From time to time Judy and I meet up for a canoe trip, more often than not on the Mon. & Brec. canal. However Judy thought it was time for a paddle on the Afon Teifi and we agreed a trip from Llechrhyd to St Dogmaels.

In addition we had another passenger, Maureen a friend of Judy. We met at St Dogmaels and then a shuttle up to Llechrhyd for the start.

I used to paddle this stretch regularly but my canoeing trips have been few and far between and it was a pleasant change  to again launch my Alan Bridges canoe on the river close to where the builder lives.

It was very peaceful with the first part of the journey enclosed by trees. We stopped for a coffee below Cilgerran castle and were soon paddling through the small rapid a mile or so downstream. This was the first time I had paddled here with three in the boat but it went smoothly.

Just around the corner  we stopped for lunch on a convenient bench overlooking the river. There was another small shallow rapid to go through but again no problems  arose.

We were now close to the cardigan Wildlife Park and the  birdlife increased with sightings of the usual mallards, a flock of Canada geese, a little egret, a few cormorants, one of which was drying its wings on an old tree trunk in the river.

We now approached Cardigan where we could see the recently renovated Cardigan Castle. Once under the bridge the estuary was more noticeable but thankfully today the wind was light as this can be slog.

Passing the Ferry Inn we were now in St Dogmaels and soon at the slipway and the end of our very pleasant trip.