THIS circular walk of about 5km (3.1 miles) takes about 1.5 hours, taking in Clydach Ironworks and other historical sites in the valley.
Start at Clydach South Car Park on Station Road, Clydach
From the entrance to the car park walk south west along Station Road towards the village and after approximately 50m take the road to the right and go down the hill towards the river.
After approximately 75m you will come to a stone bridge that crosses the River Clydach (1).
The old stone bridge crossing the river here once carried the Llammarch Railroad, an early form of horse drawn tramroad linking the Clydach Ironworks with the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.
Cross the bridge and go through the gate on the left. Follow this road for a further 75m until you come to an iron bridge on your left.
2. The romantic and peaceful ruins of the Clydach Ironworks that you see before you today are a world apart from the fire-breathing industrial monster that would have confronted you some 200 years ago.
Established by the Clydach Ironworks Company in 1793, the industrial development was typical of the coke-fired blast furnaces producing cast iron across the Heads of the Valleys in the latter part of the 18th century.
Take the path to the right of the ironworks and go up the slope along the route of a former tramroad. Turn right onto Dan Y Coed Road and after approximately 200m take the turning on the right and follow the road to the end.
Go left at the end of the road taking the grassy path behind the houses. Just after a small bridge with metal railings bear right and up a steep slope (3).
As you go up the slope you are once again following the route of a former tramroad ingeniously built on an ‘inclined plane’.
Using two parallel sets of rail and with some help from gravity, full wagons went down, pulling empty wagons back up the slope ready for filling.
In front of you at the top of the slope is Llanelly Quarry. Before continuing to the quarry take time out here to enjoy the spectacular views across the Clydach Gorge, then walk up Quarry Road for approximately 100m and bear left onto the cycle track.
4. Llanelly Quarry was originally established to supply lime to the Clydach Ironworks in the valley below. As you pass in front of the quarry the path you are on now was once the route of the Merthyr Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway. Today it’s Route 46 on the National Cycle Network.
Walk along the former track bed passing the Clydach Tunnel mouths on your right. Keep following the cycle route.
As you enter the top of the village of Clydach look out for the former railway station on your right.
5. As you walk across the beautifully curved railway viaduct look right for an overview of the Clydach Limeworks with its impressive double arched limekilns.
Keep following the cycle track.
6. On your right are some old railway cottages. Look out for the peculiar ‘thin houses’.
After a further 400m the cycle track takes a sharp left turn. Keep following the cycle track downhill. When the cycle track turns sharp right bear left into the village, crossing a stone bridge and an old red telephone box on your left.
Carry on down Station Road back to the Clydach South Car Park at the bottom of the hill.
- This walk is one of the Treasure Trails from the Blaenavon World Heritage Site. For more information on this and other walks in the area visit www.visitblaenavon.co.uk or contact the Blaenavon World Heritage Centre on 01495 742333.
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