Have you ever been on a log flume at a waterpark? They’re one of the most enjoyable rides, combining the thrills of a roller coaster with legendary splashes at the end. But what if we told you that these rides were just imitations of a wilder and wetter ride that doesn't take place in the controlled environment of an amusement park, but in ruggedly beautiful natural surroundings? We’re talking about white water rafting, where you take on the full force of a real life river in an inflatable raft, and use a paddle to fight for your life in the rapids! In general, rafting is a seasonal pursuit that’s only possible when the level of water in a river is high enough, but in the Welsh town of Llangollen you’ll find a river that’s suitable for rafting, 365 days of the year.

Llangollen sits on the River Dee, a powerful watercourse which winds its way from the Welsh highlands, through some beautiful scenery, to the border between England and Wales. One of the most interesting stretches is the one around Llangollen. History and engineering buffs marvel at the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, where a canal crosses the Dee 38 metres above the river, nature lovers enjoy walking along the wooded banks, and daredevils? They go rafting. A series of falls and rapids which come in quick succession make this a white knuckle ride that’s guaranteed to leave you soaking wet, but fully satisfied.

Where to do white water rafting in Llangollen?

There are two possibilities on the River Dee:

• Horseshoe Falls: The first is a 3 hour route, which starts at the picturesque Horseshoe Falls, where the river drops 1 metre over the edge of a man-made weir. Once you’ve plucked up the courage to plunge over the falls, the quick current carries you to the historic Chainbridge, partially blocks the flow and causes eddies and countercurrents, and then to the Serpent’s Tail, one of the longest and most intense sections of rapids on the whole river.

• Tombstones: The next obstacle is Tombstones, a drop where you fall - like a stone - into a splash pool. This is the starting point of the second, shorter route which takes between 2 and 2.5 hours. Between Tombstones and Llangollen, calm stretches of water and meandering curves alternate with wild water falls, with names such as Middle Fall and Factory Fall, the final one coming right in the centre of town, at the appropriately named Town Falls.

• River Tryweryn: It’s also possible to go further afield from Llangollen to the River Tryweryn. This river has 8 kilometres of rafting routes, starting with an intense section of rapids for the first 2 kilometres, which can be skipped if they look too intense for you, followed by an enjoyable stretch of mixed calm and white water. This is a 2 hour rafting experience, but including the transport to and from Llangollen, the whole trip takes around half a day.

What kind of raft can you experience?

The river’s obstacles are only part of the fun, you’ve also got your choice of raft with which to ride it. Tour operators in Llangollen have 3 kinds of raft to suit all tastes. All of them are inflatable, but the experience is very different in each.

- Full size raft: This is probably what you imagine when you picture a white water raft - a boat shaped vessel with space for 6 to eight people inside. The crew use paddles to fight against the currents, but you can’t avoid every rock and tree trunk in this fast flowing river. Don’t worry, the inflatable structure will cushion the impacts, but they won’t stop the water getting in!

- Tubing: A tube looks like it would be better suited to a lazy day on the beach rather than an adrenaline fuelled race over rapids, because it’s not much more than an inflatable rubber ring. But if you’re happy to be partially submerged in the water for the duration of the trip, this is one of the most fun ways to tackle the rapids. You can even make a chain by holding hands with your friends, and pull each other over the falls and through the rapids.

- Bugging: Like tubing, this uses an individual craft and it’s also very simple. It’s a bit like a bodyboard, but inflatable, and like a body board you’ll ride with your body on the raft and your face just inches from the water! This one is fast, furious and not for the faint hearted.

Requirements to do this activity

Rafting is a great way to spice up your holiday in North Wales. It’s fast, exciting, and a great way to see some of the Welsh scenery - if you can keep the water out of your eyes for long enough! Children love the thrills, splashes and drops of rafting, and you can take them with you on a full size raft if they’re over 7 or 8 years old. They have to be 12 years old to enjoy tubing, and bugging can also be enjoyed at this age, though some sections of the river around Llangollen are reserved for those over 16 years old when it comes to bugging.

Big families are welcome in Llangollen, even larger groups can enjoy this experience together as well. You can launch a fleet of 5 or 6 rafts, carrying up to 30 people down the river at the same time, and see which group can get their raft downriver fastest. Or if you want to try tubing or bugging, you can bring 20 people along and see who sinks and who swims.

What do you need to bring with you on a trip?

Rafting on the River Dee or River Tryweryn means getting wet, and staying wet, from start to finish. If the thrills of the ride aren’t enough to protect you from the ride, don’t worry - you’ll be given a wetsuit to keep you warm. You’re also going to get a life jacket and a helmet, so you don’t have to worry about accidents, just focus on the fun. The only things you need to bring are a swimsuit to wear under the wetsuit, a pair of lace-up trainers that you can do up tightly, and a towel and change of clothes for after the rafting.

You’ll never be satisfied with your local log flume after riding the rapids here, so try it once then come back for more.