Canal Boats Mountain Roads

Free finishers’ patch for all riders. Head to Pontypool on the back roads to climb the disused railway line to the Blaenavon World Heritage Site and the Big Pit National Mine Museum. Climbing the 200m steadily as it heads north passing through broad-leaf woodland with its splendid old mining and quarrying ruins and offers fantastic views east across the valley of Afon Llwyd. Next ride to Crickhowell climbing the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park before taking the rarely used but stunning remote track to climb The Blorenge mountain. Return home via a 17k section of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal Path, brushing the edge of Blorenge Mountain. The canal path is wide and easy to navigate but with a number of low bridges to pass under. Don’t worry non-canal path option available for all but the final 5km of that section. Additional points of interest on the route that you will pass include Usk Prison dating back to 1841 and the crossing of the Usk River. Also passing Garn Lakes and the very impressive Llandugeth Reservoir. Mostly quiet lanes and minor roads with easy navigation.