Hafren: The Wisdom of the River Severn

by Sarah Siân Chave

Afon Hafren, the River Severn, is a mighty Welsh river. She has shaped many histories and is part of many stories. In Celtic traditions, water is a source of wisdom. In a time of ecological crisis, how can we listen to the wisdom of Hafren? Sarah Siân Chave takes us on a journey from Hafren’s source to the sea, following Hafren’s route from Pumlumon in Wales and meandering through England, before she finds her way back home to Wales and to the sea. The journey weaves together Celtic myths, historical and personal narratives as well as Welsh words and ideas. Hafren not only speaks to the wisdom of this river, but of all rivers, encouraging readers to understand better their place as part of nature. This book will appeal to those interested in nature, sustainability and ecology, and also to those interested in Celtic and Welsh traditions, histories and myths and is evocatively illustrated by Sarah’s sister, Rachel Collis.

192 pages, Hardcover

Published February 19, 2026

Reviews

[Sophy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but lovely book on all things River Severn.

Sarah writes very humbly and beautifully about her sojourns all along the course of the Severn from its source at Pumlumon to the estuary and out to sea in Bristol. The writing feels free and easy which translates into an effortless read.

I really enjoyed this one, especially having visited some of the places she mentions.

5 stars

[Colin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know little about the Severn, other than occasionally glimpsing it on trips to see my daughter and son in law as it flows through Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth so this was something of a journey of discovery for me. Sarah Sian Chave traces the river from its source in the hills above Aberystwyth to its rendezvous with the sea in the Bristol Channel. Using the river’s Welsh name, Hafren, she traces the rich mythology associated with flowing water in general and this river in particular, and weaves in themes of nature, history, agriculture and industrial development and exploitation as well as her personal and family ties to Hafren and the land through which it flows. Particularly interesting are the often hidden links that she uncovers between Welsh and English culture.

[Debbie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating personal response to the Hafren, aka the River Severn, with something for everyone.

Following the course of the river from its source just outside Aberystwyth, Sarah Chave's narrative Includes Welsh mythology and Welsh and English social history, as well as geography and natural history, environmentalism, and family history.

Overall it is a thoughtful, philosophical work, acknowledging and mourning the impact of industrialization and climate change, but also an effective cry for positive action going forward. While nostalgic for what we have lost, it is ultimately constructive, as evidenced by the following quote:

"Pastoralism can provoke feelings of nostalgia, a yearning for an unchanging utopian idyll, but it can, instead, be a approached in a different way - as a challenge to care for and protect the wider natural world".

The author cites and embraces Rupert Reed's argument in favour of "thrutopias" to "encourage us to live our dreams in the present where we can, change things where we cannot, and strive together towards building a more caring world for all".

Illustrated with a route map of the river to give the reader their bearings, and gentle black and white drawings by Rachel Elinor Collis, the book also boasts an evocative, slightly dream-like cover illustration by Andy Ward. All in all it's a slick and beautiful package, published by the University of Wales' imprint, Calon press, which gives it the stamp of authority.

A great gift for anyone who loves any part of the Hafren/Severn, whether Welsh or English - there's something in there to satisfy all kinds of readers.

[Andrew Spink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I worked as a river ecologist for some years, so, in any case, the subject matter was appealing. On top of that, I lived in Gloucester for a while, so I enjoyed reading about that place, as well as some the other places in the book which I cycled through a long time ago. I had never heard that Double Gloucester cheese traditionally gets its colouring from Galium verum, so that was very interesting. That cheese cannot be beaten for making cheese sauce from!
The book is very eclectic and includes all sorts of different aspects of the river's history, landscape, culture and ecology. That makes for an entertaining read. It is also written in an easy-to-read style (though I was less of a fan of putting metric/imperial equivalents in quite so consistently). The way that the author weaves her personal experiences exploring the river with the factual narrative carries the reader along. The drawings at the beginning of each chapter are also really nice.
In summary, if you have any interest in rivers or the local history of those parts of Wales and western England, I would thoroughly recommend this book.

[Katy Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book - lots of information, depressing climate change facts