Page Two
A RIVERSIDE WALK
Starting from
The Abercrave Inn. Grid Ref: SN 824128
An easy stroll along the River Tawe, visiting Caehopkin. Then back to the river and returning via Abercrave Church to the Abercrave Inn.
From the Abercrave Inn, in Abercrave village, walk through the village heading South Westerly for 170 metres along Heol Tawe to a footpath sign on a telegraph pole on the left, just beyond No. 82. ( see picture).Turn left here, continuing over a stile by a gate and going South Easterly down a leafy lane to the river-bank. (This can be muddy in winter). Turn right (SW) and head downstream across two wooden footbridges. Go up a short flight of concrete steps, past a playground on the right. Descending some stone steps you arrive at a weir. This was built to supply water to the Swansea Canal via a feeder channel, which has now been filled in to make the riverside walk.
Entrance
to path
Follow the path past some seats by the river Tawe and then on for 300 metres to a metal gate and kissing gate. The path is known locally as Llwybr Macho, after Mr Leo Macho who was the last Mayor of Brecon. Continue through the gate along a path by the roadside. When an asphalt path is reached, turn left and cross the main A4067 road heading toward a cottage by the Pont-y-Yard Bridge over the River Tawe. Pass the cottage and veer left (heading Easterly) up an asphalt path (this also has a local name: the ‘black path’) At a metal kissing gate by a wooden seat carry straight on up a grassy gravel drive and straight on again at a metal gate and kissing gate, keeping on a stony lane in an Easterly direction.
The Weir Abercrave
Just
before you reach a junction with a metalled road, Maes-y-Deri house can be
seen on the right. This was the residence of the owners of
Abercrave Colliery. Turn left at the metalled road and walk Northerly down
the hill which joins another road to
go under a road-bridge. Turn right immediately after the bridge and walk Easterly
along another metalled road.
To the left you
can see Caehopkin
School, and as you pass the school driveway you are entering the Brecon
Beacons National Park. Continue along the
roadway until another metalled road joins from the right. ( If you wish to visit Cefn-yr-erw
animal sanctuary turn right here and go up the hill for 500 metres).
Otherwise keep left at
this road junction and after 300 metres look for a way-marked metal
stile on the left, just before the road swings left down a steep hill.
The Black Path