Ally’s guidebook
Sightseeing
This is a walk from the house and is incredibly interesting for history lovers. It is the centre of what was a huge industry spanning miles and miles of hillside, canals and later the railways.
As well as detailing the industrial history, visitors can enter little houses that have been filled to demonstrate the evolution of interiors from the opening of the foundry to the 1950's.
The foundry is part of Cadw Wales. If you buy a pass, it will allow entry to other castles in the area and provide money off for English Heritage & Historic Scotland sites. Or, if you have passes for those, you will probably receive a discount here.
37 recommandé par les habitants
Blaenavon Ironworks/ Gwaith Haearn Blaenafon
North StreetThis is a walk from the house and is incredibly interesting for history lovers. It is the centre of what was a huge industry spanning miles and miles of hillside, canals and later the railways.
As well as detailing the industrial history, visitors can enter little houses that have been filled to demonstrate the evolution of interiors from the opening of the foundry to the 1950's.
The foundry is part of Cadw Wales. If you buy a pass, it will allow entry to other castles in the area and provide money off for English Heritage & Historic Scotland sites. Or, if you have passes for those, you will probably receive a discount here.
This is the last working coal mine in this area. A visit will allow you to go down into a mine where the tour guides were once miners. It is a detailed tour providing a fascinating insight into the lives of miners and the ponies used to pull carts, who were allowed out one day a year.
Big Pit
This is the last working coal mine in this area. A visit will allow you to go down into a mine where the tour guides were once miners. It is a detailed tour providing a fascinating insight into the lives of miners and the ponies used to pull carts, who were allowed out one day a year.
A wonderful, huge castle ruin. If anyone has a "Herbert" in their family, mention this to the tour guides as the former owner Baron Herbert is a well remembered character. A mention of him instigates some wonderfully scandalous tales.
134 recommandé par les habitants
Château de Raglan
Castle RoadA wonderful, huge castle ruin. If anyone has a "Herbert" in their family, mention this to the tour guides as the former owner Baron Herbert is a well remembered character. A mention of him instigates some wonderfully scandalous tales.
There are plenty of sedate, leisurely canal-side walks to be had along various sections of this industrial water feature.
67 recommandé par les habitants
Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal
There are plenty of sedate, leisurely canal-side walks to be had along various sections of this industrial water feature.
This wharf is a nice visit with a cafe. Barge boats and canoes can be hired from here for a day out.
25 recommandé par les habitants
Goytre Wharf
Old Abergavenny RoadThis wharf is a nice visit with a cafe. Barge boats and canoes can be hired from here for a day out.
This is a wonderful mountain and, from Blaenavon, there's no climbing to do as you are already nearly at the top. There are many walks around it and to the top, some covering old tramways paths that come across ancient tunnel ways. At one end, there is a steep path down what was once an incline, dropping materials down to the canal beneath. At that point, there is a tunnel under the canal to access the other side which is worth a visit.
37 recommandé par les habitants
Blorenge
This is a wonderful mountain and, from Blaenavon, there's no climbing to do as you are already nearly at the top. There are many walks around it and to the top, some covering old tramways paths that come across ancient tunnel ways. At one end, there is a steep path down what was once an incline, dropping materials down to the canal beneath. At that point, there is a tunnel under the canal to access the other side which is worth a visit.
There is now little to see at Pwll Du as most of what was once a thriving village has now gone. It does however resonate with evocative history if you have an interest in what once was. Old maps show you where rows of houses, pubs and shops once were and the pathways still exist which were trampled by the village's industrious workers and trams.
Pwlldu
There is now little to see at Pwll Du as most of what was once a thriving village has now gone. It does however resonate with evocative history if you have an interest in what once was. Old maps show you where rows of houses, pubs and shops once were and the pathways still exist which were trampled by the village's industrious workers and trams.
Abergavenny is a lovely market town with regular market days. It's quite well healed for South Wales and has a great variety of shops and cafes as well as a little independent cinema. It's also the place for supermarkets including Waitrose and Morrisons.
145 recommandé par les habitants
Abergavenny
Abergavenny is a lovely market town with regular market days. It's quite well healed for South Wales and has a great variety of shops and cafes as well as a little independent cinema. It's also the place for supermarkets including Waitrose and Morrisons.
I would recommend a visit here early on because the museum provides a back drop to the history of the town and the surrounding area. The information is well presented and there is a cafe with lovely views over the descending valley to the River Avon.
24 recommandé par les habitants
Blaenavon World Heritage Centre
Church RoadI would recommend a visit here early on because the museum provides a back drop to the history of the town and the surrounding area. The information is well presented and there is a cafe with lovely views over the descending valley to the River Avon.
This proud building was built by personal subscriptions by the local miners. It has been renovated beautifully and provides event space as well as a well run little cinema. Ticket prices are usually £4/£5 and drinks are cheap too.
Blaenavon Workmen's Hall
97 High StThis proud building was built by personal subscriptions by the local miners. It has been renovated beautifully and provides event space as well as a well run little cinema. Ticket prices are usually £4/£5 and drinks are cheap too.
Rhymney Brewery is an award-winning Welsh brewery located in the heart of Blaenavon. Its brewing centre and visitor facility is open daily and allows visitors to learn about the brewing process as well as discovering the history of the brewery.
Rhymney Brewery
Rhymney Brewery is an award-winning Welsh brewery located in the heart of Blaenavon. Its brewing centre and visitor facility is open daily and allows visitors to learn about the brewing process as well as discovering the history of the brewery.
Blaenavon's Heritage Railway provides rides on steam trains and offers further insight to the area's incredible history.
13 recommandé par les habitants
Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway
Blaenavon's Heritage Railway provides rides on steam trains and offers further insight to the area's incredible history.
This cinema has reclining seats!! All of them. And tickets are usually about £5 to newly released films. Really a very comfortable bargain.
Vue Cinemas
Glyndwr RoadThis cinema has reclining seats!! All of them. And tickets are usually about £5 to newly released films. Really a very comfortable bargain.
This site can be reached by walking but you can also drive and park here to access a direct walk to the top of the Blorenge. The Foxhunter memorial stone for a once famous race horse can be seen a short way along the path from the car park. Oh yes, and the views are 360 and amazing.
Foxhunter Car Park
This site can be reached by walking but you can also drive and park here to access a direct walk to the top of the Blorenge. The Foxhunter memorial stone for a once famous race horse can be seen a short way along the path from the car park. Oh yes, and the views are 360 and amazing.
Food scene
This is an expensive restaurant, run by award winning chef Stephen Terry. The food is interesting and delicious. The decor is back to basics and well done in what was once an old inn.
68 recommandé par les habitants
The Hardwick
This is an expensive restaurant, run by award winning chef Stephen Terry. The food is interesting and delicious. The decor is back to basics and well done in what was once an old inn.
Perhaps Blaenavon's best restaurant. It is provides a friendly welcome and delicious food. Walkable from the house too so you can enjoy a drink.
13 recommandé par les habitants
Butterflies Bar & Kitchen
31 Old Queen StPerhaps Blaenavon's best restaurant. It is provides a friendly welcome and delicious food. Walkable from the house too so you can enjoy a drink.
A hotel with an interesting history. The once Tory owner was raided after local disputes. So much damage was done that he left the UK for America and he never came back. Now a decent place to eat with a friendly bar providing opportunity to chat with the locals.
The Lion Hotel
41 Broad StA hotel with an interesting history. The once Tory owner was raided after local disputes. So much damage was done that he left the UK for America and he never came back. Now a decent place to eat with a friendly bar providing opportunity to chat with the locals.
Plas Derwen
Monmouth RoadFamily friendly pub and restaurant with a varied menu.
This is an up market establishment! A la carte dining in beautiful interiors.
62 recommandé par les habitants
The Angel Hotel
15 Cross StThis is an up market establishment! A la carte dining in beautiful interiors.
This is a quirky little country pub which is very remote. If you drive there, it is up windy lanes but it can be walked from Blaenavon. It is a wonderful stop on a long walk. Good food can be had at the right times along with very drinkable, thirst quenching pints.
8 recommandé par les habitants
The Goose & Cuckoo Inn
This is a quirky little country pub which is very remote. If you drive there, it is up windy lanes but it can be walked from Blaenavon. It is a wonderful stop on a long walk. Good food can be had at the right times along with very drinkable, thirst quenching pints.