Cwm Gwrelych

Nearby Rivers: Swansea Area - Tawe, Neath, Afan and Ogmore

An outrageous little run.

Rhigos slag heap to Glyn Neath

2.5 km grade V; various portages

Take the little road up from Pont Walby towards Rhigos then bear off right back towards Blaengwrach. Some way along, the road crosses over a small road bridge GR905053 with the stream passing steeply below through the guts of the slag heap. This is pure adventure at an extreme level for those into this type of run: don’t expect play-boating!

Inspect and protect as you go. There is one, narrow drop into a shallow pool that most will portage. As the mother tributary is reached, there is a 20-foot fall onto rock - portage.

Further down the main stream are three amphitheatre-shaped falls. A poor man’s Travo! The first is a bit shallow. The others are fine. Further still is another mandatory portage of 20 or so feet of water into trees. Finish the run with grade IV rapids and a run down the Pont Walby tunnel. Egress at the first road bridge over the Neath or continue down this river described elsewhere in the book GR885066.