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Lower Tryweryn from National Whitewater Center to Bala. Packrafting in Wales / Cymru

Packrafting being guided by a guy who was going to take a guide course certificate.

By Packrafting.cat

February 3^rd, 2025

Original Spanish version

Lower Tryweryn del National Whitewater Center a Bala. Packraft en Gales

The Afon Tryweryn is divided into two sections:

The upper river (see next section).
The lower river described in this article.

The upper river has about 2 km of grade 3-4 rapids and runs alongside the centre. The lower section starts just below the centre, at the stairs leading out of the ponds, and continues with grade 2–3 rapids for 6km to the Bala car park. There is a grade 4 rapid near the end of this section that can easily be negotiated using the dam; ask at reception for information if you want to use it and are unsure of its location.

The people at the National Whitewater Centre do their best to ensure that the Upper and Lower Tryweryn are free of obstructions, however, this is a natural environment so it is always important to be aware of any hazards and inform the centre if you spot any new obstructions.

SECTION UPPER TRYWERYN RIVER. NATIONAL WHITEWATER CENTRE.

Lower Tryweryn milestones :

Km 0: Canolfan Tryweryn Whitewater National Centre, near the bar and main car park.
Km 0.2: Chapel Falls, pedestrian suspension bridge.
Km 0.4: second bridge. Access to Tyn Cornwell campsite
Km 1: Footbridge/Hanging Bridge
Km 1.4: Fourth bridge/bridging bridge
Km 2: Fifth bridge/bridleway
Km 2.1: Left bank tributary (Afon Mynach)
Km 2.5: crossing with overhead power lines.
km 3.5: A4212 road bridge.
Km 3.8: sixth footbridge
Km 5.4: the river forks into two branches across an island. The right branch has a suspension bridge accessing the island and a slalom course. we approach Balla Mill Falls.
Km 5.6: Bala Mill Falls, the only level crossing -IV or IV.
Km 5.8: End of Bala Mill Falls. There is an exit point from the river and a car park which I don't know if it is privately owned.
Km 6.5: Bridge on the entrance road to y Bala.
Km 6.6: Landing near the car park. Do not continue and follow the warnings on the signs, there is a dam a few metres away. There are toilets in the car park.

DESCRIPTION

A pleasant introduction to whitewater.

This section consists of frequent grade 2+ rapids, which can usually be run at first sight without prior scouting. Trees and islands do not always allow the full path to be seen and occasionally a proper paddling style is necessary by stopping at the numerous eddies to check and visualise the best lines.

The main danger to watch out for is the approach to Bala Mill Falls; when the river appears to narrow and steepen between the trees ahead, it is time to get out and inspect to the right of the river. This is not the best warning description, so you'll need to keep your eyes peeled! Bala Mill Falls is a rapid that leads into a steep, grade 4 drop. The portage is easy if you don't like what you see. Down a long, flat straight run leads to the exit bridge.

There is a still pond marked by a bend to the right with a distinctive house visible on the hill to the left of the river. There are no access signs on the left bank. This is the ideal spot for scouting Bala Mill Falls.

My Google Map

Packrafting in Wales | Langollen | River Dee | Bala

Wikiloc Map

River Tryweryn Frongoch - Bala des del centro nacional de Reino Unido de aguas bravas a Y Bala

Balla Mill Falls

Class III-IV rapid on this section of the river. My second class IV after the Town Falls of Llangollen.

Lower Tryweryn from National Whitewater Center to Bala. Packrafting in Wales / Cymru

https://www.instagram.com/londonkayakschool/reel/C-s19qEtmbV/

http://www.stroudvalleycanoeclub.org.uk/trips/lower-tryweryn-03-april-2010.aspx

Lower Tryweryn 03 April 2010

On 3 April three SVCC members travelled up to Canolfan Tryweryn to run the Lower Tryweryn, joining club members Paul and Sue who were already on site, and associate club Jo.

Today's dam release was 10 cumecs giving a slightly faster / bigger trip than usual.

This time we started just above Chapel Falls, with everyone running except Sue, who was our open boater for this trip.

Chapel Falls is a drop of about five feet with a plug on the right side of the river which can be quite retentive, as other SVCC members can attest. On this occasion it was run without incident, perhaps with the larger flow through helping.

After Chapel we continued downstream through the many grade 2 and occasional grade 3 rapids that make this river a great trip, with Will demonstrating his ability to roll on the larger grade 3 section.

Our first stop to play was under a bridge with a diagonal wave ideal for practising ferry sliding.

We continued downstream without incident and finally arrived at the ubiquitous Bala Mill Falls.

Videos

Bala Mill Info

From Richard Lee at https://www.canoeslalom.co.uk/courses/bala_mill.htm

The Bala Mill slalom site is on the Tryweryn River regulated dam, half a mile from Bala. With a deep pool below the mill falls, it provides a year-round training and competition venue, regardless of the release of water from the Llyn Celyn weir. Bala Canoe Club owns the land on one side of the river and has access to a 500m stretch of water for slalom gates and a further 600m of flat water to the road bridge at Bala.

The waterfalls at Bala Mill are the main feature of the Premier and Division 1 runs and can only be used with a flow in excess of 9 cumecs. The rapid drops from the Rhiwlas pool and consists of progressively technical whitewater for 75 metres, culminating in a rocky drop guarded by a large haystack wave and a cross stream which also descends the chicken shoot, used by whitewater runners as an alternative to the main drop.

The area below the falls consists of a pool which houses the training venue and slaloms for divisions 2, 3 and 4. It can be used in any water level. It can be used at any water level, but with a flow of 9 - 10 cumecs it provides a fast water tongue, some fast eddies and obstacles and a constant flow to the bottom of the course with a small slide at the exit. In winter, with a flow of 5 cumecs, it is a good place to train under floodlights, with 20 gates offering a variety of technical and physical exercises.

The Bala Canoe Club owns and manages the site, which includes a large field for parking and occasional camping. The club has over 100 members, of which 20-25 take part in regular slalom sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the mill, Saturdays at Canolfan Tryweryn and Mondays on the lake. The club also organises freestyle, whitewater and lake sessions on Fridays. All money raised by the club at events is used to develop the site, keep the road and paths in good condition and maintain a building with toilets and a kitchen. Following a spate of vandalism a few years ago, the club building has been required to have a tenant, so please respect the property if you use it for running or training and stick to the public footpath or riverside.

If you would like to use the site for training, groups can contact Chris Leesmith at Paddleworks on Main Street in Bala, while individuals can join the club - contact Richard Lee on 01678 520337 or richardlee.wca@virgin.net. You can also buy a ticket at Canolfan Tryweryn and enjoy 8km of whitewater 200 days a year, with outings most weekends between March and October. See the water information line on 01678 520826.

Exit the A4212 400m from the A494 turn off towards Porthmadog/Trawsfynydd. The road is opposite the artificial sports field, between the turn-off for the Cysgod and Coleg housing estate (the site cannot be accessed if you turn into the housing estate) and the College at the top of the hill. Please take care on the access road - many children play along it.

JS Rating - Below the falls: B - Falls: D

B: Slightly choppy water, with some eddies, but not enough to worry paddlers; and at most a small drop that paddlers simply have to run through.

D: "Real" slalom water. Beginners will need some practice to handle it and some courage just to paddle it.

Even courses that are usually easy can become dangerous in exceptionally high tide conditions. If in doubt, ask for advice or stay out of the water.

Whitewater guide

According to the Whitewater guide mobile app, it is a 5-star rated section with a difficulty rating of class II-II (although the Bala Mill Falls pass is class III-IV but portageable).

Bala Mill Falls is marked with a sign.

It is approximately 6 km, to which can be added the 2 km of the slalom course at the National Whitewater Centre.

The flow depends mainly on the water released from the dam upstream, although it can also carry water after rainfall.

It is an excellent stretch for its grade, with many backwaters in a beautiful environment.

In addition, the section ends in the beautiful village of Y Bala, I recommend a visit to the village and the lake.

Please do not go over or continue paddling on the river after the car park, it is forbidden, there is a dangerous dam and it is of no interest.

Llangollen

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Aqüeducte de Pontcysyllte

Snowdonia / Eryri National Park

Eryri National Park, or(Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri in Welsh), (formerly Snowdonia In English) was established in 1951 as the third national park in England and Wales.Welsh), (formerly Snowdonia in English) was established in 1951 as the third national park in England and Wales. It covers an area of 2142 km² (840 mi²) of the Eryri (Snowdonia) region of north-west Wales. It is home to the highest mountain in England and Wales, and the largest lake in Wales.

The English name for the park derives from Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), the highest mountain in Wales, at an altitude of 1085 m. In Wales, the park is called Eryri.

See you at the river! I wanna see you be brave

The river is a living environment, changing and subject to permanent development. The publishers of the river sketches and the creators of this website cannot be held liable in any case of inaccuracy, omission or error in the river sketches. The topos editors and website creators disclaim all liability in case of any accident that may occur on the rivers described in this guide.

Footnotes

Information compiled by Sergi Tur. I’ve “only” been down this stretch once but what memories. I forgot to take pictures.

Button Label

FootNotes

Information compiled by Sergi Tur. I’ve “only” been down this stretch once but what memories. I forgot to take pictures.

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Lower Tryweryn from National Whitewater Center to Bala. Packrafting in Wales / Cymru

Packrafting being guided by a guy who was going to take a guide course certificate.

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