Canoe with a View : : Canadian Open Canoe forum

The River Dee, or Afon Dyfrdwy, starts by feeding Bala lake, far to the West of Bangor Is y Coed on the edge of Snowdonia, "The Lake" is commonly thought of as it's source and from here it goes from placid and Lazy down towards Llangollen where you will find the boiling torrents of the Serpent's Tail and Bala Mill, from here on, generally it is back to it's lazy winding way into England, only to return to it's birthplace, Wales as it flows into the Sea between North Wales and the Wirral.



Put in - "The Royal Oak" (SJ 38820 45485)
Parking is available in the Pub Car Park (with the Landlord's permission) or opposite the Pub outside the Church.

Get out - Upriver of Farndon/Holt Sandstone Bridge River Right (SJ 41195 54385). Please be courteous and considerate towards Fishermen.
Parking is available in public carpark directly on the Bank.

River conditions: Late Spring/Summer/Early Autumn, this section of river will provide a pleasant mixture of both slow moving water and slightly faster moving barely Grade 1 "riffles", beginners SHOULD have an experienced paddler in the group (not reccomended as a "first" paddle).

WINTER/Flood conditions, this section of river is EXTREEMLY DANGEROUS with strainers everywhere and should ONLY be run by experienced paddlers, in groups.

Length of paddle: approx 13 miles



An easy put in over a small 3ft Sandstone wall, river right, on downriver side of Bridge, down a grassy bank to a pebble beach.



From here the river winds it's way, for a short while, through the Welsh countryside, until you reach Shocklach where the river becomes the Border between England and Wales.

Enjoy the silence as you pass through neverending countryside miles from the nearest major road.



Exchange pleasantries with the odd local fishermen, or Dog walker, and stop for a leisurley brew or lunch at one of the many, many beaches or banks.

And enjoy the excitement of shooting the manageable "riffles".



Before reaching your destination.



For the Car Ferry back to Bangor and a well deserved Pint and Pie.

after readin your post my friend and i canoed from bangor through to eccleston, we had done most of it in parts before but in 6 and a half hours and a uncoftable nights sleep with early morning cow alarm calls we compleated it. we are now looking for somthing a little more exciting as that was our first time on moving water, could you recomend somewhere?? many thanks tom