anyone done any boating in Wales?

[James]

I'm going to Wales for the first week of April, anyone done any boating there? Just wondering how hard it would be to rent gear, if there are any easily accessible runs. Renting a cboat or OC boat possible? Bring my drysuit and paddle?

[the great gonzo]

never paddled there, but check with the Welsh Canoeing Association.

martin.

http://www.welsh-canoeing.org.uk/

[bathtuboy]

Hi James,

I paddle in Wales quite a bit, and when the water is up there is some really good paddling to be had. However in all of the time I have been going there I have only ever seen one person paddling C1 and nobody else paddling OC1. The only exception is the Tryweryn, a river managed purely for canoeing and rafting, which you have to pay for the pleasure of paddling.
At the time of year you are going, the Tryweryn and the Dee are probably the only rivers likely to be paddleable.
There is a yahoo open canoe group who organise regular trips to the tryweryn who may well be able to help you.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Opencanoes

Otherwise the best source of information is

http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/

Which has river guides for all of the rivers and a very good forum, mostly inhabited by kayakers.

I'm planning to get a couple of kayaking mates to do an open boating weekend there, but probably not until may.

The Tryweryn is controlled by dam releases, information on which can be found here.

http://www.ukrafting.co.uk/canolfan_try ... elease.htm

Jon L