Afon Colwyn

Nearby Rivers: Porthmadog Area

Map:	115 Snowdon and Surrounding Area
Grade:	IV - couple of sections of V
Length:	4 km
Access:	off A4058 Beddgelert to Caernarfon road
Notes:	some hard falls in a great spate river
Quality:

The Colwyn draws from the Western flanks of Snowdon and via Llyn y Gader, the Nantlle Ridge. It can rise incredibly quickly and, at certain water levels, becomes an incredibly dangerous class V run. However, at normal high levels when linked with the Glaslyn’s thundering gorge below, it makes for one of the best runs in the guide.

Hafod Ruffydd Isaf to Beddgelert

4 km class IV with some
class V drops

It is possible to launch on the Colwyn at the A4085 Pont Cae’r -gors bridge but this section has a couple of fences and branches that needed portaging. It is better to take the small metalled road about a kilometre north of the forest picnic site to the bridge at the confluence of the two streams at Hafod Ruffydd Isaf GR575499. The locals here are really friendly so please don’t drop the trousers in front of them! The river is fast and furious from the word ‘go’ with the first hard IV at the Forestry Commission bridge. Winding first right and then left the first steep drops occur a few 100 metres further on.

Anecdote: FREDDIE AND THE RAM

There is a nasty little drop which is easier in medium to high flows, as a left hand route at these levels avoids a hidden boulder. This is immediately followed by a double drop. This is class IV to V depending on level.

Further down there is a steepening of the walls, with a sharp drop into a diagonal stopper. This has unseated some very good boaters who have spent time in the green room below. As the outskirts of Beddgelert are reached there is a significant class V drop below a stone bridge. This is easily inspected on the drive up. In big water there is a large stopper to be negotiated just below the bridge arch. A few good rapids follow until things ease off at the confluence, where it is easy to get off on the right bank GR591480. Just above the last grade V is a gauge which should be above 4 at a minimum level for the trip.