Canolfan Tryweryn facts for kids
Canolfan Tryweryn is the National White Water Centre for Wales. It is located near Bala in North Wales. This centre started the first commercial white water rafting trips in the UK in 1986. Since then, it has become one of the biggest and most famous rafting places in the UK. The centre is also home to Canoe Wales, which is the main group for paddlesports in Wales. The National White Water Centre is perfect for canoeing, kayaking, and special "play-boating" activities. Groups often come here for coaching and to earn awards like the BCU/CW Star Awards.
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The River Tryweryn: A White Water Adventure
The Tryweryn is a river in North Wales. It starts at Llyn Celyn, a lake in the Snowdonia National Park. After flowing for about 19 kilometers, it joins the River Dee near Bala. The Tryweryn is an important part of the River Dee.
How the River Stays Fun
The river has been dammed to create Llyn Celyn. Water is stored in the lake during winter when there's a lot of rain. Then, in the summer, this water is released. This helps keep the river's water levels high enough for kayakers and rafters. This is great because many other natural rivers might be too low in summer.
The river's whitewater rapids have been made even better. Large rocks have been carefully placed along the river. These rocks create special features like eddys (swirling water), drops, and fun "play spots." These features make the river exciting for watersports.
You need to pay a fee to use the centre and access the river. This applies to both groups and individuals.
Sections of the River Tryweryn
The river is usually divided into three main parts:
- Top Site
- Centre Section
- Lower Tryweryn
Top Section of the River
This part of the river starts below the Llyn Celyn dam. It goes down to a metal fish trap called the "chipper." This section has nice Grade II rapids, sometimes reaching Grade III. It also has a good "play-hole" (a spot where the water creates a fun wave) and a playful weir (a small dam). This area is often used for safety training and kayaking freestyle competitions. Rafts and canoes are not allowed on this top section.
The Main Centre Section
This section is also known as the "Upper Tryweryn." It's the main part of the river for activities. It runs for about 2 kilometers from the chipper down to the Tyn Cornel camping site. This section is a good Grade III for rapids. It has most of the river's famous features, including:
- The Graveyard
- The Ski Jump
- Fedwr Gog Falls (also called Miss Davis' Bridge or Stone Bridge)
- Café Wave
- Fingers
- NRA Bridge
- Chapel Falls
The Lower River Tryweryn
This section is about 4 kilometers long. It goes from the Tyn Cornel campsite down to Bala. It's a good Grade II section, sometimes reaching Grade III. It ends with the exciting Bala Mill Falls. This is a Grade IV rapid, but you can easily portage it (carry your boat around it). The centre helps keep this lower section clear of fallen trees and other dangers.
