urban75 country weekend: Walking around Abergavenny, south Wales.
Photos and words © urban75 editor, June 2006 (updated 01/2007)
Some photos from the urban75 walking club's weekend in the Brecon Beacons, south Wales, June 2006.
We stayed at the self-catering Middle Ninfa Bunkhouse, part of a small farm halfway up a steep hill close to Llanelen, Abergavenny, on the edge of the newly-designated Blaenavon World Heritage Site.
PART ONE
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-01.jpg)
Stopping off at the service station on the way up from London.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-02.jpg) Arriving at the farm, which is sat up a hefty hill and affords picturesque views over the Usk Valley, the Skirrid mountain and the Monmouthshire countryside.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-03.jpg) The bunkhouse!
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-04.jpg) Time for tea.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-05.jpg)
Relaxing by the camp fire.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-06.jpg)
We managed to go through our entire weekend's booze supply in one night. Whoops!
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-07.jpg)
DAY TW0
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-08.jpg)
Early morning at the Bunkhouse - ready for the walk!
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-09.jpg)
Climbing up through the ferns at the start of our 8 mile (13km) walk.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-10.jpg)
Scrambling over a dried up river bed towards the Blorenge.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-11.jpg)
The Devil's Punchbowl. The Punchbowl is in fact a large pond with a small islet in the middle, and was once a popular venue for illegal bare knuckle fights.
A 1889 fight between David Rees of Nantyglo and William Williams of Brynmawr went on for 42 rounds and lasted an hour and 42 minutes - all for a £10 purse!
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-12.jpg)
Heading to the summit.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-13.jpg)
Weary walkers after a hefty climb.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-14.jpg)
Open countryside.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-15.jpg)
Single file stampede!
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-16.jpg)
The walk passes White Horse farm and then on to Upper Barn.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-17.jpg)
It was hot. Very hot, and the dead sheep lying around were a bit off-putting.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-18.jpg)
Seeing as the area was renown for its charcoal industry, we figured that these may have been the remains of ovens. But what do we know!
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-19.jpg)
Walking along along the side of a deep cwm.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-20.jpg)
Another lovely view by Yew Tree farm.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-21.jpg)
With the pub in sight, the pace quickened!
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-22.jpg)
The Goose & Cuckoo pub (formerly the new Inn) was a very welcome sight.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-23.jpg)
Enjoying some cider and local ale.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-24.jpg)
The landlord.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-25.jpg)
Team shot outside the boozer.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-26.jpg)
Ready for the off.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-27.jpg)
Heading down the valley.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-28.jpg)
The walk took us back along the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal towpath.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-55.jpg)
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-29.jpg)
Sleep time!
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-30.jpg)
Along the canal.
![Walking weekend, Middle Ninfa, Llanelen, Abergavenny, south Wales](images/abergavenny-31.jpg)
Old cast iron signpost.
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