BOPA - British Outdoor Professional's Association
RIVER ACCESS

Vyrnwy    Banwy    Severn
(Click here for general access conditions) 

The River Vyrnwy starts at Lake Vyrnwy and flows Eastwards to the Severn at Melverley. On the upper reaches, it is advisable to use a leader who is familiar with the river as conditions change dramatically dependent on the levels. Levels depend largely on Dam release and run-off from side tributaries. Fallen trees are an intermittent problem. Popular starting points for white-water are Lake Vyrnwy Dam, Cownwy Bridge / Confluence, Pont Llogel bridge or Dolanog Gorge start, depending upon water levels. The placid section starts at the Weir and bridge after Pontrobert.

Start	End	Tot Dist Miles	Leg Dist Miles	Access Notes	Egress Notes	Rapids/High Water Notes	Other Notes
Lake Vyrnwy Dam	Abertridwr Bridge	1.0	1.0	Access via Car Park RT. Also via B4393 on left side or road (River LT) before DAM
Abertridwr Bridge	Felin Graig	1.7	0.7
Felin Graig	Cownwy Bridge / Confluence	2.8	1.1		RT after gorge - use for inspection after rapids. Portage LT with permission through private garden! Portage RT but longer.	The Jacozzi waterfall is only shootable on the RT in high water when Grade III/IV. There is a short gorge following.
Cownwy Bridge / Confluence	Sawmill (site of old bridge)	4.2	1.4	Use ford above
Sawmill (site of old bridge)	Pont Llogel bridge	5.0	0.8
Pont Llogel bridge	Plas Dolanog bridge	7.4	2.4	LT before bridge from campsite. Additional access LT at picnic site.
Plas Dolanog bridge	Dolanog Bridge	8.1	0.7
Dolanog Bridge	Dolanog Falls	8.2	0.1			Grade III rapid folllowed by mill pool.
Dolanog Falls	Farm bridge	8.3	0.1			DANGEROUS
Farm bridge	Dolanog Gorge start	8.4	0.1			In high water - no headroom or bridge is covered.
Dolanog Gorge start	Pontrobert bridge	11.8	3.4	Via road RT. Some parking		INSPECT at high water
Pontrobert bridge	Weir and bridge	13.3	1.5			From here downstream reaches are wide and have flat Grade I water but when in flood, it moves fast and has danger from overhanging trees.
Weir and bridge	A495 bridge	14.8	1.5	Good LT before bridge		Placid section starts here. Parking on verges - take care on blind bends. Also check for double-yellow lines
A495 bridge	New Bridge Banwy confluence	14.9	0.1	LT before bridge
New Bridge Banwy confluence	Mill	15.3	0.4
Mill	Meifod reach	16.3	1.0	Access to footpath - long portage
Meifod reach	Cil Mawr	19.5	3.2	RT before bridge		Meanders with islands and ox-bows
Cil Mawr	Pontysgawrhyd A490	21.0	1.5
Pontysgawrhyd A490	Godor footbridge	23.5	2.5	LT after bridge		Four islands follow
Godor footbridge	Confluence R. Cain	27.0	3.5	RT before and over bridge towards A495. Small lay-by
Confluence R. Cain	Llansanfraid Bridge B4393	27.1	0.1			Glan Vyrnwy
Llansanfraid Bridge B4393	Confluence R. Tanat	28.3	1.2	RT after
Confluence R. Tanat	Bridge A4398	30.3	2.0
Bridge A4398	Llanymynech Bridge A843	32.0	1.7	RT before through field to camp site. After to Canal aqueduct
Llanymynech Bridge A843	Old Ford	35.0	3.0
Old Ford	Sychpwll	38.7	3.7
Sychpwll	Haimwood Farm (RT)	39.3	0.6
Haimwood Farm (RT)	Melverley Inn (LT)	41.3	2.0
Melverley Inn (LT)	Confluence R. Severn	42.0	0.7
Confluence R. Severn

  
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