Hafren

Hafren is the Welsh name for the River Severn, one of Britain’s major rivers and, at about 354 kilometers in length, the longest river entirely in Great Britain. In Welsh-language contexts, Afon Hafren is used to refer to the Severn, and the name Hafren appears in place names and cultural references associated with the river and its catchment.

The river’s headwaters lie on the slopes of Plynlimon in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales. From there, the Hafren flows generally east and south, passing through parts of Wales and England. It traverses or skirts towns such as Shrewsbury, Worcester, and Gloucester, before reaching the Severn Estuary and the Bristol Channel. The estuary marks the river’s tidal reach and serves as a natural boundary between parts of Wales and England along its lower course.

In Welsh usage, the Hafren symbolizes the river’s geographical and cultural significance within Wales. The name is embedded in Welsh-language geography, literature, and regional planning, reflecting the Severn’s prominent role in the landscape of central Britain. The Hafren/Severn supports diverse habitats along its floodplain and estuary and has historically been important for transportation, commerce, and regional identity.