River Guidebook: Afon Conwy
- James Greenhalgh
- Dec 27, 2025
- 6 min read
Afon Conwy- A river of secret fairytale gorges winding through ancient woodland. There are white water sections to be enjoyed from beginner to expert level.
NB- Guidebook entries are made for the enjoyment and use of the whitewater community. Paddle365Ltd accepts no liability or responsibility for the choices paddlers make on how or when to use this information. For professional river guiding or skill development coaching, please contact us.
Gauging the river level.
Gauge the level of this river by looking over the A5 bridge at at 53°02'53.1"N 3°43'57.4"W. This spot is a similar width to most of the rest of the river and therefore gives a representative showing for how much power you’ll find in the other sections. There is also a helpful Tick and Cross gauge here with the X level marking too low to paddle, and the flow escalating as it climbs and eventually buries the Tick. When the tick is fully covered it is beginning to get high, but you will be able to see that from the style of the waves downstream. This river rises and falls fast and has a large catchment from the waterways surrounding Ffestiniog.
There is an online gauge for this river at Cwmlanerch. It should be treated with caution as the location of the level reader is positioned downstream of these sections, and notably after the confluences with the Lledr and Llugwy. This means the gauge could make the river appear to be a low-medium gradually rising, not taking into account that the Conwy’s streams are all flooding in while the Llugwy’s are still empty. If this happened it would create a much sharper rise than it looks online so be careful. To make best use of this gauge, get your Sherlock hat on, study the rainfall radar and the other gauges near the Llugwy and Lledr, and decide where you think the water is before matching it up with real assessment when you look from the bridge.
Major Hazards:
Prone to fast changes in river level.
Surrounded by woodland throughout, so can be prone to tree hazards.
Conwy Falls gorge (6) The entrance to this dangerous gorge can be seen when you look down from the Bridge by Conwy Falls Cafe. Make sure you take out well above.
Ysbyty Ifan to the Merddwr Confluence: The bit above
3 Kilometers Grade 2(3+)
53°01'26.5"N 3°43'39.8"W to 53°02'53.1"N 3°43'57.4"W
Not much more than a stream at this point, the Conwy heads down from the uplands and builds momentum before eventually joining with the Afon Merddwr to become a proper river. Expect low sweeping tree branches and an awkward slot drop. There is more to be found further upstream for explorers who like walking and portaging fences.
A5 to A5 Steps: The classic Upper Conwy joy run
4 Kilometers Grade 2/3
53°02'53.1"N 3°43'57.4"W to 53°03'34.7"N 3°45'27.3"W
The classic joy run
This is a river section that white water paddlers return to again and again. Consistent class 2 and 3 fun with occasional surf waves, smooth slanted rock to practice tricks on, and high banks creating that gorged in feel. The hardest section of grade 3 occurs not far after the 2nd road bridge when the river’s right bank is further gorged in by the stone embankment that reinforces the road. Passing a narrow grade 3 chute and then spotting the road walls on the right will mean you’re approaching Bryn Bras Falls (3). Here the river weaves around rocky outcrops in an S shape first left and then back right down a steep narrow channel. This rapid is tricky to portage at river level so if you’re unsure about grade 3 mid rapid maneuvers, its best to leave this section until you’re ready. After Bryn Bras, the river calms down for a while before delivering another kilometer of fun read and run grade 2 white water. You’ll know the finish point when you see a wooden staircase down to river level- One of the most civilised Canoe access points in Wales. In high water this section becomes very continuous in nature and the grade increases to 3+.
A5 Steps to Conwy Falls: The Middle Conwy
1.5 Kilometers Grade 3(5-)
53°03'34.7"N 3°45'27.3"W to 53°03'52.3"N 3°46'29.8"W
Adventurous paddling or portaging and a must make take-out.
Continue beyond the steps and you will enter one of the Conwy’s most famous gorge sections. Unfortunately, it’s fame has mostly come from the number of mountain rescue call outs it has created. The entrance to Conwy Falls (6) is just beyond the horizon from the finish point. The problem is that the signs that the river is about to become almost inescapable as it falls off a cliff are very limited from the vantage point of the last road access point upstream of the B4406 bridge. Be sure to memorise the finish point and paddle with control until you reach it.
Not too far after leaving the steps on a dramatic right hand bend you will reach the first of the section’s two ‘Grade 5’s. Whether their difficulty actually merits the classification ‘5’ or not has been the subject of debate, but these rapids are significant and filled with potential dangers so should be treated with respect. The first does not have a commonly used name but ‘Boulder Choke(5-)’ would work a treat. You can scout and portage on the left bank. You may need to bush whack a little as this section doesn’t get much traffic. After this the river enters an enjoyable continuous grade 3 section with a couple of fun little ledges, eventually bringing you to the second big one, Gobbler (4+). This rapid has a technical pinballing entry followed by a ramp down into a powerful stopper. Portaging along the steep and loose left bank is a serious and hazardous undertaking in itself- Take care whichever route you choose, and it is best to scout the next rapid below before getting going again.
After launching back into the flow downstream of Gobbler the next horizon line puts you immediately into a fun section of steep rapids (3). Enjoy these but not for too long. Don’t miss the take out- it comes up quick.
Conwy Falls Viewpoint to Beaver Pool: The Fairy Glen
2 Kilometers Grade 4/5
53°03'52.0"N 3°46'47.2"W to 53°04'33.4"N 3°47'45.7"W
For skilled kayakers who love steep creaking, this short section is about as good as it gets. The Glen is so beloved by anyone who visits that when in 2013 an energy company planned to dam the river to harness its water, a community of activists united and campaigned for 3 years to save it. Thankfully at the time of writing thanks to an alliance of paddlers, anglers and environmentalists organised by Save Our Rivers, the Conwy is no longer under threat, and we are free to enjoy what is undoubtedly one of the UK’s best sections of whitewater. The rapids of the Fairy Glen cascade through rocky crags and ancient woodland, with the unique rock formations and gnarled trees taking it in turns to let shafts of light down in ripples into the gorge. It really does feel like fairies could live there.
The section is made up of two committing canyons, with an open section and Fairy Falls (5) in the middle breaking up the two. After hiking down and putting in you’re straight into it with Sticky Hole, Monkey Drop , Henry Moore and Cave Drop forming a 100m section of consistent grade 4 or 5 depending on water levels. It is possible to inspect the first rapid at the put-in, and on the right bank thereafter. Portaging any of these however would be pretty near impossible so the best plan is only go when you know you’re ready, and with a tight knit experienced team. The river then eases to fun grade 3 for a short section and the gorge opens up allowing you a chance to get out if the last section didn’t go well. Next is Fairy Falls (5); a complex sequence with a rocky slide, technical boulder formations and a sharp turn with water pushing against the wall to finish. You can scout this on the left and right (Some do both), and portage is possible on the left. After this you’re into the second canyon with Pipeline (4), Speeder Biker (4) and End of the World (4) left to navigate before the canyon opens again. Though filled with major hazards, the rapids in this section have a pool-drop character with good eddies in between, giving you more chance to look up and appreciate your surroundings.
With the bulk of the whitewater of the Conwy behind you, you can smile and enjoy the final stretch of grade 3 moves that spit you out of the gorge and into serene waters at the confluence with the Lledr. The takeout is on the left after the next bridge.
Beaver Pool to Llanwrst: The Lower Conwy
8 Kilometers Grade 1/2
53°04'33.4"N 3°47'45.7"W to 53°08'12.3"N 3°47'51.5"W
An enjoyable touring section beginning with wide grade 2 rapids as you pass Betws Y Coed and eventually running out into flats after the confluence with the Afon Llugwy. Best done on an Autumn day with decent flows and bright colours on the leaves of every tree.
Author: Jamie Greenhalgh
This guide is written to be instructive and helpful without completely taking away the adventure. If you have a comment or suggestion on how it can be improved please let us know.
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