Western Waterfalls 2009

Cenarth Falls, Y Gerwn, Tresaith Waterfall/Gwalia Falls, Clydach Falls/Sgwd Clydach.

West Wales (or Southwest Wales, or whatever you want to call it) is easily overlooked when it comes to waterfalls, and with good reason; it has less relief, more marshes and flat estuaries, without the rivers being able to drop far enough to make waterfalls that anybody cares about. But what it lacks in normal-style waterfalls, it makes up for with some alternatives. It has a lengthy coastline, with extensive sea cliffs. Typically, the streams dig deep little valleys between them that slope steeply without interruption to the sea, but occasionally streams (never rivers) tumble over those cliffs, creating tall spouts in odd locations. Several can only be seen from out at sea, or poorly from above.

Most of my knowledge extends over the short length from Aberaeron to Aberporth, and various parts of the Pembrokeshire coast, where it is obvious that most residents and visitors do not care too much about the waterfalls - most have no names, and are only around 10 metres tall at most. And the waterfalls are no better. (Yes, that was a joke, whether you found it funny or not.) Examples include those north of New Quay, or at Trwyn Crou (seen on the dolphin-spotting boat trips). However, from the tourist hotspot of Llangrannog to the lesser-known Tresaith, there is a small patch where a couple of the waterfalls are named (not very imaginatively), and the coast paths offer some nice routes to them. Due to tidal influence and lack of daylight, the relevant part of this gallery was taken in segments over a couple of days, but it is presented here as a continuous gallery.

Cenarth Falls

• On the A484 between Newcastle Emlyn and Cardigan is the tiny village of Cenarth. Just after the A484 crosses the Afon Teifi, a small car park on the river bank gives access to the waterfalls. A fee is charged for parking (accessing the waterfall is free), and it's relatively expensive for just a waterfall, so I'd suggest you also use the opportunity to take a walk through the nearby woodlands, or visit other attractions nearby.
• Cenarth Falls, as seen from the rocks by the car park.
• Cenarth Falls and Cenarth Mill.

Y Gerwn, Tresaith Waterfall/Gwalia Falls

• The top of Y Gerwn, the waterfall in Llangrannog. This is how it appears from the road, and is how most visitors will see it.
• The nearby public garden has these woods at the back, with a gap in the hedge (and drop down a pile of lawn cuttings) being the unofficial way into it. A quick descent through the woods leads to the waterfall's gorge.
• Y Gerwn, about 6 metres tall.
• 3 metre cascade a little downstream of the gorge, with a deep plunge pool. Note the remains of the mill on the opposite bank.
• Scrambling the cliffs at Llangrannog. Apologies for the lens flare, but I wasn't really in a position to take carefully prepared pretty shots.
• Carreg Bica, the 10 metre stack at Llangrannog.
• Llangrannog from the coastal path at Pen-rhip.
• Cliffs up to 100 metres high at Carreg Ifan, with Ynys-Lochtyn on the left and Cilborth Beach on the right.
• Cliffs at Castell Bach, around 115 metres high, with the coastal path running right beside the edge.
• The little Morfa valley.
• Traeth Bach.
• The tidal rock island of Carreg-y-Tŷ. Note the sea cave in the middle which extends to the far side of the island under water, so that it responds to waves on the far side by ejecting foaming water on this side.
• Sloping cliffs above Penbryn. These are also about 115 metres high.
• Approaching Penbryn.
• Locals. Spot the odd one out.
• Woodlands at Penbryn.
• The unnamed 7 metre waterfall at Penbryn.
• The start of the next segment of coastal path.
• Some really bad advice at the cattle fields. This is how dog walkers get killed.
• Path above the 120 metre tall cliffs at Penbryn. They are not vertical, but the undergrowth can hide the sudden drops which do not stop until they hit the rocks at sea level.
• Approaching Tresaith.
• Path at Tresaith.
• Tresaith Beach. The rocks that the picture is taken from are covered at high tide.
• Tresaith Waterfall, a 15 metre spout. It either lands in the sea or on the sand, depending on the tide. Annoyingly, the cliff is north-facing, so the lighting is almost always bad. In the evening, it can catch the sunset though. The waterfall is sometimes called Gwalia Falls after the caravan park that sits above it, but this is not an official name for the waterfall.
• Base of the waterfall. This cannot be reached except at low tide.
• Carreg y Trothwy, rocks in a tiny bay tucked behind the waterfall. This visit was at low tide when the tidal range was about 1.5 metres. It was not really enough, and getting past the waterfall required sprinting whenever the backwash left the sand dry for a moment. A higher range is needed to continue properly down the coast.
• Looking back to the Tresaith Waterfall, with a false perspective created by the distant visitors.
• Base of the cliffs beyond the waterfall. These are particularly badly affected by the tide, and seem to need low tide with a tidal range of at least 3 metres, in order to complete the walk to Penbryn.
• Evening light at Penbryn.
• Sea foam being blown over the beach by the high winds.
• Tubular wave.
• Windblown waves.
• 25 metre splash as the waves batter the sea cliffs at Penbryn.
• The Hoffnant at Penbryn.
• Path along the Hoffnant.
• Path back up the woodland.
• A pony smaller than most pet dogs.
• Abnormal beech trees at Troedyrhiw.
• Troedyrhiw.
• Forest at the upper part of the Hoffnant.
• Approaching Penmorfa.

Neath Clydach Falls/Sgwd Clydach

This must not be confused with the waterfalls in the Clydach Gorge, which are at the far end of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The Clydach Falls are at Neath Abbey, Neath, right by Swansea, on the River Clydach, in Cwm Clydach (AKA Glynclydach), in the Dyffryn Clydach Community. Not the River Clydach at Clydach in the Clydach Gorge, nor the River Clydach near Talybont-on-Usk, nor the Afon Clydach joining the Sawdde on the Black Mountain, nor the Afon Clydach near the Usk Reservoir, nor the Clydach in Cwm Clydach joining Cwm Treweryn by Sennybridge, nor the Nant Clydach in Cwm Clydach joining the Usk near Sennybridge, nor the Afon Clydach near Brechfa by Carmarthen (or the nearby Cloidach), nor the Afon Clydach in Cwm Clydach joining the Afon Nyfer in Pembrokeshire, nor the Nant Clydach at Clydach Vale near Tonypandy, nor the Nant Clydach in Cwm Clydach that joins the Taff near Pontypridd, nor the Clydach Brook 10 km upstream along the Neath, nor the Upper Clydach River which joins the Tawe at Pontardawe, nor even the Clydach River which joins the Lower Clydach River in Cwm Clydach that joins the Tawe just 5 km away at Clydach, but the River Clydach that joins the River Neath at Neath. It's obvious, really. Really ... no, really. Despite its name, it's not even a proper waterfall. Only the bottom part is natural, while the top is a weir. Why is it even listed here? Because it is. Shut up.

To get there, take the A465 to the Neath junction and pick up the A4230 heading West. Just after crossing the river (you might not notice that), take Longford Road on the right, towards Neath Abbey. After passing under a railway bridge, there are three paths heading down on the right to the river-side path, and there is a layby a short way after the last one. Take whichever path you want - this gallery assumes the last one before the layby, which is almost directly above the main waterfall. The entire stretch of river shown here is just 250 metres long, so you may want to continue some distance upstream along the footpaths just to add a little more interest, or a little downstream to visit the ironworks.

• The River Clydach. The Neath one.
• The top of Clydach Falls, clearly showing the artificial top which was used to maintain the water level for use by the nearby waterwheel. Still, it does help spread the water out nicely over the natural waterfall ledges.
• Clydach Falls, 1 metre artificial, 5 metres natural. The setting is lovely though, with a large cove and hanging vines. At the bottom-left are the remains of the waterwheel's foundations, which powered the Neath Abbey Ironworks.
• Warehouses by the river. Not appreciated, it would seem.
• Hard to tell if the sides here are a gorge or a quarry. The lower part seems natural, but these look quarried.
• Lower weir and bridge, a little upstream of the old ironworks.

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