River Towy

Image courtesy of RHYSHUW1, wikimedia commons

At seventy five miles long the River Towy - Afon Tywi - is the longest river which flows wholly within the principality of Wales. The River Severn is actually the longest river to flow through Wales but that river also flows through part of England.

The River Towy rises on the lower slopes of Crug Gynan in the Cambrian Mountains and flows south westerly towards it's one thousand, three hundred and thirty three square mile basin that it shares with the rivers Teifi and Gwendraeth, at Llansteffan on the Pendine Sands, famous for being the venue of the land speed record between 1924 - 1927 - at Carmarthen Bay, before eventually flowing out into the Irish Sea.

The river has numerous small tributaries with the largest of these being the Rivers Bran, Cothi, Doethie, Gwenlais, Gwilli and Sawdde.

The river passes through three Welsh towns along it's route, Llandeilo, Llandovery and Carmarthen.

Despite it's length the river is spanned by only eight bridges, the oldest of which is the grade one listed Pont Dolauhirion situated north of the small town of Llandovery, a single arched, local stone built bridge, designed by engineer Thomas Edwards in 1773. Another interesting bridge across the Towy is the Llandeilo Railway Bridge, a grade II listed, lattice girder, truss bridge, built in 1852

The area along which the river flows is known as the Upper / Lower Towy Valley, both of which are areas of striking natural beauty with a myriad of small towns and villages that are steeped in local history.

Situated six miles from it's source in the Upper Towy Valley, is the Llyn Brianne Reservoir, it's spillway is pictured above, built in 1972. The resevoir which is fed by a clay core, rock dam is the highest in the U.K at three hundred feet and measures thirty feet by nine hundred feet and holds sixty two million tonnes of water. Every day one point five million gallons of water are discharged from the dam into the reservoir by way of it's three hundred foot high spillway which also generates a hydro electric plant. This daily discharge has become somewhat of a local tourist attraction as has the six mile road that surrounds the dam, that is used by hikers, bikers and motorists to take in the wild and rugged scenery of the surrounding area.

The Towy is a fast flowing, spate river which is characterised by it's many tree lined, deep pools and rocky gorges which is home to some of Wales' best fishing with a plentiful supply of salmon and sea trout.

The river is also the site of the age old Welsh tradition of coracle fishing. A coracle is a small, oval shaped - resembles half a walnut shell - light weight, river boat made from a willow rod frame which is covered with animal skins. The coracle has a keel - less, flat bottom that is steered by way of a single arm method of propulsion, in order to leave the other arm free for fishing. After a days fishing the coracle fisherman, can carry both his lightweight craft and his catch, back home upon his back.

The river's sparsley populated route passes through the two market towns of Llandovery and Llandeilo, with their ancient castles and old churches to attract the visitor.The river's route also passes near to the vicinity of The Dolaucothi Gold Mines and the ruins of the hauntingly beautiful, Tally Abbey. The river also skirts the western periphery of the Brecon Beacons National Park before it finally arrives at it's most populated area, that of the market town and county town of Carmarthenshire, Carmarthen, hometown of the mythical King Arthur's, legendary wizard, Merlin, which has a number of architecturally interesting sites for the visitor, which is located near the river's estuary at Carmarthen Bay.

Carmarthen Bay with it's strong tidal flow and treacherous mud banks also boasts a rocky coastline interspersed with long, sandy beaches, with the mouth of the estuary guarded by the imposing ruins of Castle Steffan. The estuary, which is the discharge site of three rivers, is also partially sited within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The estuary is also the site of the spiritual retreat known as Caldey Island, which houses a Cistercian Monastery and an eighteenth century lighthouse and keepers cottage, all of which can be accessed by way of a local, Summer, ferry service.

SOME RIVER TOWY WEBSITES

Fishing - www.fishtowy.co.uk

Walking - www.breconbeaconsparksociety.org

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