THE MONMOUTHSHIRE AND BRECON CANAL.
There's often much confusion as to the exact canal course so I’ve taken advice from the Canal and River Trust website and followed what they describe, that being end to end Pontymoile – Brecon.
Though originally constructed to transport coal, lime and agricultural products the canal was used extensively by ironmasters and industrialists as their main transport network, bringing the raw iron ore up the canal from Newport to Llanfoist Wharf and thence by tram roads to the iron works and returning with trams loaded with iron, the finished product. Remains of this heritage can still be viewed along the canal today these include wharfs and lime kilns.
Fed by the clear waters of the River Usk, the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, or the Mon and Brec as it’s sometimes referred to, is clean and pleasant, muddy though it may look at times. The 33-mile stretch between Brecon Basin and Pontymoile Basin used to be called the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal.
I chose to start my route at Pontymoile basin near Pontypool and ran North to Brecon, this direction feels as flat as a pool table and only has an elevation of 566 feet, hardly anything but don’t underestimate the course, it’s still tough on the legs.
There’s opportunity to get water/food at Goytre Warf, Gilwern, Llangynidr and Talybont. There’s also a number of great pubs along the route for refreshments.
Beautiful scenery but metronome pacing.
Enjoy!!