Village walking in Wales

So, here I am again, ambling through small Welsh villages around Abergavenny, armed only with a camera! Ok, so I've donned the walking boots, but I've no intention of hiking through miles of rough terrain, just hard tarmac pavements! Hoping to discover snippets of information, to stumble upon striking countryside and get a bit of fresh air and exercise at the same time.

A couple of miles from Abergavenny lies the small village of Govilon. Little windy roads run off to the left and right of the main road. A picturesque lane runs down towards the Heads of the Valley road, passing some beautiful cottages, a brook whose origins are at Keeper's Pond on the Blorenge, and a very narrow little humped-back bridge on the way. Large houses at the top of the road, belie the beauty of the tiny tiny stone cottages on either side of the meandering lane, with lovely names like "Cherry Cottage".

Heading right off the main road, by the side of the brook, past the forge, either fork to the right, past the Bridgend Pub and head up towards the canal bridge. Join the canal towpath, heading right towards Gilwern or left towards Llanfoist and Abergavenny. This beautiful canal, about a 34 mile stretch which doesn't lead to any other waterway, is usually busy, allbeit with slow-moving narrow boats, but today it stands empty following a devastating breach last October, that caused mayhem on the surrounding roads and villages. According to Roger Williams ((Shadow Minister (Rural Affairs), Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Brecon & Radnorshire, Liberal Democrat) http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?gid=2007-12-11b.11.2:

"The canal runs from Brecon to Pontypool; it used to run to Newport. Its purpose originally was to take limestone to the steelworks and bring back slag and other materials for agricultural use in the more agricultural areas. It had fallen into disrepair by the 1930s, and only through the intervention of British Waterways and the Brecon Beacons national park was it brought back into use."

He relayed that it had been suggested to him that repairs would cost about 1.5 million. Recent news from the BBC suggests that figure is nearer 7.5 million. Gosh, what a lot of money! Hopefully, the restoration won't take as long as that of the Montgomery canal, but who knows.

Anyway, I digress! Forking right instead of left takes you on a wander through some newer housing leading eventually up to the old infant/junior school, past the old railway line, opened in 1862, closed to passengers in 1958 and now a footpath. Follow this road round to get to the foot of the Blorenge mountain, famous for its "fiddler's elbow", Keeper's Pond and the grave of the race horse, Foxhunter. On your way to Bleanavon and the Big Pit, pick some wimberries (aka blueberries, or braeberries) for tonight's pudding!

Govilon Heritage have spent much time creating and erecting noticeboards around the village that follow specific trails that they've devised. Although I saw the boards, I had no idea about their work in digitally preserving Govilon's heritage, so the route I took was of my own making, but next time I shall buy their 20pence leaflets and do their guided walk!

See you soon!