Blorenge from Abergavenny Walk

19.6 km (12.2 mi), with 723m ascent/descent. For a shorter or longer walk see below Walk Options.

7 out of 10, with 6 hours walking time.

This expedition through parts of the Blaenavon World Heritage Site up to one of Abergavenny’s mountains, features some stunning views and interesting industrial heritage elements. From the pretty town centre of Abergavenny walk along the curtain wall of Abergavenny Castle and through the Castle Meadows along the River Usk to cross over into Llanfoist and start the ascent up the Blorenge. You go through the Llanfoist tunnel under the Monmouthshire & Brecon canal and commence the quite brutal ascent up through Glebe Wood to the Cwm Craf along the three former Llanfoist Inclines of the tramway linking the canal to some ironworks and quarries on the side of and beyond the Blorenge. From the top of the inclines, a further, very gradual ascent around the side of the Blorenge and through the fascinating former site of the Garnddyrys Forge leads you up a tightening Cwm to the hill’s summit plateau, on a fine weather day with superlative views to the Bristol Channel, the Malverns and Cotswolds and – across the Usk Valley – to the Black Mountains.
The descent follows clear – but at times steep – paths across the heather moorland and down bracken-covered slopes past The Punchbowl pond, set serenely in a very picturesque glacial bowl. From there, follow footpaths through pastures-with-views down to and along the canal for a short stretch back to Llanfoist Wharf, from where you retrace the outbound route to Abergavenny and its many tea options.

An interesting but long extension leads down the far side of Blorenge into the Cwm Lwyd and past many core sites of the Blaenavon Industrial Heritage site.

A start/finish at Abergavenny Bus Station cuts 750m each way and 30m ascent at the end of the walk. Pick up the directions at the end of the second paragraph.
A start/finish from the Llanfoist Crossing car park on the outskirts of Llanfoist/Llanffwystcuts 3.1 km each way and 50m ascent/descent.
The same start point can be reached by taking buses A3 or 78 from Abergavenny, direction Brynmawr, to the Llanfoist Inn stop and continuing for a few hundred metres along the road.

An Extension dips down the far side of Blorenge into the Cwm Lwyd to the core part of the Blaenavon World Heritage Site, famous for many relics of the heavy industrial history of the Welsh Valleys, including The Big Pit National Mining Museum. This highly interesting detour adds 9.9 km and 250m ascent though (9/10)!
A Shortcut on the Extension cuts 3.6 km and about half of the ascent.
A Short Diversion off that Extension leads to The Whistle Inn tea stop.
Buses from Blaenavon take you to Cwmbrân or Newport for the train line back to Abergavenny.

OS Explorer: OL 13 (Brecon Beacons NP East)
OS Landranger: 161 (The Black Mountains)
Harvey Superwalker XT25: Breacon Beacons East/Bannau Brycheiniog Dwyrain
Harvey British Mountain Map: Breacon Beacons/Bannau Brycheiniog

Abergavenny Station, map reference SO 305 136, is 30 km south east of Brecon, 202 km west northwest of Charing Cross, 74m above sea level and in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is served by the Welsh Marches Line (Newport – Hereford), connecting at Newport to Paddington, with mostly two trains per hour (total journey time from 135 mins). Abergavenny Bus Station is passed early on, bus lines with regular and useful connections are: 23 (Hereford – Newport), 43/X43 (Brecon – Abergavenny), 83 (Monmouth – Abergavenny).

Saturday Walkers’ Club: Take a train no later than 09.45.

Picnic.

The Bridge Inn Merthyr Road, Llanfoist, Abergavenny, NP7 9LH (01873 854 831). The Bridge Inn is located 2.2 km from the end of the walk and 1.5 km from Abergavenny Bus Station.

Plenty of places in Abergavenny’s Town Centre. See the walk directions for details.

The Whistle Inn & Campsite The Whistle Inn is located 12.6 km into the walk.
The Fireman's Shovel Tearoom Located 13.3 km into the walk.
The Castle Hotel The Castle Hotel is located 16.7 km in to the walk.
The Lion Hotel & Restaurant Located 16.9 km into the walk.

After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks!

You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are:

National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Apr-24 Thomas G