Abergavenny is an excellent place to base yourself if you like walking no matter what your level of fitness. Although we’re surrounded by hills there are also plenty of level walks for those that would rather look at the hills than climb them.
Bridge Inn Things To Do
To the south rises the imposing sight of the The Blorenge or Iron Mountain which at one time was criss-crossed with tramways and inclines to carry coal and iron from Blaenavon down to the Monmouth and Brecon Canal. But long before Man his mark on the Blorenge a small glacier fed by wind-blown snow scooped out a hollow on the eastern side of the hill known as the Punchbowl. A trip to this makes a lovely if challenging walk from the Bridge and offers panoramic views over Abergavenny and the Usk Valley.
To the north-east lays Abergavenny’s Holy Mountain or Skirrid which is the most easterly of the hills in the Brecon Beacons National Park. On the summit are the ruins of a iron-age hillfort and a mediaeval Roman Catholic church which used to be the destination of pilgrims. Nowadays it’s the starting point for the long distance Beacons Way which crossed the National Park. It’s a little far to walk to from the Bridge but a large car park on the eastern side makes it a decent afternoon walk.
A couple of miles to north-west of Abergavenny the Sugarloaf rises steeply to almost 2,000 feet and offers stunning views in all directions over the Black Mountains, the Cotswolds, the Central Brecon Beacons and the Bristol Channel. Whilst it’s possible to walk to the top from the Bridge a gentler walk starts at the Sugar Loaf car park about half way up.
If you’re really fit it’s possible to attempt all three hills in one day as part of the Abergavenny Three Peaks Challenge.
If all of the above sounds too exhausting then the towpath of the Monmouth and Brecon Canal offers stunning views of the hills around Abergavenny as it clings to the side of the Usk Valley. It’s possible to walk to it from the Bridge and then head either north or south along the towpath where you can connect with local public transport to return to Abergavenny.