Abergavenny's Historic Transport Links

Easy walking along a disused railway and a canal tow path.

Distance 3.5 miles (5.7km)

Minimum time 1hr 30min

Ascent/gradient 160ft (49m)

Level of difficulty Easy

Paths Clear, well-surfaced tracks and paths, no stiles

Landscape Mixed woodland and tranquil canal banks

Suggested map aqua3 OS Explorer OL13 Brecon Beacons National Park Eastern area

Start/finish SO 262134

Dog friendliness Family walkways so scoop the poop

Parking Small car park at start, south of Govilon

Public toilets None on route

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Directions
Background
Information

1 A clear tree-covered track runs parallel to the car park. Go through the barrier on to it and turn left. This is now the line of the railway. Follow it beneath a bridge to a residential road and go straight across, around a barrier. Continue behind a row of houses and cross beneath the road again. The path then vaults the canal on a bridge that you should note as it marks the spot where you leave the waterside on the return leg. Continue parallel to the canal for a while, then duck back into woodland, keeping straight ahead at a junction, waymarked right to the canal. The path passes beneath deciduous trees made up mainly of oak, birch and ash. You're likely to see many small birds, especially those of the garden variety, including most members of the tit family, robins and wrens.

2 About 1¼ miles (2km) after crossing the canal, you'll come to a gate and a car park on the outskirts of the small village of Llanfoist, which grew up on the transport links of the area. Its lime kilns were fed by limestone quarried on the flanks of Blorenge and brought down to the canal by another tramway. Turn right, cross the main road and walk up the lane opposite. This passes the church on the left and climbs steeply up to the canal by the boatyard. The lane swings sharply left and right and then, before you actually cross the canal, follow the signs on to the tow path.

3 Continue along the bank, which is particularly beautiful in autumn when the magnificent beech woods show off a full spectrum of autumn colours. After about a mile (1.6km), you'll cross a bridge to continue on the south bank, with some canalside houses taking prime waterfront locations opposite. Shortly after this you come to the Govilon Boat Yard, where an interpretation board maps out many interesting facets of the canal's history. Govilon, like its neighbour Llanfoist, came about because of its position between the natural resources of the mountains and the developing transport network. It was ideally positioned to receive stone from Clydach, which was then transferred to the canal by tram.

4 Pass the impressive boat club and another attractive waterside building and then, at the bridge, fork left to climb steps away from the canal. This leads back on to the disused railway where you bear left to follow it back into the residential area and on to the car park.

This delightful little walk, by far the least strenuous in the book, follows the lines drawn by two of the area's main 18th- and 19th-century transport arteries. The outward leg follows the now defunct Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway, often known as the 'Heads of the Valleys Railway'. In places the line follows the path of the much earlier Bailey's Tramroad, which ran from Crawshay Bailey's Ironworks at Nantyglo to Govilon Wharf on the banks of the canal. The initial construction, which stretched between Abergavenny and Brynmaur, was started by the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway Company. This was then acquired by the London and North Western Railway, who were keen to gain a foothold in South Wales, where they saw the immense profit potential of the 'black gold'. They extended it to Merthyr Tydfil. The line opened in 1862 and closed in 1958. It now forms part of the Govilon to Abergavenny Community Route.

The return leg winds along the tow path of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, originally known as the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal. Built between 1797 and 1812, it represents a remarkable feat of engineering, with over 23 miles (37km) of its total 33 miles (53km) being level, amazing when you think of the mountainous terrain that it traverses. Linking Brecon with Newport and hence the Bristol Channel, the canal was used to transport stone and processed lime from local quarries, including the impressive Llangattock Escarpment, seen easily from the Black Mountains above Crickhowell. The canal drifted into disrepair by the 1930s but has been restored by British Waterways, with support from the National Park. It was reopened for leisure traffic in 1970.

Where to eat and drink

The Bridgend Inn in Govilon is a lively, comfortable place, which serves good beer and excellent food that varies from the exotic to its own famous beef and dripping sandwiches!

While you're there

See some more of the canal by either hiring a boat from one of the many operators or alternatively take a half-day cruise from Brecon - Dragonfly Cruises operate from the Canal Basin area near the theatre. It really is a relaxing way to see the countryside.

What to look for

As you walk along the banks of the canal, look out for a glimpse of one of Britain's most colourful birds, the kingfisher. In flight, the diminutive little hunter appears less like a bird and more like an ethereal flash of luminescent blue that resembles something from a fairy tale. It nests in tunnels in the riverbank and generally lays six or seven white eggs.