CSCC Reports 2011: River Wye - February 2011

The Wye valley offers a range of grades of challenge to the discerning paddler:

Finding somewhere to eat when arriving in Builth of a Friday evening: Grade 5. Pubs weren't serving food, so we ended up finding a table in the chippie. Then as the food finished cooking, we were told they close at 8:30pm. A park bench in the drizzle had to do. Finding a place to drink good cider was easier, though a challenge on the eardrums. Ask Stephen about meeting bat-woman at the juke box.

Paddling the Wye from Rhayader to Llanwrthl: Grade 2-3. A nice gently introduction for a group of paddlers with various degrees of rustiness. No swims or particular epics, but a few nice surf waves and some good rapids for eddy-hopping.

Finding a nice place to stay and eat in: Grade 1. The Cedars gave us a reasonable rate, and good breakfasts and a dinner. We also got to try Welsh whisky, gin and vodka.

Paddling the Wye from the Marteg to Llanwrthl: Grade 2-3, with some more interesting bits at the start. Everyone made it down Town Falls in Rhayader, though no-one chose to follow Pete's more creative line. We then proved that a stretch of river that takes 3 hours one day can be done in less than an hour on the next by a group on a mission.

Overall a lovely weekend. The Upper Wye is as scenic as the Lower, especially in the gorge-like sections. Definitely a good one to do again when the rain comes down!

Peter's photos can be found at https://picasaweb.google.com/PJLawrence2008/WyeFeb2011#