| Where | Blaenavon Railway (Brecon Beacons and South Wales) |
|---|---|
| Date | 13 July 2008 |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Distance | 7 miles (~11 km) |
| Weather | Sunny with partial cloud cover |
| Trail conditions | Dry tarmac |
| Rider | Age | Bike(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Anonymous | Unknown | Silverfox SFX01 |
| Josie Wilton-Jones | 6 | Concept No Limit |
| Mark 'Tarquin' Wilton-Jones | 28 | GT LTS 2000 (TWJ) |
Trip report
Description by Mark 'Tarquin' Wilton-Jones
The route follows part of the relatively new Route 46, along what used to be the main railway line from the Blaenavon coal mines and famous iron works.
The trip started at the future end of the Blaenavon and Pontypool steam railway extension, at the Varteg Mountain road, simply because it was convenient. Parking is easy but not official.
From here, the trail follows the remains of the old railway, on a fairly steady gradient. For a normal railway, this is very steep, and almost all can be freewheeled.
After stopping for lunch at some abandoned luggage on an abandoned platform, and passing several old remnants of bridges, we turned around. Downhill becomes uphill.
We continued past where we started, where it levels out, and onwards towards the current end of the active railway line. In two years' time, this section will be accompanied by steam trains.
At the Big Pit road, we turned around. This part was in the process of being brought back to working condition, ready for the extension of the line. From here, the route continues up to the lakes at the Whistle Stop Inn, which would be a good place to stop for a drink. Still at nearly three times the length of the last bike ride, one of our group was getting a bit tired, and it was time to stop.
