All walks › Brecon & the Usk Valley
Brecon & the Usk ValleyLlangynidr Moor and Canal
Up from the canal onto open limestone moor scattered with shakeholes and old workings, and back down to the towpath.
- Distance
- 4.0 mi / 6.5 km
- Time
- 2 hr 20
- 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
Climb from the village onto the moor, cross the open ground past the sinkholes, then descend and return along the canal towpath. The moorland section needs care in poor visibility.
Worth knowing
- The moor is riddled with shakeholes, some of them deep. Do not wander off the path in mist.
- The canal section at the end is flat and easy, which is a kindness after the moor.
- Llangynidr has a good pub and a fine set of canal locks.
What you’ll see
Limestone moor, shakeholes, the canal and locks, and a long view over the Usk valley.
Background
The moor was quarried and mined for limestone and iron ore, feeding the ironworks over the ridge at Nantyglo and Beaufort. The tramroads that carried it are still traceable.