at GR336484. Access can be made below an attractive little bridge, built in 1845. The river should be up enough for the boat to clear any obstructions in the first 100 metres or so but, under no account, should it be in flood!

The river starts off pleasantly enough before rapidly going downhill (not in gradient). A first bridge is passed on which the local youth have left record of who has ‘scored’ with whom over the years. A chap called ‘Daz’ appeared to be doing particularly well. Some huge pipes and an old bridge are passed. A sewage works appears on the right bank - there is no mistaking this! After this, the river meanders through the Wrexham Industrial Estate, during which a tiny weir is found. There are numerous tree chokes which increase in number en-route down. Many can be breached using siege tactics, but some are just plain awkward portages up the muddy banks. If you want an old fridge, lawn mower or motor cycle helmet, then you are likely to find it here!

Before the B5130 is another tiny weir. Egress here. or be a sucker like me and continue down to the next footbridge. where the footpath off right leads to a small back road GR398476.