Activities

Walks from Middle Ninfa Farm

A good path leads from the bunkhouse and campsite up to the Punchbowl lake high on the eastern slope of the Blorenge.

From here foot and bridle paths lead in both directions within the National Park and World Heritage Site. A wide range of routes are available. Two circular walks are particularly popular, perhaps as both have an excellent hostelry somewhat over the halfway point.

Hill’s tramroad near The Tumbles

Lamb and Fox and Blorenge circuit. The 7 mile walk sets off north from the Punchbowl and curves west around the Blorenge at the boundary between the open moorland and enclosed farmland. It crosses the main track up the mountain from Llanfoist Wharf and meets and follows Hill’s tramroad along which iron and limestone from Garndyrus and Blaenavon was brought in drams pulled by mules to the inclined plane in Cwm Craf. From here the drams were lowered on continuous chains down the extremely steep mountainside to the canal at Llanfoist for onward transport by barge to Newport and overseas.

The walk along the level tramroad crosses the Blaenavon-Govilon road and continues past the site of Garndyrus Forge and through the Tumbles.

Friendly welcome at the Lamb and Fox, Pwll Ddu

Just before the sheer limestone face of Pwll Du quarry we climb up to the balance pond. Sadly the Lamb and Fox, a remote and characterful pub a survivor of the Pwll Du mining community, previously open at weekends for a good ale, lunch and a warm welcome, has closed and there is no prospect of its reopening in the near future.

Return through the stark and beautiful country of the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site, via Foxhunter’s grave to the Punchbowl and Middle Ninfa. Pwll Du and Blorenge summit walk route guide also available at the farm.

The Gander at the Goose walk. This 9-mile walk starts at the farm and goes south via the Punchbowl and farms flanking the eastern scarp to the Goose and Cuckoo. This remote public house, is famous for its whiskies, historic pram race and being just out of reach of the redoubtable Lady Llanover, champion of Welsh culture and ardent teetotaller, who closed all the watering holes on her estates. Annual Goose Fest on Whitsunday attracts crowds but good folk music also available some other weekends. Good and reasonable menu. Return along the canal. Laminated map and guide available at the farmhouse or bunkhouse. Click here for more details

Other special places accessible by foot include the Clydach Gorge (14 miles round trip), Goytre Wharf, Blaenavon Big Pit and Iron Works.

For details of a number of walks in the locality please see our entry in Walking World

Fishing. Permits are available to visitors to fish salmon and trout in the River Usk near Abergavenny by the day, week or year. Permission is for fly or lure fishing only with barbless hook and on a catch & release basis. Permits available from Keith Price garage in town.

What’s on in the Abergavenny area?