Afon Elan

Nearby Rivers:  Wye catchment - Rhayader to Hay

Map:	147 Elan Valley & Builth Wells
Grade:	II
Length:	6 km
Access:	Elan Dam and village
Notes:	one small weir
Quality:

The Elan is a pleasant and entertaining trip for newcomers to the sport, or for those who would like a different start to the river Wye. For the river to be canoeable, water has to be either spilling over the immense Cabin Coch dam, or be released. A good level is around 6 to 7 on the gauge situated above the little measuring weir (this has a vicious stopper in flood!) and above the get-in.

Elan Village to Junction Pool

5 km class II; no portages

Take the little road from Rhayader towards the Elan valley. After a few miles, the vast Cabin Coch dam is seen. Put on the water from the small bridge running across the river into the village, GR930648. The first rapids are a grade II, boulder garden, although this grade just about rises to a III in high water. A small weir in the middle of this is run down a shoot on the left. Easy rapids and beautiful swirls follow, as the river winds a way down to its meeting place at Junction Pool with that Queen of rivers - the Wye. A footpath just below the rickety footbridge allows good egress, GR967656. This is reached by the back road between Llanwrthwl and Dolafallen bridge.