CSCC Reports 2007: Mid Wales - March 2007
On the weekend of 10th and 11th March the club ran a white water kayaking trip in Mid Wales. Diane, Lucy, Bridget, Beth, Kirsty, Dave Pite, Chris, Martin, Gordon and Dan Jones paddled on both days. Accommodation was provided by Diane and her husband, Ian, in their lovely new home by the River Vyrnwy and in the equally pleasant surroundings of Tynllwyn Farm B & B (a couple of miles north of Welshpool).The first day saw us paddling down the River Banwy and on to the River Vyrnwy. The get-in was by the railway station at Llanfair Caereinion. There were plenty of grade 2 rapids - perfect for the less experienced white water paddlers looking to improve their skills and boost their confidence. It was beautifully sunny and warm for the time of year and everyone had lost their London pallor by the end of the day. We got out at the bridge at Meifod (distance paddled 7 miles) and later dined at the Oak pub in Guilsfield.
On the second day we drove north to paddle on a grade 2 stretch of the River Tanat. We had trouble finding a suitable get-out (Canoe Wales website contained out of date information) and this led to quite a bit of faffing and a failed attempt to persuade a publican to give us access over her land before we got on the water at a ford, Aber Rhaeadr (between Penybontfawr & Llangedwyn).
The Tanat valley is very scenic, although the recent storms meant we encountered quite a few fallen trees in the afternoon just as we were starting to tire. At one point the river was totally blocked. However, rumours of barbed wire strung across the river turned out to be unfounded. The weir was shootable. We got out in slightly the wrong place at our destination of Pen-y-Bont (distance paddled 6 miles) and had to explain ourselves to the lady whose field we accidentally crossed. Fortunately she looked bemused rather than cross at being confronted by the sight of a load of civil servants with small boats. Diane provided us with delicious home-made cakes before we headed home.
Photos for this trip can be found at:
Martin's
http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q256/stribblehill/banwytanat/
Chris
http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n293/romanyexplorer2003/Brandywine/
Beths
http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n293/romanyexplorer2003/Beths Wales Mar 07/
More Lake Vyrnwy pics here