Usk Valley and Abergavenny

Llangynidr Locks

A flight of five locks in a wooded stretch of the Mon and Brec canal, with a stone bridge and the Bannau escarpment behind.

Distance: 3.4 mi / 5.5 km
Time: 1 hr 45
Ascent: 80 m
Difficulty: Easy
Shape: There and back

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 towpath from the village through the lock flight in either direction. Flat with a gentle gradient by the locks.

Worth knowing

The five locks here are the main flight on the canal and are often busy with boats.
The stone bridge at Llangynidr is one of the most photographed on the canal.
Level and surfaced, so usable year round.

What you’ll see

The lock flight, the stone bridge, canal woodland, and the escarpment north.

Background

The canal was cut into the hillside to keep a level contour, which is why it clings so oddly to the valley side.