Columbia: Source to Sea

Columbia Sportswear is one of the largest outdoor brands in the world. Taking their name from the Columbia River, the largest river in the Pacific North West.

When we were asked by the brand to shoot an editorial, we knew a river had to be involved. We couldn’t quite make it to see the Columbia in Oregon this time, so we kept our adventure a little closer to home, tracking the Welsh river Conwy by bicycle, from source to sea...

Dawn

At dawn we made for Llyn Conwy, an upland reservoir known to be the source of the river Conwy.

The road appeared ethereal at sunrise, like a ribbon across the moor, flowing with the contours of the land...

Llyn Conwy

Having found the source, a bridleway then led us down the first part of the river's meander to the valley bottom...

The Migneint

Tracking the river by bicycle across the vast bogs of the Migneint moor is nigh on impossible, so we took to the glossy, immaculate tarmac for our descent into the Vale of Conwy.

Capel Garmon

A slight detour led to Capel Garmon burial chamber, a tomb from the neolithic period with panoramic vistas of Eryri national park (Snowdonia).

Llanrwst & the Last Leg

The Conwy meanders through the vale of its name, passing the town of Llanrwst with its famed three-arched bridge.

Onwards, the river widens slowly before flowing into the Irish Sea.

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Dusk, the Mouth of the River

The river ends at the walled market town of Conwy. Dominated by it's imposing castle, the town provides an atmospheric place to end our journey. We roll on to the marina at dusk for a final look at the river before its exit through Conwy Bay.