Offers of Rafting Gwynedd

Whether you like it or not, a visit to Wales is going to involve getting wet. The beautiful greenery of the scenery doesn’t get that way by accident, it’s the result of pretty regular rainfall. But rain is only a problem when you’re trying to stay dry, so you can beat the Welsh climate by taking the plunge into some thrilling watersports. Another consequence of the rain is the network of stunning lakes and rapid rivers that spans the country. In the far northwest, the region of Gwynedd is blessed with waterways that are perfect for one of the most adrenaline fuelled aquatic adventures out there, and that’s rafting.

This county is such a good destination for rafting that it hosts the longest established, and most important facility for this sport in the country, the National White Water Rafting Centre near Bala. It sits on the banks of the River Tryweryn, which is the racetrack for white water rafting descents. Falls, rapids, and river bends make up a natural, 8 kilometre long rollercoaster, which is divided into sections of varying difficulty, and fun all the way. But this sport doesn’t have to be about speed, you can also enjoy the process of building a rudimentary raft and testing it out on the waters of North Wales. Don’t worry - if you’re setting sail on a DIY raft, it won’t be on the river but a tranquil lake in Snowdonia National Park. In a country with as much water as Wales, it’s no surprise that there are endless ways to have fun with it, and the great prices make it even more appealing.

Where are the best places to go rafting in Gwynedd?

• Upper Tryweryn: The River Tryweryn was damned in the 1960s, flooding the valley and drowning the village of Capel Celyn. The dam now controls the water flowing into the Tryweryn, which makes this one of the most reliable destinations in the UK for white water. The Tryweryn descends steeply over 8 kilometres until it reaches the River Dee outside the town of Bala, and it starts with a bang - or, rather, a splash. The first part of the route is a slalom of white water as the current carries you over a nonstop series of obstacles, from the Graveyard rapids to the Ski Jump falls. With names like that, how can you resist facing the challenges of the Upper Tryweryn? As you descend this part of the river you pass the National White Water Centre, where a cafe sits on a terrace above the river and your friends and family can watch you whizz by.

• Lower Tryweryn: The lower stretches of the Tryweryn, starting below the National White Water Centre, are a more family friendly option, but with the same level of fun and excitement. It’s a longer route than the Upper Tryweryn, and involves rounding some bends in the river as you travel down the valley towards Bala. The obstacles here have names such as Long Left, Bouncing Rock and Dump Truck Eddy, but the main event comes just before the Tryweryn joins with the th Dee - the Bala Mill Falls. These are a chaotic series of jumps and drops, and you’ll have to hold on until your knuckles turn white if you want to avoid falling in!

• Bala Lake: Known as Llyn Tegid in the Welsh language, this lake holds much of the rain water and snowmelt that come off the peaks of the Snowdonia National Park before it flows into the River Dee. It’s a real beauty spot, with calm waters, tree lined banks, and views of the mountains beyond. But you won’t have much time for peaceful contemplation if you come here for a raft building activity. You’ll be given some more or less buoyant materials - think barrels, wooden poles and rope - and tasked with creating a functioning vessel against the clock! When it’s ready, you’ll take it out to the waters to put it through its paces in a series of challenges, so long as it doesn’t sink immediately!

What are the options for organising an experience?

- When you picture white water rafting, you probably imagine a group of people in a boat shaped raft desperately trying to control its descent through the rapids with short paddles. These full size rafts are big enough for 6 people and a ride down the river in Gwynedd takes 1, 1.5 or 2 hours depending on which part of the Tryweryn you choose to tackle. They’re the perfect option for people new to this activity, especially families.

- The most intense way to experience the rapids of the River Tryweryn is the aptly named orca extreme - extreme for the excitement, and orca for the black and white paint job of rafts involved. Although they’re inflatable like normal rafts, they’re shaped like kayaks, meaning that they cut through the water at hair raising speed. If you want to try this out, you have to commit to descending the full 8 kilometre course, which takes around 4.5 hours.

- The ikea flat pack of rafting, a self built raft, can be made to the size that fits your group. Taking into account the building phase, the maiden voyage, and possible rescue operation, this is an activity that takes a few hours to complete, and you should put aside about half a day of the itinerary of your trip to enjoy it.

Requirements to do this activity

As we’ve said, this experience on the Tryweryn can take place in 6 seater or 2 seater rafts. In the full size ones, you have the option of booking as an individual and sharing the journey with other adventurers, or reserving a full raft for your family or group of friends. If you bring a big group, you can set sail in a fleet of rafts, and see who gets down quickest - and driest! Children as young as 10 years old can join their families in a full size raft on the Lower Tryweryn, but to face the upper part of the river they need to be at least 12. And to get your kicks in an orca kayak, you need to be over 16 years old.

Raft building is best enjoyed with a group that’s large enough to be split up into different teams, who can compete against each other to build the best raft and be the best sailors. It’s perfect for a team building day out, including with youth groups, because kids from 8 years old and up can take part.

The water is your friend in this county, come and get to know it on an adventure!