Afon Ogwen - White water kayaking

One of the best things about living where we do, is the close proximity to fun outdoor stuff and a solid crew of people get involved with such antics. I got a text message from a friend this morning, asking if I'd noticed how much rain had fallen recently and suggesting that we really should go and paddle our local river - the Afon Ogwen. It didn't take too much persuasion to get me to un-pack all my kayaking kit that I'd neatly stashed away for winter a few days ago.

The get-in point fro the river (Wales' finest white water run, I might add), is a matter of minutes away from The Cottage. As I am now van-less, I did have to get picked up, but within ten minutes we were floating off down the first rapid. (Local knowledge - We happened to meet a bloke who pointed out some salmon beds on the river left by the bridge at the bottom of Ogwen Bank, so if anyone's heading there soon, put in on the river high up and shoot the right hand bridge arch to save disturbing them).

There was plenty of water in the river, but not as much as yesterday (thankfully) when it was really raging. It only takes an hour to tootle down behind the town of Bethesda, the residents of whom, seem to go to great lengths to throw all manner of rubbish down the banks into the river. Apart from the Nepalese style river banks, (i.e Strew with rubbish) behind the town, the rest of the river is a beautiful bit of white water kayaking and well worth putting the afternoons plans on hold for!

Aled on the run in to Bethesda Falls

Speed blurr...

Look close to see Aled charging through the waves!

Scout Hut Rapids, Afon Ogwen