River Aeron
Encyclopedia
The River Aeron is a small river
in Ceredigion
, Wales
, that flows into Cardigan Bay
at Aberaeron
. It is also referred to on some older maps as the River Ayron.
, in the range of hills called Mynydd Bach. It then follows a more or less westerly and then north westerly track to the sea. It has a rather broad river valley
bounded by low hill
s and has relatively few significant tributaries. Those that it does have include the Gwenffrwd, Nant Wysg, Nant Picadilly, Nant y Wernen and Nant Rhiw Afallan. The Afon Mydr drains an area of old woodland
s and dairy farming and includes the old farm of Rhiwbren Fawr.
On its way to the sea, the Aeron passes through Felinfach and by the village
of Ciliau Aeron
. It passes close to the restored mansion
at Llanerchaeron
which is now in the care of the National Trust
before entering the picturesque town of Aberaeron
where it enters the sea.
Despite the relatively small size of the river, it sustains a population of salmon
and brown trout
.
Dylan Thomas
lived near the banks of the river in the 1940s, at a secluded mansion called Plas Gelli, just outside Talsarn. He called the Aeron valley "the most precious place in the world." The Dylan Thomas Trail
follows the river from Talsarn to Aberaeron.
Talsarn was the centre for a thriving group of poets who lived in and around the Aeron valley, such as John Jenkins (Cerngoch), Dan Jenkins Pentrefelin (1856-1946) and Dinah Davies (1851-1931). There are still poets in the valley today, such as the Ciliau Aeron poet, Stevie Krayer, who has written a sequence of poems about the river.
Although the Aeron has suffered from intermittent pollution
including some severe incidents in the 1970s caused by creamery
waste and crude sewage escapes in the Felinfach area, the principal impacts are now diffuse agricultural
waste, pesticide
s from agriculture and acidification especially from upland forestry
plantations.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, that flows into Cardigan Bay
Cardigan Bay
Cardigan Bay is a large inlet of the Irish Sea, indenting the west coast of Wales between Bardsey Island, Gwynedd in the north, and Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire at its southern end. It is the largest bay in Wales....
at Aberaeron
Aberaeron
Aberaeron |Aeron]] being a Welsh god of war) is a seaside resort town in Ceredigion, Wales. Situated between Aberystwyth and Cardigan, it is home to the headquarters of Ceredigion County Council. The population was 1520 in 2001.-History and design:...
. It is also referred to on some older maps as the River Ayron.
Source
It has its source in Llyn EiddwenLlyn Eiddwen
Llyn Eiddwen is a lake and site of special scientific interest near Trefenter in Ceredigion, Wales. It is the source of the River Aeron.This natural lake provides an environment to preserve rare local water-plant life and seasonal animals. It is owned and managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and...
, in the range of hills called Mynydd Bach. It then follows a more or less westerly and then north westerly track to the sea. It has a rather broad river valley
River Valley
River Valley is the name of an urban planning area within the Central Area, Singapore's central business district.The River Valley Planning Area is defined by the region bounded by Orchard Boulevard, Devonshire Road and Eber Road to the north, Oxley Rise and Mohamed Sultan Road to the east, Martin...
bounded by low hill
Hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
s and has relatively few significant tributaries. Those that it does have include the Gwenffrwd, Nant Wysg, Nant Picadilly, Nant y Wernen and Nant Rhiw Afallan. The Afon Mydr drains an area of old woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
s and dairy farming and includes the old farm of Rhiwbren Fawr.
On its way to the sea, the Aeron passes through Felinfach and by the village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of Ciliau Aeron
Ciliau Aeron
Ciliau Aeron is a small village 4 miles from Aberaeron in Ceredigion, Wales on the left bank of the River Aeron.The word Ciliau comes from the Welsh for corners. Aeron Corners in English refers to the many bends taken by the river through this area.The village post office has long gone, but Ciliau...
. It passes close to the restored mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
at Llanerchaeron
Llanerchaeron
Llanerchaeron, known as "Llanayron House" to its nineteenth-century occupants, is a mansion on the River Aeron, designed and built in 1795 by John Nash for Major William Lewis as a model, self-sufficient farm complex located near Ciliau Aeron, some 2½ miles south-east of Aberaeron,...
which is now in the care of the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
before entering the picturesque town of Aberaeron
Aberaeron
Aberaeron |Aeron]] being a Welsh god of war) is a seaside resort town in Ceredigion, Wales. Situated between Aberystwyth and Cardigan, it is home to the headquarters of Ceredigion County Council. The population was 1520 in 2001.-History and design:...
where it enters the sea.
Despite the relatively small size of the river, it sustains a population of salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
and brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
.
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
lived near the banks of the river in the 1940s, at a secluded mansion called Plas Gelli, just outside Talsarn. He called the Aeron valley "the most precious place in the world." The Dylan Thomas Trail
The Dylan Thomas Trail
The Dylan Thomas Trail runs through places associated with the poet, Dylan Thomas in Ceredigion, west Wales. It was officially opened by Aeronwy Thomas, Dylan’s daughter, in July 2003. The trail is marked by blue plaques and information boards in Lampeter, Aberaeron and New Quay...
follows the river from Talsarn to Aberaeron.
Talsarn was the centre for a thriving group of poets who lived in and around the Aeron valley, such as John Jenkins (Cerngoch), Dan Jenkins Pentrefelin (1856-1946) and Dinah Davies (1851-1931). There are still poets in the valley today, such as the Ciliau Aeron poet, Stevie Krayer, who has written a sequence of poems about the river.
Although the Aeron has suffered from intermittent pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
including some severe incidents in the 1970s caused by creamery
Creamery
In a dairy, the creamery is the location of cream processing. Cream is separated from whole milk; pasteurization is done to the skimmed milk and cream separately. Whole milk for sale has had some cream returned to the skimmed milk....
waste and crude sewage escapes in the Felinfach area, the principal impacts are now diffuse agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
waste, pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s from agriculture and acidification especially from upland forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
plantations.