Playriver: UK, North Wales, River Tryweryn, Tryweryn Centre

What's it like

The Tryweryn is probably one of the best paddling resources in the UK as it supplies us with year round, reliable, clean water.

The river is dam released and releases vary from 5 to 15m3/s (+ natural flow). Most of the playspots listed below don't work very well unless the release is 8m3/s or more. There are a number of guaranteed releases throughout the year and also a high number of non-guaranteed ones which you can find out about by phoning the water information line.

The river flows out of Llyn Celyn and down into lake Bala, which is a distance of about 6 miles, however the section we are interested in is called the international site and is approximately 1.5 miles long and has year round access.

Here is a list of the main features of the course:

• The first playhole (also known as the Worlds' Hole) is at the put in and was constructed as a competition site. It is a small drop with a pourover type hole at the base. The hole isn't very retentive but will hold you enough to spin and pull long sequences of ends on both sides. The eddy is not very easy to reach when washed out. 25 meters below the Worldss Hole the river is strained through a metal grate called the chipper. Many paddlers are caught on this every day the river is running, however the river is not too deep at this point and there are eddies at both sides but novice paddlers could have a hard time getting the boats back. The rafts put on below the chipper.
• Coming down the river you soon come to a left hand bend and two big eddies, this marks the start of the Graveyard section of the river, which is a nice boulder-garden with numerous rocks ideal for boofing and splatting. There are a few waves and holes hidden about as well.
• Next comes the Ski Slope, which is a nice sloping drop with a playwave halfway down (very shallow) and a nice hole at the bottom. The hole is shallow and fairly sticky, so you can spin and pull low angle ends in short boats in it but it is turbulent, so most just go in and get a beating.
• Immediately below Ski Slope is a drop with a big eddy on river left and a very fast wave called the International wave. It's a nice wave but not very steep so you can't do a lot on it.
• Below this there is a drop through a stone arched bridge. The hole here is stable and can be quite sticky, it is excellent for blasts and low angled ends.
• Coming up to the center there is a distinct "dog leg" in the river, on river right there is a large eddy and here there is an excellent wave with a small retentive section on surfer's right. The wave has recently been modified and is now much steeper: you can blunt both ways, clean spin, and do most other wave moves on it. In summer beware of the rafts as they are often not in full control and the wave is on a corner so it is hard to see the oncoming traffic. The eddys are not very good, as they are hard to catch after flushing and the stopper below can be sticky on river right.
• After going through a section known as The Fingers you will see a wooden bridge up ahead of you. The drop here produces the most popular playspot on the river and is known as NRA bridge. Looking upstream on the right hand side of the drop is a large wave which is quite turbulent and hard to catch but once you're on, it is excellent for spins and if you are good, blunts too. The wave is very flushy but excelent for wave wheels as the lead in is a large ramp. The wave is not so good for the older longer boats but new school boats (under 210cms) should be able to surf well and get some air.
• Just downstream is the final drop on the international section which is called Chapel Falls. Chapel can be quite dangerous as on river right there is a very sticky hole which will hold swimmers. It is best shot through the tongue in the center and then if you are good you can enter the river right side from a large eddy. Although the hole is very sticky it is incredibly stable and the angle of the drop makes it perfect for blasts, you can do transitions in it all day long. Most get off just below chapel but there are now another 300 meters of river which you can paddle and it's more than worth it. Not long after the old take out there is a small rapid with the sweetest wave anywhere on the river. It's fast, reasonably steep and has a small retentive section on the far left which you can use to regain the wave if you blow a move. Just about every wave move can be pulled on it, even small aerials can be done. If the paddler intends to paddle down and get out at the campsite a parking fee has been requested unless you are camping. It is not much more work to walk back to the top along the river right bank, exit just before the campsite wave.

How to get there

To get to the Tryweryn follow the A5 from Shrewsbury through Llangollen and Corwen until you see signposts for Bala and the A494, follow the A494 all the way into Bala (about 10 miles) and as you come into the town you will go over a bridge (over the Tryweryn). Immediately after you cross the bridge there is a right hand turn signposted as Frogoch. Follow this road up as it criss-crosses the river until you come to Frogoch. Once there you should see the Afon Tryweryn Centre on your left, where there is ample parking, a cafe and changing rooms. This is also where you pay to paddle (6 pounds for BCU members and 12 pounds for others).

More info

For release levels, contact the Tryweryn water information line: +44 1678 520826, Canolfan Tryweryn.

Locals

The course is commercially rafted and in the summer this can become a bit of a problem. There are no fishermen, and most of the UK's top paddlers frequent the Tryweryn particularly during the organized tours when the river is open to Bala.

Events

The 'Eskimo/Playboater Sunday League Rodeos', held on the first Sunday release of each month are non-formal fun rodeos with a prize given after six months. The contact for the Sunday League Rodeos is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The annual Tryweryn Wild Wet Fest is held in June each year.

Info sources

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , paddle.to

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