Parking

Turn off the Heads of the Valleys road at Clydach. Pass the campsite, picnic site and Ironworks on the right. Turn right along Quarry Road and pass the village hall. Keep left at Dan-y-coed and continue approximately half a mile to park at small layby with old limekilns on the left or at off-road parking area just around the corner on the left. (SO221125)

Directions

1. Looking out at Clydach Gorge, turn right to go through bollards.
2. Carry on, passing an old railway tunnel then white house on the right then two houses on the left.
3. Cross road (see old chapel) and pass former railway station on right. Cross viaduct (see old lime kilns and quarry on it). Pass various groups of houses on right until you meet the road which the cycle track follows downhill. (Basically you follow the cycle track signposts for about 1 ½ miles as far as this point)
4. Turn left downhill following cycle track sign to Govilon / Llanfoist.
5. At the road junction leave the cycle track and carry straight on into Clydach.
6. Cross the river bridge - phone box on left - turn left up road the very shortly take footpath on left signposted Clydach Station.
7. Keep right of Troedyrhiw (see garden). Cross footbridge an continue up through beechwood to reach cycle track again.
8. Turn right and retrace your steps back to car.

Points of Interest (Covers the whole Abergavenny- Brynmawr route)

The route follows part of the former Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway which itself started its existence in 1794 as the Clydach Rail Road tramway carrying raw materials to and products from the iron works of the Tredegar Iron Company. The railway included a number of steep inclines with gradients as steep as 1 in 34, making it more expensive to run than other local tracks; and it was closed in January 1958.

Some of the tunnels that this railway route used are currently blocked so an alternative cycle route has been created using the old tram road that the railway replaced in 1864.

There are some splendid old mining and quarrying ruins along the route, including a magnificent viaduct at Clydach and spectacular views over the Brecon Beacons National Park and Blaenavon World Heritage site.