The estuary of the Conwy is entered by the narrows between Deganwy on the east and The Morfa, a sandy point on the west bank. To seaward of this the channel along the Penmaenmawr shore is well marked, and sailing directions for the half-tide channel running north towards the Great Orme are clearly given in the North Wales and Anglesey Pilot. No sailing directions are given, however, for the estuary itself, beyond the fact that it is navigable towards high water as far as Trefriw.

The first hazard to be negotiated is the double main road bridge by Conwy Castle. This must be passed by 3-4 hours after low water if there is to be time to sail far up the estuary. At this time there will be 15-17 feet beneath the lowest part of the centre of the span (the two road bridges and rail bridge are of different heights). Beyond these bridges is a pleasant sandy estuary, about a mile wide. The Ordnance Survey 1” map gives quite a good idea of the run of the channels.

Next comes another road bridge at Tal-y-Cafn. Just before H.W. we found more than 12’ of clearance here. The pub on the west bank above these bridges is pleasantly accessible, but goes in for serving posh meals to customers who come by car, leaving little room or attention for the scruffier types who come by water.

Above this is a muddy reach where it is possible to anchor and lie afloat quite close to the east bank. If one is too late to proceed up river from here, and anchors for a tide, one will find the flood running in one’s favour up this reach two hours before H.W. The timing here is critical, because the next reach, a straight one between wooded shores, contains the only real hazard of the passage; rapids. We were quite unable to row through this reach after half hour of ebb. By three hours after H.W. the reach was running too quickly to be negotiable by anything other than a canoe. By the time the flood is making through the reach (two hours before H.W.) the rapids are easily crossed. 1¾ hours after H.W. they were still easily passed over. A curious tower on the western bank just by the rapids seems to have something to do with what may once have been a weir at one side of them.

Above the rapids is a broader reach where cattle walk across the shallows. The channel here runs about where the O.S. map shows the county boundary. Above this is a marshy island — the channel is navigable on both sides of it. There is some slight hazard here from fishing lines, as anglers use the banks. The footbridge near Dolgarrog has 16’ clearance at H.W. springs. The river is narrow but at H.W. quite deep close to both shores in these last reaches up to Trefriw.

As the launching slip at Deganwy is a good one, free and close to parking facilities, and reaching pretty well to the low water line, this is a trip which can quite easily be planned. It also provides a pleasant alternative when fresh winds make the sea-passage out from the Conwy unsuitable for a dinghy. The estuary below the Conwy bridges is congested with moorings, but very few craft are to be seen above them, and one will probably have the waters here to oneself.