River Gwaun

Afon Gwaun
River Gwaun
River
Country	Wales
Counties	Pembrokeshire
Towns	Fishguard
Source
- location	Preseli Hills
- coordinates
Mouth
- location	Fishguard, Pembrokeshire
- coordinates
Length	15 km (9 mi)

The River Gwaun (Welsh: Afon Gwaun, "Gwaun" meaning 'marsh, moor') is a river in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, which flows principally westwards, through the hamlet of Cwm Gwaun, draining to the sea into Fishguard Bay at Fishguard (Welsh: Abergwaun - 'mouth of the Gwaun').

Course

Llanychaer Bridge

The Gwaun rises in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park on the northern slopes of Foel Eryr in the Preseli Hills, to the east of Pontfaen hamlet. The river is a slowly meandering stream passing through marshy, wet woodland with alder trees, water meadows and flood plains. Its river valley is deep and secluded through the Gwaun Valley, past the hamlets of Cwm Gwaun and Llanychaer up to where it meets the sea at Lower Fishguard.

River Gwaun, Lower Fishguard

It has a total length of 9 miles (14 km) and is navigable by canoe for the lower third of its length, beginning west of Pontfaen. Before Pontfaen, the river is joined by the Afon Cwmau which flows from the south.

Formation

The river was formed as a meltwater channel for the retreating glaciers at the end of the Ice Age.

External links

• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of the River Gwaun and surrounding area