List of rivers of Wales explained
This is a list of rivers of Wales, organised geographically. It is taken anti-clockwise from the Dee Estuary to the M48 Bridge that separates the estuary of the River Wye from the River Severn.
Tributaries are listed down the page in an upstream direction, starting with those closest to the sea. The main stem (or principal) river of a catchment is given, left-bank tributaries are indicated by (L), and right-bank tributaries by (R). Note that, in general usage, the 'left (or right) bank of a river' refers to the left (or right) hand bank as seen when looking downstream. Where a named river is formed by the confluence of two differently named rivers, these are labelled as (Ls) and (Rs) for the left and right forks. A prime example is the formation of the River Taff from the Taf Fawr and the Taf Fechan at Cefn Coed-y-cymmer.
The list includes more or less every watercourse named on Ordnance Survey mapping and thus many of the main rivers of Wales (as defined by Natural Resources Wales). Difficulties arise otherwise in determining what should and what should not be included.[1]
Certain names are encountered frequently and particular care should be taken to differentiate between the various occurrences of Clydach, Clywedog and of Dulas for example as well as those whose names refer perhaps to the colour of their waters e.g. Afon Goch (red river), Afon Ddu (black/dark river) and Afon Wen (white/light river).
Mainland rivers flowing into Liverpool Bay
From Dee Estuary to Garth Pier, Bangor, Gwynedd
Dee catchment
- River Dee, Wales (Afon Dyfrdwy)
- Nant-y-fflint (L) (flows into Dee Estuary)
- Wepre Brook (L) (flows into Dee Estuary)
- Aldford Brook (R) (wholly in England)
- River Alyn (L) (Afon Alun / River Alun)
- Worthenbury Brook (R)
- Emral Brook (Ls)
- Wych Brook (Rs) (formerly known as the "River Elfe")
- River Clywedog (L) (Afon Clywedog)
- River Gwenfro (L) (Afon Gwenfro)
- Glanyrafon Brook (R)
- Black Brook (R) (Afon Ddu)
- Shell Brook (R)
- River Ceiriog (R) (Afon Ceiriog) (head of river is Ceiriog Ddu)
- River Teirw (L) (Afon Teirw)
- Nant Sarffle (R)
- Nant Cwm-y-geifr (R)
- Nant Cwm-llawenog (R)
- Nant Rhydwilym (R)
- River Eitha (L) (Afon Eitha)
- Eglwyseg River (L)
- Afon Morwynion (L)
- River Alwen (L) (Afon Alwen)
- Afon Ceirw (R)
- Merddwr (R) (known as Nant Lleidiog upstream)
- Afon Brenig (L)
- Afon Trystion (R)
- Afon Llynor (R)
- Afon Ceidiog (R)
- Hirnant (R)
- Afon Tryweryn (L) (River Tryweryn)
- Afon Mynach (Dee) (L)
- Afon Hesgyn (L)
- Afon Gelyn (L) (flows into Llyn Celyn)
- Nant Aberderfel (R) (flows into Llyn Celyn)
- Afon Llafar (L) (flows into Bala Lake)
- Afon Twrch (R)
- Afon Lliw (L)
Clwyd catchment
Conwy catchment
Simple coastal catchments
Aber catchment
Ogwen catchment
Cegin catchment
Adda catchment
Anticlockwise from Menai Bridge / Porthaethwy
Minor coastal catchments
- Afon Cadnant (River Cadnant)
- Nant Meigan
- Lleiniog
- Afon Nodwydd
- Afon y Marchogion
- Afon Lligwy
- Nant Perfedd
- Afon Goch (Dulas)
- Nant y Beddyw
- Afon Bryn Gwyn
- Afon Goch (Amlwch)
- Afon Wygyr
- Gwter Fudr
- Afon Alaw (River Alaw)
Crigyll catchment
Ffraw catchment
Cefni catchment
Braint (i) catchment
The Afon Braint bifurcates near Llanfairpwllgwyngyll to form two different watercourses.
Braint (ii) catchment
Note "Afon Menai", known as the "Menai Strait" in English, is not technically a river, despite its Welsh name..
From Bangor Pier to the tip of the Llŷn Peninsula
Seiont catchment
- Afon Seiont (River Seiont) (known as Afon Rhythallt above Pont-Rhythallt)
Gwyrfai catchment
Simple coastal catchments
From the tip of the Llŷn Peninsula to St. David's Head
Daron catchment
Soch catchment
Rhyd-hir catchment etc
Dwyfor catchment
Glaslyn catchment
Artro catchment
Ysgethin catchment
Mawddach catchment
Dysynni catchment
Dyfi catchment
Clarach catchment
- Afon Clarach (formed at the confluence of Afon Stewi and Nant Silo)
- Bowstreet Brook (R)
- Afon Peithyll (Ls)
Rheidol catchment
- River Rheidol (Afon Rheidol)
- Afon Melindwr (R)
- River Mynach (L) (Afon Mynach)
- Afon Merin (Rs)
- Nant Rhuddnant (Ls)
- Afon Castell (L)
- Afon Llechwedd Mawr (flows into Nant y Moch Reservoir)
- Afon Hengwm (flows into Nant y Moch Reservoir)
- Nant-y-moch (stream flowing into Nant-y-moch Reservoir)
Ystwyth catchment
- River Ystwyth (Afon Ystwyth)
- Afon Fâd (L)
- Afon Llanfihangel (R)
- Afon Magwr (R)
- Nant Freuo (L)
- Nant Pant-yr-Haidd (R)
- Nant Cwmtarw (L)
- Nant Cilmeddu (L)
- Nant y Henfelin (L)
- Nant y Berws (L)
- Nant Cell (R)
- Nant Lledwenau (R)
- Nant Bwlchgwallter (L)
- Nant Peiran (R)
- Nant Crafanglach (R)
- Nant Perfedd (L)
- Nant Ffrin-fawr (Rs)
- Nant Gau (L)
- Nant Cae-glas (R)
- Nant y Gwndwn-gwyn (Ls)
- Nant Cwta (Rs)
- Nant Milwyn (L)
- Nant Byr (L)
- Nant y Gwaith (R)
- Nant Watcyn (R)
- Nant yr Onnen (R)
- Nant Cwm-du (L)
- Nant Stwc (R)
- Nant Penygwndwn (L)
- Nant Garw (R)
- Nant y Cae Isaf (L)
- Nant y Cae (L)
- Nant Troedyrhiw (R)
- Afon Diliw (R)
- Nant yr Gafod (R)
- Diliw Fechan (R)
- Nant y Caseg (L)
- Nant yr Eglwys
- Nant Lwyd (R)
- Nant y Gorlan (Rs)
- Nant Llychese (R)
- Nant Rhydyfelin (L)
- Nant Ffos-casaf (L)
Wyre catchment
- Afon Wyre
- Afon Carrog (R)
- Wyre Fach (L)
- Nant Rhydrosser (L)
- Afon Tryal (L)
- Afon Beidog (L)
Cledan catchment
Arth catchment
Aeron catchment
Coastal streams
- Afon Drywi
- Afon Soden
- Afon Fynnon Ddewi
- Nant Hawen
- Hoffnant
Teifi catchment
- River Teifi (Afon Teifi)
- Afon Piliau (L)
- Nant Arberth (R)
- Afon Cych (L)
- Afon Hirwaun (R)
- Nant Elfed (R)
- Afon Ceri (R)
- Afon Dulas (Lampeter) (R)
- Afon Bedw (L)
- Nant Bargod (L)
- Afon Tyweli (L)
- Afon Clettwr (P)
- Clettwr Fawr (Rs)
- Clettwr Fach (Ls)
- Nant Cledlyn (R)
- Afon Duar (L)
- Afon Granell (R)
- Afon Dulas (Llandyssul) (R)
- Nant Clywedog (L)
- Clywedog-isaf (Ls)
- Clywedog-ganol (Rs)
- Afon Brefi (L)
- Nant Bryn-maen (R)
- Afon Berwyn (L)
- Afon Fflur (L)
- Camddwr (R)
- Afon Meurig (R)
- Nant Lluest (R)
- Glasffrwd (L)
- Nant Egnant (L)
- Nant Rhydol (R)
Nyfer catchment etc
- Afon Nyfer
- Nant Duad (R)
- Afon Brynberian (L)
- Afon Bannon (L)
Minor coastal catchments
Rivers flowing to west Pembrokeshire coast
From St David's Head to St. Govan's Head
Minor catchments
Cleddau catchment
From St. Govan's Head to M48 Bridge
South Pembrokeshire rivers
Taf catchment
Towy catchment
Gwendraeth catchment
Lliedi catchment
Loughor catchment
Clyne catchment
Tawe catchment
Neath catchment
Afan catchment
Kenfig catchment
Ogmore catchment
Col-huw catchment
- Afon Col-huw
- Ogney Brook (Rs)
- Hoddnant (Ls)
- Boverton Brook (Ls)
- Llanmaes Brook (Rs)
Thaw catchment
- River Thaw
- Kenson River (L)
- River Waycock (Ls)
- Nant Llancarfan (Rs)
- Nant y Stepsau (R)
Cadoxton catchment
- Cadoxton River
- Sully Brook (L)
- Cold Brook, Cadoxton (R)
- East Brook, Cadoxton (L)
- Bullcroft Brook (Ls)
- Wrinstone Brook (Rs)
Taff catchment
- River Taff (Afon Taf)
- River Ely (Afon Elái) (R)
- Afon Clun (L) (Nant Myddlyn in upper reaches)
- River Rhondda (R) (Afon Rhondda)
- Rhondda Fawr (Ls)
- Rhondda Fach (Rs)
- River Ritec (Afon Ritec)
- Nant Clydach (R)
- River Cynon (R) (Afon Cynon)
- Aman River
- Afon Dar
- Afon Pennar
- Bargoed Taf (L)
- Nant Morlais
- Taf Fechan (Ls)
- Nant Ffrwd (Rs)
Rhymney catchment
Usk catchment
Wye catchment
Severn catchment
With the exception of a small part of the Rea Brook, all tributaries of the Severn downstream of the confluence of the Severn and the Vyrnwy are wholly in England. For details see List of rivers of England.
- River Severn (Afon Hafren), Bristol Channel (Mor Hafren)
- Rea Brook (R) (small parts of upper catchment in Wales)
- River Vyrnwy (L) (Afon Efyrnwy) (lowermost section in England)
- Maerdy Brook (L)
- New Cut/Guilsfield Brook (L)
- Luggy Brook (L)
- Camlad (R) (partly in England)
- River Rhiw (Afon Rhiw) (L)
- Afon Rhiw (north fork) (Rs)
- Afon Rhiw (south fork)(Ls)
- Llifior Brook (L)
- The Mule (R) (Afon Miwl)
- Bechan Brook (L)
- Mochdre Brook (R)
- Nant Rhyd-ros lan??
- Afon Carno (L)
- Afon Cerniog (R)
- Afon Cledan (R)
- Afon Trannon (L)
- Nant Feinion (R)
- Wigdwr Brook (L)
- Afon Clywedog (L)
- Afon Dulas (R)
- Afon Brochan (L)
- Nant Cydros (R)
- Rhydyclwydau Brook (R)
Longest rivers in Wales
This is a table of the longest rivers wholly or partially in Wales.[2] Rivers only partly in Wales are included in this table in italics. Note that river lengths given by different authorities vary due to the different ways in which the measurement is made or indeed estimated. That rivers are partly fractal in nature accounts for some variation and lengths can also vary slightly over time as meanders expand or are cut off where rivers run through broad flood-plains.
See also
Notes and References
- Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 (Explorer) and 1:50,000 (Landranger) scale maps of Wales
- Encyclopædia Britannica. 1911. "Wales"
- Web site: Usk Management Catchment Summary . Natural Resources Wales . 14 November 2020.
- Book: Davies . John . Jenkins . Nigel . Baines . Menna . Lynch . Peredur I. . The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales . 2008 . University of Wales Press . Cardiff . 9780708319536 . 904 . First.
- University of Wales Press. The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. 2008.
