Any old iron
Sue Gearing heads to the Brecon Beacons to enjoy spectacular
views and a stroll through time past the remains of Blaenavon
-
ironworks
AN amazingly scenic walk around Blorenge Moun- tain in the
World Heritage Site in the Brecons, following part of the Iron
Trail and the old tramway past some of the old iron industry
sites that made the area famous.
The ironworks opened in 1789 and Blaenavon soon become the
second largest producer of iron in Wales.
Today, nature has taken back the old sites and it is a
beautiful area of pure air, moorland, heather, bracken and
whimberries with wild flowers, birds and stunning views over
the Usk valley.
The tramway is a smooth green track and in August, with the
heather in bloom, it is particularly stunning.
There is one fairly steep climb up to Blorenge, at 559
metres, although you could stay low and avoid this. There are
no stiles and it is an excellent day out for the dog. Try and
choose a clear warm day. Wear good shoes or boots and take
layers of clothing in case of sudden weather changes. There is
an excellent cafe at the World Heritage Centre back in
Blaenavon.
START
An information panel at the car park sets the scene. Follow
the orange Iron Trail sign along the edge of the pond, keeping
it on your right and go to another information board.
1. INFORMATION BOARD
This reminds us of how the scene must have looked in the
industry's heyday. The pond was one of three supplying water to
the forges and works of Garn Ddyrys.
Turn down to your left, over a wooden footbridge, and
continue to bear left down to the road. Turn left briefly and
then right at a finger- post in the direction of Garn Ddyrys,
which curves round the head of the valley of Cwm Ifor with
beautiful views. At the next signpost, fork right on the old
parish road. This takes you along to a junction with a track –
the old tram road, or "iron road".
2. TRAM ROAD
It is named Hill's Tram Road after Thomas Hill, one of the
Blaenavon ironmasters. It was built in the 1820s to connect the
works with the canal below at Llanfoist.
Turn right and soon cross the head of a brook and continue
on. On the right, after about 20 metres, are the remains of a
building that could have been the blacksmith's shop. Follow the
tram road on and ahead see the large misshapen pile of forge
slag overlooking the valley. After about a third of a mile,
walk between two long mounds.
The mound on the right is the retaining wall for the lower
pond, one of the three supplying the works. The track bears
right and you now get glorious views over to Sugarloaf and
Tabletop mountains. The track starts to turn uphill but you
don't continue up – turn left between a high bank on the right
and a fence on the left.
3. OLD FOUNDRY
You are going through the site of the Garn Ddyrys Foundry,
with remains of the old works, the furnaces and forges
beautifully adorned and concealed by nature. Up on the top of
the slope on the right was the upper pond.
Follow the path to the right of two wooden power poles and
reach the road.
4. ROAD
Cross and go up the grassy bank paralleling the road below.
Pass a stone enclosure which is part of the remains of the old
village. In the mid-1850s there are records of more than 300
people living here. Bear down left to a fingerpost and rejoin
the old tram road, turning right. Shortly, pass on your left
the site of the old Queen Victoria pub. As you continue along,
see in places traces of some of the old stone sleepers.
5. TUNNEL
After about a mile, reach the remains on your right in the
bracken of the old "cut and shut tunnel", which protected the
tram road from falling rocks and earth slippage. It is a
scheduled ancient monument. Please don't try to enter.
Maintain direction, walking on a path until at the other end
of the tunnel you rejoin the old tram route. After about
another three-quarters of a mile, you come round to the north
side of Blorenge. Continue on and downhill, getting views over
Abergavenny.
6. GATE
Eventually, go through a wooden gate, entering a reserve
(not marked at this point). Carry on to a beautiful area by a
small lake, called the Punchbowl.
7. THE PUNCHBOWL
This is a great place for a rest and is a favourite haunt of
green woodpeckers and buzzards.
Go across the man-made dam and continue on the main path
which climbs up quite steeply alongside a crumbling stone wall
and ancient beeches, with steps in places. Go through a "double
opening" gate at the top and into the open. Maintain direction,
soon passing a well- sited bench. Carry on all the way to
another gate leading on to a lane.
8. LANE
Turn right and immediately right again on the path signed to
Blorenge.
For an easier route omitting the summit, continue along the
road – which is narrow with bad visibility in parts – all the
way to the Foxhunter car park and rejoin the main route at No.
10.
Climb steeply uphill with a wall on the right and reach
another Iron Trail marker. Here, the grassy track continues to
wend its way uphill passing remains of pits and spill
heaps.
Reach a false summit and pass a small brick hut on the
right, once used as a wireless building. Follow the rough stony
track, boggy in parts, through the heather towards the trig
point.
9. TRIG
Here, at 559 metres, you can enjoy 360-degree views over the
Brecons. At the side is the remains of a stone cairn from an
Iron Age burial site. Go to the left of the trig and the path
heads towards twin masts.
10. MASTS
In the car park is a memorial to the Olympic gold- medal
showjumper, Foxhunter. The Llewellyn family, who owned
Foxhunter, had land near here.
Cross the road and to the right of the masts find an Iron
Trail marker taking you on through heather all the way to a
signpost.
11. SIGNPOST
Turn right on a path in a small valley created by miners
taking out the iron ore with water. Reach the road and turn
right along the grassy edge back to the car park.
If you have time, visit the Big Pit and the World Heritage
Centre back in Blaenavon, which can give further information
about this fascinating and important area and has an excellent
cafe.
Comments