sport
CAST YOUR
EYES ON
CANYONING
Aled Singleton replaces
the riverside walk with a
more adrenaline-filled way
to take in the waterfalls of
South Wales: canyoning.
PUT simply, canyoning is about being at one with
the exhilarating beauty of the natural environment.
The guys from Adventure Britain show you their
natural playground near to Ystradfellte by letting
you get inside the waterfalls, rivers and gorges
themselves. Though it only requires some bravery
and a decent level of fitness for the participant, the
instructors Dave and Jon seemed to know every
little stone along the course and every type of moss
or lichen on the river bed. All of this knowledge is
crucial in keeping you safe.
I shared my experience with young parents Emma
and Alex, who had taken the day off specially to
come down from Birmingham, and Eugene from
Neath. As we got changed into our wetsuits Eugene
was getting excited about the “distant white noise
and the ‘chhhhhhh’ of the waterfall”.
Though we could hear the sound of the water, Jon
and Dave made sure that they would save the best
until last. We started off by practising the basics:
jumping and diving into the water and letting
ourselves get taken with the current like seals.
The major highlight of the experience was the
descent of a series of four waterfalls. Jon and Dave
took us a point where we could walk through one of
the smaller chutes. You could taste the sweetness
of the water as it dripped down and a