New cycling route for the Mon & Brec

The new route follows the line of the former Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny railway for eight miles between Llanfoist and Brynmawr, and passes through the Clydach Gorge Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Cyclists and walkers will also have the chance to take in the lovely Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal as it runs through the town of Llanfoist.

It has taken more than two decades to complete this new traffic-free route, which marks the beginning of the Heads of Valleys route from Abergavenny to Neath. It also forms a key part of the Valleys Cycle Network, which Sustrans will create over the next five years with local authority partners.

Gwyn Smith, South East Wales Area Manager for Sustrans Cymru, said:

"This path opens up stunning scenery for local communities and tourists alike, and is already proving hugely popular.

"Viable alternative to busy trunk roads"

"It provides both a leisurely ride into the top of the Valleys and connects small towns at lower levels, creating a viable alternative to busy trunk roads for everyday journeys.

"Local people now have a terrific facility on their doorstep, which will help them to enjoy getting about in ways which benefit their health and the environment. And it will be a terrific boost for tourism because cyclists tend to travel light and make the most of the facilities they see along the way."