This guide is based on:
THE WELSH RIVERS
The Complete Guide to Canoeing and Kayaking the Rivers of Wales
Published by Chris Sladden Books
AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION
Canoeing and kayaking are increasingly popular sports, with tens of thousands of people trying their hand throughout the year. Adventure, challenge, days out with the family, exercise, nature-watching or simply messing about on the river are just a few of the reasons for participation.
Each of the reasons given above has contributed to the inception of this guidebook, over the past 17 years or so of my paddling in Wales. I clearly remember my first tentative strokes on the Menai Straits, and my words when I capsized and lost my glasses! From here, it was down the Llugwy and Dee and then ticking off rivers in Hargreaves and Storry’s excellent first guide to North Wales. I still have my battered but precious copy. From these beginnings, I began to explore lesser-known streams during the exciting times of the early ‘80s, when many classic streams and falls were opened up. Unlike climbers, canoeists never really kept a proper record of first descents, though there are many of us who probably like to think we got some in. Who knows, really?
With ever changing water levels, the river is dynamic and always fresh. During a frantic period most rivers, streams and trickles were paddled. As someone once said, "if you spill your beer, someone will come along and paddle it"! By the early ‘90s, most stretches had been paddled and, by now, I would hazard a guess that nearly all the Welsh rivers have been paddled. This book details the rivers of Wales in their entirety (or as near as I can make it); with all of the information, unless stated otherwise, based entirely on personal experience.
Of course, claiming to have paddled all the Welsh rivers (in the region of 200 and over 2,500 kilometres of paddling) will cause a few raised eyebrows. I suspect it is nigh on impossible to paddle all stretches of moving water in a country - after all, a "once a year flood", makes even the unlikeliest of ditches a possibility. The dictionary definition of river is "a copious natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea or a lake etc.". Perhaps some of the smaller novelties in the book are stretching the definition rather a long way. If I have missed out anybody’s favourite, or simply forgotten to do it then, perhaps, you could write and let me know for the next edition. Anyway, there are an awful lot of rivers in this book - enough for a lifetime or, at least, 17 years of Welsh paddling. "So, what now?" I have been asked. Well, I haven’t paddled the Ogwen for a little while, so maybe I’ll head back in that direction the next time it rains.
It is over eight years since White Water Runs and Touring Rivers of South Wales was published. This has long since sold out and was followed by a comparable guide to South West Wales. The books, paddling and adventure have kept me relatively sane whilst training and then working in earnest as a doctor. The first two books were received in good spirit, at least by most. The support I have had for this new, and far larger, project has been tremendous. From the proofreaders, to people sending in photos and anecdotes, to the generous paddlers who bought a copy prior to publication, and for the general good wishes, a big thanks - it has all kept me going.
Of course, with writing any sort of guidebook promoting the use of the countryside there is the impact on the environment to consider. Not everyone approves the raison d’être of ‘the guidebook’.
I have heard the argument of ‘keeping local rivers for local paddlers’. I find it hard to agree with this way of thinking. Firstly, people will come and paddle without a guidebook regardless, if they so wish - after all, that’s what I have done. The enjoyment of Welsh rivers should be open for everyone, not just a few. Not everyone will choose to buy a guidebook - it’s a free world, and paddlers are not forced to use them. To take the parochial argument a step further would suggest, firstly, that objectors to ‘outsiders’ would never become outsiders themselves, and thus never venture to paddle on someone else’s patch - and certainly would not, themselves, risk being caught using a guidebook!
Furthermore, I would hazard a guess that having the option to paddle one of 200 rivers may well take the pressure off some of the classics! In addition, there is no doubt that many canoeists appreciate some gentle direction and advice from a written source. Work is hard, weekends scarce (especially with good paddling conditions), and being able to use extra information to plan the best use of hard-earned time off is a good thing for many.
For each difficult encounter on a river, I guess I experience 20 or so friendly and positive ones. Most people I meet enjoy watching others doing their thing, especially so when they are polite, change discreetly, don’t trample over gardens, and shut gates. Small groups on rivers greatly helps and considerate parking also plays its part. The countryside is there for everyone to respect and enjoy! I have tried to encourage this.
So, as I have put the finishing touches to the book, I couldn’t help but to cast my mind back over the years. There was, I recall, the occasion of sitting my first finals examination in Bangor, when I saw this red-haired pate bobbing about outside the window. Smiling to myself, I managed to concentrate and finish the paper. I had guessed right: when I got outside, the boats were already loaded, my gear in the car, and I was cajoled into running the Ogwen which had come up on a summer storm. That first wave, relaxing me from the examination nerves, will stick in mind for years to come - a brilliant run.
Another memorable event was when I had my boat pinched by a difficult water bailiff (known to have refused help to a school hill walking party with a hypothermic child), only to be taken in, fed and looked-after by a gentle Welsh hill-farmer, who proceeded to retrieve my boat for me.
Whilst sitting on the banks of the Haffes after a long walk around the Horns of Mynydd Ddu with the water a mere trickle, just enough to soak my aching feet in, I pondered about life and then paddling. In 100 years’ time, I wondered whether folk, after a long week’s work, would still look to the skies over Wales for inspiration. And, if the skies opened, and the water came forth, would the paddlers appear from out of the woodwork of the drought? Would they strap the boats on the roofs of whatever vehicles are around then and head for the hills? The Haffes would have been "done", along with all the rest, a long time before but the computer or personal robot would, perhaps, still say it is a wonderful blast. But a guide - even in 100 years’ time, can’t paddle the Haffes for you. That’s where all the excitement is - in the doing - I mean. That, surely, must still be there. I simply smiled. So, as I get old, just one run down the mighty Ogwen or Tawe and I’d die a happy man. Even then, if I were too stiff, just one more chance to watch the Glaslyn in full flood and I’d be content, carried away once again by my love of the Welsh rivers.