Afon Aman

Nearby Rivers: Tywi, Taf, Aman, Gwendraeth Fach and Gwendraeth Fawr

In a run-down mining valley flows the Aman. A strange river to my mind, but it is a popular run with local paddlers. The little stream of no name that flows into the Aman through Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen has a series of large class V falls that are exciting to run (see photos in S W Wales book).

Cwm Aman to Pantyffynnon

10 km grade III; weirs

Take the A474 Ammanford to Brynamman road where, about a kilometre before Gwaun Cae Gurwen, is a turn-off left leading to Cwm Aman. Access onto the river may be made downstream right of the bridge GR693134. The river is essentially grade II to III rapids, with stoppers and waves at higher levels, interspersed with broken weirs. One of the weirs, an angled affair found after about four kilometres, has a powerful stopper in flood.

It is as well to inspect the weirs in Ammanford, found by the bridge leading to the village of Betws, prior to paddling GR632120. Although these are easy in medium water, the one immediately under the bridge forms a terminal holding stopper in high water and under such conditions needs to be portaged. Ambrose Hearne tells a few horror stories about this one.

Egress at the sports ground in Pantyffynnon; found by turning left off the A483(T) leading towards Pont Abraham from Ammanford town centre GR624108.

This is a good access point for the Loughor river, thus avoiding the tree-choked upper section of river. The first weir just below the confluence becomes dangerous in flood.