Now that summer has finally arrived the heat plus some rainfall has produced the ideal conditions for growth, and during their journey a number of footpaths that were clear when he did the recce had become overgrown in places, meaning secateurs had to come to the rescue, plus some bashing with walking poles, which resulted in a few stings and scratches to bare skin as trophies.
They set off through fields and joined part of the Usk Valley Walk along the towpath of the Monmouth and Brecon Canal, which started its life as two separate canals and runs for 35- miles through Bannau Brycheiniog after it was built to transport coal, iron and limestone during the Industrial Revolution. But after the arrival of the railways its use began to decline and now it has taken on a quieter lease of life as it is used by fishermen, narrow boats, canoes, walkers, cyclists and visitors.
Crossing the canal at bridge 93 and heading up through Ffrwd Wood, which is coniferous woodland owned by Natural Resources Wales they climbed steadily to reach the Punchbowl and the reward of a morning break on its banks overlooking the stunning man-made lake. This valley initially hollowed out by glacial action during the last Ice Age and surrounded by trees, where some of its oaks are over two hundred years old, was deepened later by quarrying in the 18/19th centuries for its red sandstone. Its name derives from the fact that in the 19th century it was used for secret illegal bare fisted fighting matches no doubt for money, whilst nowadays it is a nature reserve owned and cared for by the Woodland Trust and used for wild swimming.
Refreshed it was time to continue their steep climb up the lower slopes of the Blorenge which historically formed part of these areas industrial heritage as it was extensively quarried for limestone to supply the nearby Blaenavon Ironworks and was crossed by Hill’s Tramroad that transported the raw material to the local forges. They made their way to the trig point at 559m although its summit rises to 561m from where there were splendid views north to Sugar Loaf Mountain, Ysgyryd Fawr and the Black Mountains, eastwards over the Usk Valley, south to Blaenavon and west to Gilwern Hill.
Then joining part of the Cambrian Way they descended gradually southwards overlooking Garn Ddyrys towards Pwll Pen-ffordd-goch or Keepers Pond which was built in the early 1800’s to supply the water to power the Garn Ddyrys Forge, and its name is derived after the gamekeeper of the grouse moors who lived in a cottage nearby. Moving on to a minor road which runs to a car park they made a slight detour to view Foxhunter’s Grave, the international showjumper who famously brought home a gold medal from the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. When Foxhunter died in 1959 his remains were laid to rest in a spot chosen by his owner Harry Llewelyn, who was born in Abergavenny, and an engraved plaque lists all the wins that the horse achieved during his 19 years of life.
Following the road which they shared partway with a charity tractor and truck rally that was passing over the Blorenge, they gradually descended its lower slopes and joined a bridleway which led them through fields and tracks below White House Farm overlooking Llanellen. Then turning south and passing along woodland tracks below Coed y Prior brought them out onto a road and back through woodland to descend through fields and follow the road back to their start, after their 2,169 feet of climbing with glorious views of the surrounding countryside prior to the journey home.
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