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Wales

C

  • Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal (canoeists must portage around locks and tunnels)
  • River Usk (Brecon Promenade upstream of boathouse but within 100 metres of boathouse. Permission for boating should be obtained locally)

B1

  • Llangorse Lakes (local permit required, no canoeing when lake is in use by fast motorboats)
  • River Usk (Brecon Promenade upstream of class C section defined above, as far as the bottom of the first small rapid. Permission for boating should be obtained locally. NB Canoeing is not permitted on Brecon Weir, nor downstream of the weir to Llanfaes Bridge in low water)
  • Pontsticill Reservoir (permission for boating must be obtained locally)
  • Usk Reservoir (permission for boating must be obtained locally)

B2

  • River Usk (Sennybridge to Aberbran in low water if all 3 ledge drops are portaged; Aberbran to Talybont and downstream of Crickhowell)
  • River Irfon (Llanwrtyd Wells to Builth Wells)
  • River Wye (Llanwrthwl to Builth Wells in low water if both parts of Builth Rocks 'S-bend' rapid are portaged; Builth Wells to Llyswen in low water if Hell Hole is portaged; Llyswen to Hay-on-Wye)

B3

  • Afon Crai
  • Afon Honddu
  • Nant Bran
  • Afon Senni
  • Afon Taf Fawr
  • Afon Tarrell
  • River Tawe (Abercraf to Ystalyfera. Two weirs at Abercraf and at bridge immediately below Giedd confluence must be inspected before running)
  • River Usk (upstream of Aberbran and Talybont to Crickhowell)
  • River Wye (upstream of Llyswen)
  • Afon Ysgir

A

  • River Irfon (upstream of Llanwrtyd Wells)
  • River Tawe (upstream of Abercraf)
  • All other rivers not graded above

Notes

  • All river gradings are for 'normal' winter levels and may rise by at least one grade in high water conditions
  • Access arrangements should be checked locally, especially for the Tawe, Usk and Wye where negotiated access agreements exist
  • Boating is not normally permitted on reservoirs within Brecknock, except Pontsticill and Usk where permission may be sought from Welsh Water

 

 

C

  • River Thaw
  • Barry Old Harbour - inside breakwater
  • Cold Knap Lake and Roath Park Lakes
  • St Mellons Lake 
  • Llanishen Reservoir
  • Barry Boat Base No1 Dock, Canoe Polo Pool - Leaders wishing to use the facility should contact the centre manager beforehand.

B1

  • Cardiff Bay - The harbour master may impose restrictions on immersion sports due to suspect water quality where the Rivers Taff and Ely enter the bay. Canoe training in the bay is limited to British Canoeing one star. The main part of the bay is prohibited at present for canoes/kayaks by the Bay authority. The presence of high-speed powerboats make it dangerous to cross the bay, however, 50 metres from the northern bank to Mermaid Quay is possible for canoes. Further information may be obtained from the Cardiff Barrage control.
  • Cardiff White Water Centre  - Flat Water area B1 (other classifications apply to flow areas).
  • Rivers Ely, Rhymney and Taff - above A4232 (access may be gained at the Channel view slipway or at the rear of the national Sports Centre, Sophia Gardens). Applies to CATVOG Boundary eg approx Radyr Weir on Taff.
  • Area up to ½ mile offshore south from Penarth Pier to ½ mile south of Penarth Esplanade.
  • Whitmore Bay (inside a line between the headlands), Jacksons Bay (defined as inside the line from Nells Point to Barry Harbour Eastern Breakwater), Watchtower Bay (inside a line between the headlands), Sully Bay inside a line from Sully Island to Bendricks Rocks, Porthkerry Bay inside a line between Cold-knap Point and Rhoose Point.
  • Cosmeston Lakes Country Park.
  • Barry Tidal Harbour & Barry Docks (restricted areas when shipping is using the Lady Windsor Lock - such movement and areas to be checked with lockmasters).

B2

  • Coastline up to ½ mile offshore from area within ½ mile of Nash Point to area within ½ mile of Rhoose Point.
  • Coastline up to ½ mile offshore from Penarth Pier to CATVOG Eastern Boundary.
  • Area up to ½ mile offshore between Sully Island and area ½ mile off Lavernock Point (St Marys Well Bay).
  • Cardiff White Water Centre Course at 4 Cumec flow B2.

B3

  • Area within ½ mile of Nash Point, Rhoose Point and Lavernock Point.
  • Areas up to ½ mile out off Cold Knap Point, Friars Point, Nells Point.
  • Cardiff White Water Centre  - Course 8 Cumec flow and over (consult Centre).
  • Barry Harbour Eastern Breakwater to Bendricks Rocks. Area adjacent to Nash Point on the east, area south of Sully Island, Ranny Point and Bendricks Rock
  • All waters between ½ mile and three miles from the shore, unless otherwise classified

A

  • All waters more than three miles offshore

 

C

  • All open non-tidal waters unless otherwise classified
  • All rivers above mean HWM unless otherwise classified

B1

  • Gwendraeth (east of Tanylan)
  • Afon Taf (north of Laughame)
  • Afon Tywi (north of Ferryside)
  • Coastline (Amroth to Pembrey Point up to one mile offshore)

B2

  • River Loughor, Loughor Estuary (east of a line from Pembrey Point to Burry Holms)
  • Coastline (Amroth to Pembrey Point from one to three miles offshore)

B3

  • River Tawe (Ystradgynlais, Abercrave to Ystalyfera in flood conditions. Stopper wave at road bridge between Ystradgynlais to Cwymgledd must be inspected before using the water)
  • River Usk (Taly-y-Bont to Crickhowell in normal conditions)

A

Coastline unless otherwise classified

C

  • There are some small inland waterways. Due to electricity-generating interests, and fishing rights etc it is advisable to get detailed information from the ACC (WA)

B1

  • River Aeron (upstream from harbour)
  • Cardigan and the River Teify (from Cilgerran Gorge upstream. There are some runs of fast water. For more detailed information please contact ACC (WA))
  • River Dovey (upstream from Dovey Junction)
  • Rivers Len and Ystwyth
  • River Rheidol (current controlled to some extent by Electricity Company compensating dam)

B2

  • River Dovey Estuary (from a line drawn north/south through Aberdovey to Dovey Junction. The estuary covers a considerable expanse at high water, but at low water it is encumbered by sandbanks with continually shifting channels. The bar is one and a quarter mile south west of Aberdovey and the fairway of the bar is continually shifting; strong south-west wind causes very heavy sea on bar)
  • Aberystwyth Harbour (there is always a surface current setting out of the harbour, rate about one knot on the flood to three knots on the ebb)
  • Aberaeron Harbour (Piers extend west north-west from either side of the entrance to the river, but with a strong north-west wind there is very little shelter, and there is a very strong run)
  • Cardigan Harbour (there is a constantly shifting fairway at the bar. Sudden onshore winds cause the sea to build up rapidly on the bar, making access difficult).
  • River Teify (from Patch to Cilgerran Gorge)

B3


New Quay Harbour (protected by the pier, it affords practically no shelter during onshore winds)

A

  • Coastline (from River Teify Estuary in the south to the River Dovey in the north. Generally, there is no shelter to be found on this coastline, except in some small places in an offshore wind. A considerable sea, however, quickly rolls in on a change occurring making it impossible for a boat to enter the estuaries)

 

C

  • Hanmer Mere
  • Maelor Lake
  • Lindisfarne College, Rhuabon
  • The Flash Gresford, near Wrexham
  • Marine Lake, Rhyl

B1

  • Llyn Aled
  • Llangollen Canal
  • River Dee one and a half miles beyond Chain Bridge to Lake Bala (Llyn Tegid), contact Whitewater Centre
  • River Dee (Estuary to Chester Weir)
  • River Dee (from danger buoys at Chester to Erbistock)
  • River Dee (Erbistock to Llangollen)
  • Cae Llwyd Reservoir
  • Park in the Past (Fagl Lane Quarry)

B2

  • Liverpool Bay and Dee Estuary (less than one mile from shore)
  • River Clwyd (from Railway Bridge to A548 Road Bridge)
  • River Treweryn, contact Whitewater Centre
  • Llyn Brenig Reservoir

B3

  • Liverpool Bay and Dee Estuary (between one and three miles from shore)
  • River Dee (from Llangollen to one and a half miles above Chainbridge)
  • River Clwyd (from A548 Road Bridge to estuary)

A

  • Liverpool Bay (more than three miles from shore)

C

  • All canals

B1

  • Margam Pool Swansea Bay (from West Pier to the Mumbles Yacht Club Slip within half a mile of LWM
  • Oxwich Bay (from Nicholaston Pill Stream to the inside of the Oxwich Moorings)
  • Rivers Swansea and Neath (from yacht clubs to upper tidal limits)

B2

  • Coastline (within a line from Oxwich Point to Mixon Buoy and to Port Talbot North Breakwater)

B3

  • Loughor Estuary, east of a line from Pembrey Point to Burry Holms for canoes only; the use of all other scout craft in this area is prohibited.
  • Coastline (shoreward of a line from Port Talbot North Breakwater to White Oyster Ledge buoy and to West Helwick buoy to Worms Head and to Burry Holms to Pembrey Point Coastguard's Lookout)

A

  • Coastline (to the seaward side of a line from Port Talbot North Breakwater to White Oyster Ledge buoy and to West Helwick buoy to Worms Head and to Burry Holms to Pembrey Point Coastguard's Lookout)

Notes

 


The following dangerous broken tidal waters are prohibited to all craft:

  • Waters on the landward side of a line from Worms Head to West Helwick buoy then East along the 'A' limit line to a point due south from Port Eynon Point and East Helwick buoy
  • There is a high danger between Mumbles pier and lighthouse and at Oxwich Point. Due to fast currents. Both of these areas have heavy surf in winds between east and south, and small craft can be blown offshore with winds between the west and east through north

C

  • Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal (paddlecraft should portage around locks, which are otherwise deemed B2 for non-powered craft)
  • Cwmbran Boating Lake

B1

  • River Monnow
  • Llandegfedd Reservoir
  • River Wye (south of Symonds Yat to Tinterm, from 1 April to 31 October during normal water flow)
  • Bryn Bach Parc Lake

B2

  • Afon Lwyd (from bridge at the HGV Driving Test Station, Edlogan Way, Cwmbran to Railway Bridge at Ponthir)
  • River Sirhowy
  • River Wye (from Tinterm to Chepstow Railway Bridge)
  • River Wye (south of Symonds Yat to Tintern, from 1 April to 31 October, when in spate, and from 1 November to 31 March)
  • River Usk (from Newbridge-on-Usk to Newport Railway Bridge)
  • River Usk (upstream of Newbridge-on-Usk. Only available from 7 October to 14 February. Contact Area British Canoeing Coaching Organiser. From Newport Railway Bridge to a line running from Goldcliffe to Bell buoy and from Cardiff East Buoy to Lavernock Point)
  • River Wye (from the Chepstow Railway Bridge to mouth of the River Wye)

A

  • Sea (from the mouth of River Wye and beyond limit of line running from Goldcliffe to Bell buoy. Cardiff East to Lavenock Point)

Notes

  • There is no access agreement for Newport Docks. Should a new access agreement be negotiated, Scout activities including for adults only, may only be approved where a County/Area Assessor is present to oversee, until a classification is confirmed by the Area. Until then, it should be assumed that North Dock is minimum B1, and South Dock is B3.

C

  • Pools in Aberdare Park
  • River Ogmore (above Ogmore Castle)

B1

  • All waters unless otherwise classified
  • Penyfan Ponds

B3

  • River Ogmore (mouth - Ogmore Castle)
  • Ogmore Estuary
  • Coastline (up to three miles offshore)

A

  • Coastline (more than three miles offshore)

Notes

  • River Taff (Pontypridd - Taff Well) is polluted and should not be used for scout Boating

C

  • Enclosed waters (less than four hectares in size)
  • Enclosed waters other than Lakes Clywedog and Vyrnwy (four or more hectares in size, within 50 metres of the shore or more than 50 metres from the shore for sailing)
  • All canals

B1

  • Enclosed waters other than Lakes Clywedog and Vyrnwy (outside the area more than 50 m from the shore, for canoeing and boating)
  • Lake Vyrnwy (from 1 May to 31 October)
  • Lake Clywedog (from 1 May to 31 October)
  • River Severn (downstream to Pool Quay there is no public right to navigation; Pool Quay downstream, a public right to navigation exists. There are frequent rapids, although these tend not to contain large boulders or hazards. River can rise and fall very quickly due
    to heavy rain or releases of water from Llyn Clywedog. From 1 May to 31 October)
  • River Vyrnwy (frequent rapids, the level of river can rise and fall very quickly at all times of year due to releases of water from Lake Vyrnwy. At high water flow can be very fast from 1 May to 31 October)
  • Afon Garno (narrow river, overhanging trees, fast flowing in water, frequent rapids, can be very shallow in summer from 1 May to 31 October)
  • River Camlad
  • Afon Tanat (narrow river, fast flowing in winter, tends to be shallow in summer from 1 May to 31 October)
  • Afon Banwy (fast flowing in winter, frequent rapids although not normally any large hazards and can become very shallow in summer, from 1 May to 31 October inclusive)
  • River Rhiw (fast flowing in winter - frequent rapids, becomes very shallow in summer, from 1 May to 31 October)
  • Afon Cain (small river)

B2

  • Afon Banwy
  • Afon Garno
  • Afon Tanant
  • River Rhiw
  • Lake Vyrnwy, and Lake Clywedog (from 1 November to 30 April)
  • River Vurnwy (from 1 November to 30 April)
  • River Severn (Pool Quay downstream from 1 November to 30 April)

B1

  • Barafundle and by Broadhaven (within the bays)
  • Dale Bay (inshore of the Fore)
  • Fishguard Harbour (within the breakwater)
  • Freshwater East (within the bay)
  • Milford Docks (from Wards Jetty to Hakin Point)
  • Pennar Gut
  • Pembroke Dockyard (from Hobbs Point to Carr Jetty)
  • Porthclair (the launching place)
  • Sandyhaven (as far seaward as the mean LWM Springs only)
  • Saundersfoot (from Wisemans Bridge to Monkstone Point)
  • Solva Harbour (inside of Black Rock)
  • Tenby (from Monkston Point to the Lifeboat Station)
  • Western and Eastern Cleddau (as far as their confluence)
  • The Coast (from Landshipping down to Angle Lifeboat Station and the Esso Jetty)
  • The Coast (the area limited by Ragwen Point and from Old Castle Head up to one mile offshore)
  • Whitesands Bay (within Porthcell and Trwynhwrddyn Points)

B2

  • Coastline (from Dale Roads to the outer limits of Thorn Island and to West Blockhouse)
  • St Brides Bay
  • Wooltack Point (as far as Cariog Fran and within one mile of the beach)

A

  • All waters unless otherwise classified and more than three miles offshore

 

B1

  • All waters unless otherwise classified

B2

  • River Wye (Hay-on-Wye to Glasbury)

B3

  • River Wye (upstream to Glasbury)

 

 

C

  • Llyn Padarn Lagoons

B1

  • Llyn Geirionydd
  • Llyn Dinas
  • Afon Dwyryd

B2

  • Llyn Padarn
  • Llyn Tegid
  • Llyn Trawsfynydd
  • Llyn Gwynant
  • Llynau Mymbyr
  • Llyn Maelog
  • Cymyran Straights (Inland Sea)
  • Afon Llafar
  • Afon Mawddach (Afon Wen Confluence > Penmaen pool)
  • Afon Wnion (Lower from Bontnewydd)
  • Afon Llafar
  • Afon Lligwy (Upper – Plas Y Brenin > Jim’s Bridge / Siabod Café)
  • Afon Lligwy (Lower – Pont Cyfyng > Forestry Falls / Ugly House) *With Exception of ‘Forestry Falls’
  • Afon Machno (Above Penmachno Mill)
  • Afon Conwy (Beaver Pool > Conwy Estuary)
  • Afon Erch
  • Afon Dwyfach
  • Afon Llyfni
  • Porth Penrhyn

B3

  • Menai Straights
  • Afon Tryweryn (Bala Mill Falls, Canolfan Tryweryn White Water Centre)
  • Afon Prysor (Pont Dolydd Prysor > Trawsfynydd)
  • Afon Mawddach (Ganllwyd > Afon Wen Confluence)
  • Afon Mawddach Tidal Section (Penmaen Pool > Barmouth)
  • Afon Artro
  • Afon Tryweryn (Llyn Celyn > Bala) [excluding ‘Graveyard’, Chapel Falls and
  • Bala Mill Falls]
  • Afon Lligwy (Forestry Falls)
  • Afon Conwy (Ysbyty Ifan > Marked Egress below Rhydlanfair Bridge *Excluding Bryn Bras Falls which is A Class)
  • Afon Dwyfor
  • Afon Gwyfrai
  • Afon Glaslyn (Llyn Gwynant >Beddgelert)
  • Afon Seiont

A

  • Menai Straights (Overfalls and Tidal Races)
  • Afon Glaslyn (Gorge)
  • Afon Hirnant
  • Afon Twrch
  • Afon Lliw
  • Afon Wen
  • Afon Gamlan
  • Afon Gain
  • Afon Ededn
  • Afon Mawddach (Pont Abergeirw > Ganllwyd)
  • Afon Clywedog
  • Afon Wnion (Upper to Bontnewydd)
  • Afon Cwm Mynach
  • Afon Gwynant
  • Afon Ysgethin
  • Afon Cwm Nantcol
  • Afon Lliw
  • Afon Tryweryn (‘Graveyard’, Chapel Falls and Bala Mill Falls)
  • Afon Nantperis
  • Afon Arddu
  • Afon Marchlyn Mawr
  • Afon Llafar
  • Afon Ogwen
  • Afon Caseg
  • Afon Anafon
  • Afon Crafnant
  • Afon Nantygwyryd
  • Afon Rheadr Fawr
  • Afon Lligwy (Middle – Jim’s Bridge / Siabod Café > Below Pont Cyfyng & Forestry Falls > Betws Y Coed)
  • Afon Lledr
  • Afon Conwy (Bryn Bass Falls & Rhydlanfair Bridge > Beaver Pool)
  • Lower Prysor
  • Afon Cynfal
  • Afon Teigl
  • Afon Cwm Y Llan
  • Afon Croesor
  • Afon Nantmor
  • Afon Goedal
  • Afon Colwyn