Lower Clydach River

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

Starting in the wilds of the Lliw district, the lower Clydach is an excellent run at an easy grade. There is a harder fall in Clydach town for the brave.

Penlanau to Tawe confluence

10 km grade II to III

Using a map is the best way to find the starting point for the lower Clydach River. Failing that, turn off into Clydach town from the A4067 and head upstream, keeping the river on your right. When you hit a T junction turn towards Rhyd y Fro, and you will cross the stream at Penlanau GR676089. Access can be made here. There should be enough water to float down without hitting rocks.

Near the tract to Nant Moel a footbridge spans the river and a super mini-gorge is reached. For those new to the sport, you will want to take pictures here. In the following wooded section, one fence and two trees required portaging at time of writing.

The small road bridge, just north of Glyn Loch, has a small, boxed-in weir underneath it. So long as one of the locals hasn’t dumped a car into midstream, run this straight down the middle.

As you near Clydach, the next proper road bridge has a pipe below that needs portaging if the river is very high. Otherwise, it is easy to squeeze under.

Just above the Tawe is an obvious horizon line and an excellent IV to V fall below. As one floats under the curtain of water (which, somehow, managed to suck Ambrose from his boat) falling from the canal above, the Tawe proper is entered and egress can be made GR689012.