Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
21
Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
Distance
66km from Brecon to Newport
Highlights
Brecon Beacons National Park
Seventeenth century Grade II Llangynidr bridge
Navigation Authorities
Torfaen Council/Newport City Council
Canal Society
Monmouthshire Brecon & Abergavenny Canal Trust
OS 1:50,000 Sheets
160 Brecon Beacons
161 Black Mountains
171 Cardiff & Newport
The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal runs south-east across Powys from Brecon to Newport,
a narrow contour canal followed by one of the best towpaths in the country. Two features that
distinguish Welsh canals are their beauty and their proliferation of names, both being applic-
able in this case, not least because the canal started off as two separate canals. At the lower end
was the Monmouthshire Canal, built in 1796 to Pontnewynydd. The Brecon Canal, Brecknock
& Abergavenny Canal or Brecon & Abergavenny Canal was to be built to the River Usk at
Caerleon but the two were, instead, connected at Pontypool, a fact that was to save the upper
canal in later years as a water feeder for the lower canal. Designed by Thomas Dadford Jr, it
was opened throughout in 1812 to export iron ore, coal and limestone, but was also used for
local coal, lime and cattle transport for farmers in the rural upper section. A plan for an exten-
sion to Hay was dropped in 1793 and the proposal for a canal from Abergavenny to Hereford
was blocked by landowners. The upper canal was bought by the Monmouthshire Canal Com-
pany in 1865 to safeguard water supplies. There was no significant freight after 1870 and the
