A new programme of FREE guided walks exploring and enjoying the Blaenavon Heritage Landscape and its neighbouring post-industrial sites.
Some walks will be best for reasonably fit adults, but others will be suitable for older children or people with limited mobility. They will range in distance from around 6 to 12 km
(3.5 – 7.5 miles).
The walks will start at 10.00 a.m. on the last Sunday of each month. Some will begin from outside the Blaenavon World Heritage Centre, whilst others will begin from further afield.
Please wear appropriate footwear and be prepared in case of wet weather (not unknown hereabouts!).
*** If you'd like to be involved in leading or helping with our guided walks programme, why not join BWHEG and become part of the team? ***
Spring Walks 2023
1. 26th March 2023
Starting at 10.00 a.m. at WHC.
"Waun Afon”
A walk of about 10km (6+ miles) to visit an important wildlife site, which we hope will eventually be restored to upland bog. The walk is suitable for older children, but not recommended for people with limited mobility. We leave the Heritage Centre to join and follow the SUSTRANS cycle path through Garn Lakes and then towards the Racehorse Inn. Near this point, we double back, passing the sites of the former Milfraen and Red Ash collieries and then follow the path past the Coity Tips to return to base.
There is one steep descent, and some parts can be quite muddy in wet weather, but on the whole it’s walkable with appropriate footwear etc.
2. 30th April 2023
Starting at 10.00 a.m. at the Foxhunter Car Park (SO 264107).
"Craig y Cwm and Carn y Gorfydd"
A fairly strenuous walk of about 9.5 km (6 miles), suitable for older children, but not recommended for young children or people with limited mobility.
The walk passes old coal and iron workings before descending to follow an old tramway and eventually down along a lane to pass Pen Twyn y Lladron (Robbers’ Hill!). We then follow a broad track to visit old lime kilns recently excavated by members of BWHEG. Ascending via White House Farm, we rejoin the Llanofer Road and return to the car park.
There are some steep ascents (and descents), and some parts can be quite muddy in wet weather, but on the whole it’s walkable with appropriate footwear etc.
3. 28th May 2023
Starting at 10.00 a.m. at WHC.
"Carreg Maen Taro"
A walk of about 9 km (6 miles), suitable for older children, but not recommended for people with limited mobility. This walk passes Garn Lakes to The Whistle Inn and then follows a hillside track to Carreg Maen Taro. According to Coflein, this is an ancient standing stone erected in “early British” times to commemorate a battle fought here between two kings or chiefs, one of whom was named Ifor. It subsequently marked the boundary between Monmouthshire and Brecknockshire. Depending on the weather, we will either walk along the ridge or follow Pwll Du lane to Pen Ffordd Goch and thence back down to the World Heritage Centre.
There are a couple of steep ascents (and descents), and some parts can be quite muddy in wet weather, but on the whole it’s walkable with appropriate footwear etc.