Afon Cothi

Access Officer: Vacant

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

Map:

146 Lampeter and Llandovery

Grade:

II to III

Length:

35 km

Access:

A482 Llanwrda to Lampeter road

Notes:

Trees are a problem. Abergorlech gorge used to have a large tree strainer but this wasted away in ’94 or thereabouts.

Quality:

An excellent touring river through pleasant surroundings with the odd surprise in store. Unusual in having no man-made weirs.

Brynteg to Tywi confluence

35 km grade II to III

Take the small right hand turn off the A482 (coming from Llanwrda) just before crossing the river at Pumsaint. Follow this to the bridge at Brynteg GR684433, where access may be had from the footpath on the right bank. The river needs to be fairly high to make the run worthwhile. A wire slung low and fallen trees needed some careful negotiating but they were fairly obvious. Apparently just before the storms of ‘97/’98 the channel was clear of trees. A short distance on and you may be surprised (especially so in flood) to see vehicles driving through the river. This is only the Landre fording point (the best thing about river fords is trying to ride the bow waves behind Landrovers - an old South Wales proverb!). In point of fact, fords are common on many Welsh rivers, but don’t try crossing them by vehicle when the water is up!

The Pumsaint bridge (A482) has barbed wire slung from it and needs caution in high water. Tributaries swell the river but make it no harder than the odd grade II as it flows towards Abergorlech. As the banks close in and significant afforestation occurs, the Abergorlech gorge is approached. This is similar in formation to the Sawdde gorge, in as much as the rounded rocks make access and egress slippery. It is wise to get out on the right hand footpath and inspect the next few 100 metres or so, if you are new to paddling. During my first run of the Cothi, I remember a tree choke that blocked the whole river requiring a difficult portage. This had gone in ’94, but could always be blocked again.

The river opens out for a while, but the banks close in again after the bridge at Ynysowen. There are some good playspots and swirls here. Egress is best river right by the B4310 road bridge just after the confluence with the Tywi GR493203.