Ebbw Fach Valley: Aberbeeg - Brynmawr
This scenic ride up the Ebbw Fach Valley is mostly traffic-free and includes the wonderful monument at Six Bells; the Guardian, as well as the last fortifications privately-built in the UK; Nantyglo Round Towers. Additionally, it's one of the easiest rides north to Brynmawr where you can join NCN Route 46 or NCN Route 492 at the Heads of the Valley.
465
Aberbeeg - Brynmawr
Overview
• Distance: 7.8 mi. / 12.55 km
• Elevation: +713 ft / -101 ft
• Travel Time: 1 - 2 hours
• Level: Intermediate
• Elevation: +713 ft / -101 ft
• Travel Time: 1 - 2 hours
• Level: Intermediate
Route runs along the Ebbw Fach Valley between Aberbeeg and Brynmawr, passing through Six Bells, Abertillery, Blaina, and Nantyglo, before ending in Brynmawr.
Start: Follow NCN Route 466 roughly one mile north of Llanhilleth Train Station to junction with NCN Route 465. Route turns under subway and climbs a short hill to join a traffic-free path along a re-purposed rail line passing through Six Bells and the Guardian. At Abertillery, route then briefly enters the roadway and turns down through Tesco's car park. Route exits far end of car park to pass under a short subway and continues north through a quiet housing estate. At end of housing estate the route enters Abertillery Park and becomes traffic-free again for the next 2 mi.
In Blaina, the route enters a quiet lane to climb (briefly) up to pass under another subway. Route then becomes a shared-use path alongside the A467 for roughly 1.8 mi. to Nantyglo. Route exits shared-use path to re-enter quiet lane crossing over A467 and turns right into housing estate. (Nantyglo Round Towers on left before right turn into housing estate.). At end of road and housing estate (routghly .25 mi.), route continues along to traffic-free past several small ponds and joins NCN Route 46. Follow NCN Route 46 into Brynmawr.
Start: Follow NCN Route 466 roughly one mile north of Llanhilleth Train Station to junction with NCN Route 465. Route turns under subway and climbs a short hill to join a traffic-free path along a re-purposed rail line passing through Six Bells and the Guardian. At Abertillery, route then briefly enters the roadway and turns down through Tesco's car park. Route exits far end of car park to pass under a short subway and continues north through a quiet housing estate. At end of housing estate the route enters Abertillery Park and becomes traffic-free again for the next 2 mi.
In Blaina, the route enters a quiet lane to climb (briefly) up to pass under another subway. Route then becomes a shared-use path alongside the A467 for roughly 1.8 mi. to Nantyglo. Route exits shared-use path to re-enter quiet lane crossing over A467 and turns right into housing estate. (Nantyglo Round Towers on left before right turn into housing estate.). At end of road and housing estate (routghly .25 mi.), route continues along to traffic-free past several small ponds and joins NCN Route 46. Follow NCN Route 46 into Brynmawr.
| COLOUR KEY: | Traffic-free | Shared Use | Quiet Road | Steep Hill |
Additional Information:
• Train Station(s): Bargoed
• Bus Stations: Bargoed
• Parking: Bargoed Train Station, Parc Cwm Darran
• Bus Stations: Bargoed
• Parking: Bargoed Train Station, Parc Cwm Darran
Additional Links:
Points of Interest
The Guardian at Six Bells - An underground explosion on June 28th, 1960, at Six Bells Colliery killed 45 miners. Caused by an ignition of firedamp, coal-dust in the air ignited and an explosion spread throughout the mine, killing 45 out of the 48 men and boys working there. The sculpture commemorates those events and is dedicated to all mining communities and the contributions of their families wherever they may be. ► Read more...
Nantyglo Round Towers - Two fortified towers built in the early 19th century as places of retreat by the ironmaster Joseph Bailey following a riot caused by his brother's (Crawshay Bailey) threat to cut wages. They are believed to be the last privately built defensive fortifications in Britain. One of the towers remains intact today whilst the other is in ruins having been partly demolished to salvage scrap iron in the 1940s. ► Read more...
Note to Readers: Examine the provided online maps closely to understand conditions prior to your ride. Each route listed includes a colour-coded map indicating specific terrain along with the distance(s). When considering difficulty; remember elevations +/- gains are equally important to distances. Printing the included .pdf maps and/or downloading the GPS file is highly recommeded.
Disclaimer of Liability. Bike Wales™ and everyone associated with this website/blog accept no responsibility for the conditions of the routes discussed. These are simply "suggested" routes of the National Cycle Network that the reader may choose to follow. Any action(s) taken from reading the content herein, is solely the responsibility of those involved.
