Afon Dulas

Access Officer: Dave Proctor, Capel Bethania, Cwm Cownwy, Llanwddyn, SY10 0NJ. 01691 870615

Nearby Rivers: Vyrnwy and Severn

Map:	136 Newtown & Llanidloes
Grade:	IV+
Length:	4.5 km
Access:	off A470(T) Llangurig to Llanidloes road
Notes:	tree portages
Quality:

I nearly didn’t bother with the Dulas. I had seen it on the maps, but usually crossed it when there was no water in the rivers. I was also coming to the completion of the book and running out of steam. Luckily, I persisted and was treated to the narrow and dramatic Tylwch gorge.

Tylwch to A470 bridge

4.5 km class IV+

Turn off the A470 in Llanidloes and find the B4518 to Tylwch, up which you go until it crosses the Dulas in the village. The river needs to be in a medium flow for an optimal level. In full flood it would probably be quite frightening. Access can be made from the bridge GR970802.

Set off on bouncy class II, dodging the odd branch and ducking below an old girder. A little further on are the remains of an old bridge, where several iron girders stick out of the water. These need some care to pass and could be, potentially, quite nasty.

The river begins to narrow, and the grade rises to a good class III. This gives ample warning of the dramatic, sculptured and narrow Tylwch gorge, through which the river flows for the next kilometre. There was one big tree down (Feb. ’98) that necessitated a portage in the class IV gorge. Just as you think the best is over, the gorge walls close in again and drop into a class IV+ chasm only a few feet wide - serious but wonderful.

Some enormous old bridge stanchions are passed and the best is over. Class II and III rapids, with an old weir to do, convey the paddler down to the main road bridge where you can get out GR951824.