It’s difficult to locate the exact source of a river as it is so dependant on rainfall, but the River Tawe starts its life somewhere in the boggy scenery below Llyn y Fan Fach.

The first real accumulation of water is a very uninspiring oily, peaty pool – yet in 30 miles it will become a river capable of docking an ocean going ferry.

The trickle soon turns into a full mountain stream, winding its way through the upper reaches of the Tawe Valley.

Many rivers in South Wales are known for their impressive waterfalls, but there are precious few on the Tawe and only small falls in the mountain areas of the river.

As the river widens and forms the start of the Swansea Valley for real it also meets the road which follows it in some form or another pretty much all the way to the sea.

It doesn’t take long for the river to widen to the point where a bridge is required for both paths and roads to cross. Glyntawe marks the point where the first of many bridges have been built over the river – this image taken from the first footpath bridge.

The volume of flood water around Glyntawe is enough in some seasons to bring trees down.

Stepping stones cross the Tawe in Craig y Nos Country Park.

The confluence of the Tawe and the river outflow from Dan yr Ogof Caves (Wales' Main Showcaves).

Ornate bridge over the Tawe in Craig y Nos Country Park.

Wider and slower, the Tawe remains tree-lined and relatively inaccessible around Ynyswen.

A fallen oak tree still clinging onto life near Abercrave.

Through Abercrave the Tawe has cut itself a narrow but deep path through the rocks.

After Abercrave near Cae'r Lan the riverside becomes less scenic and more post-industrial.

The Tawe River running through Ystradgynlais.

Confluence with the River Twrch near Ystalyfera.

An uncharacteristically scenic view of the Tawe near Pontardawe that few locals will see unless they venture under the main road bridge.

Kids on the way home from school make an unnecessary diversion under the bridge at Pontadarwe.

The first signs of the Japanese Knotweed infestation that plagues the river further downstream.

Remains of an old jetty near the old bridge at Pontardawe.

The concrete road bridge viewed through the original redundant bridge (pont) over the Tawe, hence the name Pontardawe.

The unforgiving concrete bridge architecture that predominates in all downstream crossings.

Ex-industrial land by the side of the river now used for the omnipresent retail park.

Stranded plastic carrier bags mark the line of recent river flooding.

The riverside near Craig-y-Duke.

Water rushes over a weir at Craig-y-Duke.

Disused works railway bridge at Clydach.

Footbridge at Clydach, one of the dirtiest stretches of the river.

A dumped shopping trolly close to the point where the M4 crosses the River Tawe.

Juvenile swans near the main road and rail crossings over the Tawe.

The Tawe joins the A4067 link road from the M4 that it follows most of the way into the city centre.

Hard to believe the tranquillity and sense of nature that accompanies the river as it passes though the major industrial estates of Swansea.

More signs of Japanese Knotweed that plague the river as it passes through Swansea.

A couple of the many footbridges that cross the river in the city, sensibly offering little surface for the inevitable graffiti.

The sturdy construction of the main railway viaduct over the Tawe in Landore.

A car passes over the river at Liberty Stadium – home to Swansea City FC and the Ospreys.

The shadow of a new bridge reveals one of the most common foreign objects to be found in urban waterways.

Rotting wooden pier at Morfa Parc. The highest part of the river navigable to large boats.

One of the new “Copper Quarter” development apartments being built along the Tawe. Swansea was once a major copper mining centre.

Highbow graffiti written into once-wet cement by the old engine houses in Hafod. The words come from a poem considered to be among the finest works by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914–1953).

Steps from the dockside down to the river – part of Swansea’s long-lost industrial past.

Even at these lower reaches of the Tawe there are places where nature still rules the riverbank.

The Tawe New Cut created in the early 1800s when the original path of the river was used as a dock (now Parc Tawe retail park and Sainsburys).

The regeneration of the old docks forming the new SA1 has resulted in a juxtaposition of modern architecture with the remaining historical buildings restored.

Crossing the Tawe on the new Sail Bridge towards the recently restored Ice House.

A cormorant perches on barrage floats.

Regeneration of any old dock inevitably results in the creation of a new marina.

The fishing industry still survives in Swansea, but for how much longer?

Large cranes in the distance mark the docks that remain in use to large shipping.

Floats across the river stop boats straying too close to the weir that forms part of the new barrage that was built in 1992. The first tidal barrage on a UK river.

The Swansea-Cork ferry moored at the dock. 10.5 hours of stomach churning Irish Sea crossing.

The River Tawe finally meets the sea. West Pier marking the start of the Gower Peninsular.