Afon Aeron

Nearby Rivers: Newquay Area - Teifi, Aeron and Arth

The Aeron is a beautiful river, flowing through rich pastureland before steepening during its final journey towards Cardigan Bay. The upper section is fine for touring and beginners, whilst the bottom grade II to III sections have more play and white water potential.

Llangeitho to Ciliau Aeron

15 km class I; no portages

By taking the A482 Aberaeron to Lampeter road, and turning off in Temple Bar towards Llangeitho you cross the river on the B4342, in Llangeitho itself  GR618598. Access can be made from this little bridge or, indeed, any of the other bridges that cross the Aeron further down and have public footpaths leading from them.

Once on water, the paddling is a gentle grade I through an open and picturesque valley. The only real problems are occasional bushes to dodge or fences to sneak. Below Trefilan the river feels canalised and the canoeist is constantly on the guard for weirs - which, thankfully, never appear. Get out either on the left bank and onto the old dismantled railway at Ciliau Aeron, GR503592, or at the next bridge down via the right hand footpath GR500597.

Cilau Aeron to Aberaeron

9 km class II to III; four weirs in Aberaeron (portages)

Choose an access to the river from one of the above choices. In spate, this is a great run with little stoppers and weirs to play in as you travel on down to town. The eddies are well-defined so this is a great training run for those paddling at the grade. The section is really enjoyable, with the only real hazard being the possibility of a tree down.

Between the two bridges in town - in fact just upstream of the (lower) A487 bridge and just out of sight of the road - are four unpleasant weirs. Nasty even in low spate, they become potential killers in flood and I recommend a portage. Fortunately, this is very easy and only takes about one minute along the right-hand footpath. The angling club don't seem opposed to paddlers so I would urge all canoeists to keep off this river during the fishing season. In fact it was a local fisherman who told me the story of the Aeron raft race which ended in near disaster in one of these weirs - beware. Egress in the harbour by the convenient slipway on river left, just before the Aeron empties into the sea GR454629. If the sea is rough then this can be a wild finish! When the tide is on the flood take care not to get washed out to sea!