List of rivers of Wales facts for kids

Wales is a beautiful country with many rivers flowing through its landscapes. This page lists the main rivers of Wales, starting from the Dee Estuary in the north and moving around the coast in an anti-clockwise direction, all the way to the River Severn near the M48 Bridge.

Smaller rivers that flow into a main river are called tributaries. They are listed starting from the sea and moving upstream. Rivers that join from the left side are marked (L), and those from the right side are marked (R). Remember, 'left' or 'right' bank means looking downstream, towards the sea. Sometimes, two rivers meet and form a new river with a different name. These are marked (Ls) for the left fork and (Rs) for the right fork. For example, the River Taff is formed when the Taf Fawr (Ls) and Taf Fechan (Rs) meet.

This list includes most rivers named on official maps from Ordnance Survey. It also includes many of the 'main rivers' as defined by Natural Resources Wales, which is the group that looks after Wales's natural environment.

You might notice some river names appear often, like Clydach, Clywedog, and Dulas. Also, some names describe the water's colour, such as Afon Goch (meaning red river), Afon Ddu (black/dark river), and Afon Wen (white/light river).

Rivers Flowing into Liverpool Bay

These rivers are found from the Dee Estuary to Garth Pier in Bangor, Gwynedd.

Dee River Area

• River Dee, Wales (Afon Dyfrdwy)
  • Nant-y-fflint (L) (flows into Dee Estuary)
  • Wepre Brook (L) (flows into Dee Estuary)
  • River Alyn (L) (Afon Alun)
    • River Cegidog (R) (Afon Cegidog)
      • Nant-y-Ffrith (R)
    • River Terrig (R) (Afon Terrig)
  • River Clywedog (L) (Afon Clywedog)
    • River Gwenfro (L) (Afon Gwenfro)
  • River Ceiriog (R) (Afon Ceiriog)
    • River Teirw (L) (Afon Teirw)
  • River Alwen (L) (Afon Alwen)
    • Afon Ceirw (R)
    • Afon Brenig (L)
  • Afon Tryweryn (L) (River Tryweryn)
    • Afon Mynach (Dee) (L)
    • Afon Gelyn (L) (flows into Llyn Celyn)
  • Afon Llafar (L) (flows into Bala Lake)

Clwyd River Area

• River Clwyd (Afon Clwyd)
  • River Gele (L) (Afon Gele)
  • River Elwy (L) (Afon Elwy)
    • River Aled (R)
  • River Wheeler (R) (Afon Chwiler)
  • River Clywedog (L) (Afon Clywedog)

Conwy River Area

• River Conwy (Afon Conwy)
  • Afon Gyffin (L)
  • Afon Roe (L)
  • Afon Dulyn (L)
    • Afon Ddu (L)
  • Afon Porth-llwyd (L)
  • Afon Ddu (L)
  • Afon Crafnant (L)
    • Afon Geirionydd (R)
  • Afon Llugwy (L)
  • Afon Lledr (L)
    • Afon Wybrnant (R)
  • Afon Machno (L)
  • Afon Eidda (L)

Smaller Coastal Rivers

• Afon Gyrach
• Afon Ddu

Aber River Area

• Afon Aber
  • Afon Anafon (Rs)
  • Afon Rhaeadr Fawr (Ls)
    • Afon Rhaeadr Bach (Ls)
      • Afon Gam (L)
    • Afon Goch (Rs)

Ogwen River Area

• Afon Ogwen
  • Afon Caseg (R)
    • Afon Llafar (L)
    • Afon Denau (flows into Llyn Ogwen)
    • Afon Lloer (flows into Llyn Ogwen)

Cegin River Area

• River Cegin (Afon Cegin)

Adda River Area

• River Adda (Afon Adda)

Rivers on Anglesey Island

These rivers are listed going anti-clockwise from Menai Bridge / Porthaethwy.

Minor Coastal Rivers

• Afon Cadnant (River Cadnant)
• Nant Meigan
• Afon Lligwy
• Afon Goch (Dulas)
• Afon Goch (Amlwch)
• Afon Alaw (River Alaw)

Crigyll River Area

• Afon Crigyll
  • Afon Caradog (L)

Ffraw River Area

• Afon Ffraw
  • Afon Gwna (flows into Llyn Coron)

Cefni River Area

• Afon Cefni (River Cefni)
  • Afon Newydd (L)
  • Afon Ceint (L)
  • Afon Erddreiniog (L) (flows into Cefni Reservoir)

Braint River Areas

The Afon Braint splits into two different rivers near Llanfairpwllgwyngyll.

• Afon Braint (River Braint, Dwyran)
• Afon Braint (LlanfairPG)

Note: "Afon Menai", known as the "Menai Strait" in English, is not actually a river, even though its Welsh name suggests it is.

Rivers Flowing into Menai Strait and Caernarfon Bay

These rivers are found from Bangor Pier to the tip of the Llŷn Peninsula.

Seiont River Area

• Afon Seiont (River Seiont)
  • Afon Nant Peris (flows into Llyn Peris)

Gwyrfai River Area

• Afon Gwyrfai
  • Afon Carrog (L)

Smaller Coastal Rivers

• Afon Llifon
• Afon Llyfni, Lleyn
• Afon Desach
• Afon Hen
• Afon Geirch

Rivers Flowing into Cardigan Bay

These rivers are found from the tip of the Llŷn Peninsula to St. David's Head.

• Afon Saint

Daron River Area

• Afon Daron

Soch River Area

• Afon Soch

Rhyd-hir River Area

• Afon Rhyd-hir
• Afon Erch
• Afon Wen

Dwyfor River Area

• Afon Dwyfor
  • Afon Dwyfach (R)

Glaslyn River Area

• Afon Glaslyn
  • Afon Dylif
    • Afon Croesor (L)
  • Nantmor (L)
  • Afon Colwyn (R)
• Afon Dwyryd
  • Afon Prysor (L)
  • Afon Cynfal (L)

Artro River Area

• Afon Artro

Ysgethin River Area

• Afon Ysgethin

Mawddach River Area

• Afon Mawddach
  • Afon Wnion (L)
    • Afon Clywedog (L)
  • Afon Eden (R)

Dysynni River Area

• Afon Dysynni (R)
  • Afon Fathew (L)

Dyfi River Area

• River Dyfi (River Dovey)
  • Afon Leri (L)
  • Afon Einion (L)
  • Afon Dulas (R) (North Dulas)
  • Afon Dulas (L) (South Dulas)
  • Afon Twymyn (L)
  • Afon Angell (R)

Clarach River Area

• Afon Clarach (formed by Afon Stewi and Nant Silo)

Rheidol River Area

• River Rheidol (Afon Rheidol)
  • River Mynach (L) (Afon Mynach)
  • Afon Llechwedd Mawr (flows into Nant y Moch Reservoir)

Ystwyth River Area

• River Ystwyth (Afon Ystwyth)
  • Afon Llanfihangel (R)
  • Nant Peiran (R)
  • Afon Diliw (R)

Wyre River Area

• Afon Wyre
  • Wyre Fach (L)

Arth River Area

• River Arth

Aeron River Area

• Afon Aeron

Smaller Coastal Streams

• Afon Drywi
• Afon Soden
• Nant Hawen

Teifi River Area

• River Teifi (Afon Teifi)
  • Afon Cych (L)
  • Afon Ceri (R)
  • Afon Tyweli (L)
  • Afon Clettwr (P)
  • Afon Brefi (L)
  • Afon Fflur (L)

Nyfer River Area

• Afon Nyfer
  • Afon Brynberian (L)

Minor Coastal Rivers

• River Gwaun (Afon Gwaun)

Rivers Flowing to West Pembrokeshire Coast

These rivers are found from St David's Head to St. Govan's Head.

Minor River Areas

• River Alun
• River Solva (Afon Solfach)

Cleddau River Area

• Daugleddau (estuary is Milford Haven)
  • Western Cleddau (Rs)
    • Merlin's Brook (R)
    • Afon Anghof (L)
  • Eastern Cleddau (Ls)
    • Afon Syfynwy (R)

Rivers Flowing into the Bristol Channel

These rivers are found from St. Govan's Head to the M48 Bridge.

South Pembrokeshire Rivers

• The Ritec (Afon Rhydeg)

Taf River Area

• River Tâf (Afon Taf)
  • River Cywyn (Afon Cywyn) (L)
  • Afon Cynin (L)

Towy River Area

• Afon Tywi (River Towy)
  • Afon Gwili (R)
  • River Cothi (R) (Afon Cothi)
  • Afon Cennen (L)
  • Afon Sawdde (L)
  • Afon Bran (L)
  • Afon Doethie (R)

Gwendraeth River Area

• River Gwendraeth
  • Gwendraeth Fach (Rs)
  • Gwendraeth Fawr (Ls)

Lliedi River Area

• River Lliedi (Afon Lliedi)

Loughor River Area

• River Loughor (Afon Llwchwr)
  • Afon Lliw (L)
  • River Amman (L)
  • Afon Dulais

Clyne River Area

• Clyne River

Tawe River Area

• River Tawe
  • Lower Clydach River (R)
  • Upper Clydach River (R)
  • Afon Twrch (R)
  • River Giedd (R)
  • Nant Llech (L)

Neath River Area

• River Neath
  • River Clydach (R)
  • River Dulais (R)
  • Nedd Fechan (Rs)
  • Afon Mellte (Ls)
    • Afon Hepste (L)

Afan River Area

• River Afan
  • Ffrwd Wyllt (L)
  • Afon Pelenna (R)
  • Afon Corrwg (R)

Kenfig River Area

• River Kenfig (Afon Cynffig)

Ogmore River Area

• River Ogmore (Afon Ogwr)
  • River Ewenny (L)
  • River Llynfi (R)
  • Afon Garw (R)
  • Afon Ogwr Fawr (Rs)
  • Afon Ogwr Fach (Ls)

Col-huw River Area

• Afon Col-huw
  • Ogney Brook (Rs)

Thaw River Area

• River Thaw
  • Kenson River (L)

Cadoxton River Area

• Cadoxton River
  • Sully Brook (L)

Taff River Area

• River Taff (Afon Taf)
  • River Ely (Afon Elái) (R)
  • River Rhondda (R) (Afon Rhondda)
    • Rhondda Fawr (Ls)
    • Rhondda Fach (Rs)
  • River Cynon (R) (Afon Cynon)
  • Taf Fechan (Ls)

Rhymney River Area

• Rhymney River (Afon Rhymni)
  • Nant Bargod Rhymni (R)

Usk River Area

• River Usk (Afon Wysg)
  • Ebbw River (R) (Afon Ebwy)
    • Sirhowy River (R)
  • Afon Llwyd (R)
  • Afon Gafenni (L) (River Gavenny)
  • River Clydach (R)
  • Grwyne Fawr (L)
  • River Honddu (L)
  • Afon Tarell (R)
  • Afon Ysgir (L)
  • Afon Senni (R)

Wye River Area

• River Wye (Afon Gwy)
  • River Trothy (R)
  • River Monnow (Afon Mynwy) (R)
    • River Dore (L)
    • River Honddu (R)
  • River Lugg (L) (Afon Llugwy)
    • River Arrow (R)
  • Afon Llynfi (R)
  • Afon Irfon (R)
  • River Ithon (L) (Afon Ieithon)
  • Afon Elan (R)
    • Afon Claerwen (R)
  • Afon Marteg (L)

Severn River Area

Most of the River Severn's tributaries downstream of the River Vyrnwy are in England.

• River Severn (Afon Hafren), Bristol Channel (Mor Hafren)
  • River Vyrnwy (L) (Afon Efyrnwy) (lower part in England)
    • Afon Tanat (L) (lower part in England)
    • Afon Cain (L)
    • Afon Banwy (R)
  • Camlad (R) (partly in England)
  • River Rhiw (Afon Rhiw) (L)
  • The Mule (R) (Afon Miwl)
  • Afon Carno (L)
  • Afon Trannon (L)
  • Afon Clywedog (L) (flows into Clywedog Reservoir)
  • Afon Dulas (R)

Longest Rivers in Wales

This table shows the longest rivers that are either fully or partly in Wales. River lengths can vary a bit because rivers have wiggly paths, and measurements can be taken in different ways.

Rank	River	Length		Notes
		(miles)	(km)
1	River Severn	220	354	Leaves Wales after 48 miles.
2	River Wye	135	217	Forms part of the Wales-England border.
3	River Teme	81	130	Entirely in England after 12 miles.
4	River Usk	78	126	One of the longest rivers entirely in Wales.
5	River Tywi	75	121
6	River Teifi	73	117
7	River Dee	70	113
8	River Taff	40	64

See also

• List of rivers of the United Kingdom
• List of rivers of England
• List of rivers in Ireland
• List of rivers of the Isle of Man
• List of rivers in Scotland
• Longest rivers of the United Kingdom
• Main river