Gilwern to Pontypool

A cruise down to Pontypool is the perfect beginner’s itinerary. If you rather not do any lock wheeling on your first canal holiday, then this might be the route of choice for you. Instead of lots of locks, the canal boasts many horseshoe bends to wind itself around the hills and almost always crosses an aqueduct. At times noisily tumbling streams and rivers underneath make a scenic sight. The more you progress along the canal, the steeper and more impressive the hills get. There are many visible remains of the mining industry from the past, which make for a very interesting excursion on foot. You’ll cross through a wooded area and shortly reach the crossing of the River Usk. A walk under the canal through the tunnel in Govilon makes a nice change to your holiday on the canal. The scenery changes between open pastureland, wooded areas and steep hills and making this cruise down to Pontypool a very exciting and pleasant one. There are many opportunities for walks in the surrounding countryside and although there are sections without any towns and villages, in sight, a traditional pub or restaurant is almost always only a short walk away. Once you have reached the town of Pontypool, it’s time to turn around and retrace your journey back to the hire base in Gilwern.