An Introduction to Coracle Boating

The coracle is a round, lightweight boat traditionally used in Wales. These boats have been used for centuries as one-person fishing boats and date back to pre-Roman times. The coracle has a long and rich history that is of great interest to history fans such as Nishat Gupte.

What Is a Coracle

The coracle, or ‘cwrwgl’ as it was originally named in Welsh, is a one-person boat that is made from wood that has been woven together and a waterproof cover. These boats were used in the United Kingdom more than 2,000 years ago, and they are still made and used in some areas today — usually for fishing. In Wales, the traditional patterns created by the weaving correlates to the river it was made by, giving each boat a symbol of its origin.

Structure of a Coracle

The coracle’s framework is made with interwoven and split willow rods, with willow bark used to tie it together. The outer layer of the coracle was originally made with animal skin coated with a thin layer of tar. Today, coracles are commonly made with tarred calico, fibreglass or canvas.

Coracles are tailored to each river’s conditions. For example, the Teifi coracle has a flat bottom as it is required to navigate shallow rapids, whereas the Carmarthen coracle is deeper with a more rounded shape as it is used on tidal waters with no rapids.

History

The coracle was designed to be used in fast flowing streams and has been used for millennia. Julius Caesar noted the use of these during his invasion of Britain, and remains of a possible coracle were even found in an Early Bronze Age grave.

In coracle fishing, a net is stretched across a river between two coracles. The fishermen will paddle down the river one-handed, holding the net in the other hand. When fish are caught, the two ends of the net are brought together and the fish are secured.

Coracles in Wales

Most places no longer use coracles. However, there are areas of Wales where this tradition is preserved. In some places in West Wales, individuals can obtain a license to use a coracle, which is now necessary to use these boats. On the River Taf, River Teifi and the River Towy, locals still use coracle boats for fishing.