All walks › Bannau Brycheiniog: Central Beacons
Bannau Brycheiniog: Central BeaconsThe Brinore Tramroad
Horse-drawn tramroad from 1815 running from the canal up over the mountain, with the stone sleeper blocks still in place along the line.
- Distance
- 5.0 mi / 8 km
- Time
- 2 hr 45
- Ascent
- 280 m
- Difficulty
- Demanding
- Shape
- Circular
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
Follow the tramroad south from Talybont past the reservoir and return by the Caerfanell valley or the canal. Steady climbing.
Worth knowing
- The stone sleeper blocks that carried the rails are still visible along much of the route.
- The tramroad linked the Trefil limestone quarries to the canal at Talybont.
- Tor y Foel above gives a much bigger view for an extra climb.
What you’ll see
Tramroad sleeper blocks and embankments, Talybont reservoir, and the canal below.
Background
The Brinore Tramroad opened in 1815, carrying limestone and coal by horse-drawn wagon until railways made it obsolete.