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Walk 9. Torfaen
The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal from Newport

*please click images below to access larger photograph

Situated just off the A4042 Newport to Cwmbran / Ponypool Road, from Junction 26 on the M4 (very near to Brynglas Tunnels on the M4).

Parking / Start: At the Bettws Car Park, on Bettws Lane. 1

Walk out of the road from the Car Park; cross the road by a bridge and turn right to walk along the canal. You will pass the first of many stone bridges, called “Holly Bush Bridge” (No 28). Walk until you reach a road (Pentre Lane).

2 Cross the road and walk straight ahead (on your way you will see an old grey sign giving the weight that was allowed across the bridge). Eventually, you will reach a point where there are three Locks 3 close together (On your right, across a green bridge, is a picnic area).

Approximately 400 yards from here you leave the Canal Towpath and cross a stile on your left, to reach a path among some trees. Proceed a short distance to another stile. Walk straight across until you come to a bridge and stile across a little brook. You can see the “Pant-glas” Farm 4 straight ahead. Go across the next field diagonally to the right until you reach a gate by farm buildings. Go through the gate, across the farm yard and turn left between the two houses. Continue a short distance around the corner until you see two gates ahead; enter through the left hand gate (Pant-glas Farm sign on a wall on your right), into a field.

Turn left, keeping the hedge on your left, for approximately 100 yards; then diagonally right, across some rough ground to a gap in the trees, crossing a small stream into the next field. Walk straight across this field to a gap in the hedge on your right. (In the spring, look out for a purple flower Lady’s Smock).

Enter through the gate into the next field and the old farm buildings of “Pentre Bach” are in front of you. 5

Go left to a stile in hedge then left again to walk along a driveway (with kind permission of the owner) until you reach a road (Pentre Lane). On your right, on the lane there is a little stone bridge giving access to a house called Broadoaks.

Cross the road to a gate directly opposite. Enter a field with fine views of Twmbarlwm to your right and walk along, keeping close to the hedge on your left; turn a corner still keeping to the hedge and proceed along to the next field. Walk diagonally right to a stile and bridge. 6

Cross the road to a stile directly opposite and enter a field walking along the river on your right.

Cross another stile to the next field and proceed for approximately 50 yards along the river bank to a bridge on your right, crossing into a field. Turn sharp left and with the river on your left, walk along to a stile. Cross the stile on to a path. Take great care as the path slopes steeply towards the river.

Proceed along to a steel bridge; follow the path to some steps that lead you back on to the towpath. 7

Turn right and retrace your steps along the Canal to the starting point at Bettws Car Park, taking care in crossing the very busy road.

This walk can be split into two other, shorter walks if you wish…..

Walk 9.2 (2miles) Follow the directions for Walk 9.1 until you reach Pentre Lane. Turn left and go right at the cross roads. Proceed down the hill until you reach a gate. Proceed as described in Walk 9.1.

Walk 9.3 (3.5 miles) Start at Pentre Lane (park on the grass verge) and follow the directions for Walk 9.1; emerging back on Pentre Lane and turning left, return to the Canal.

 

Pentre Bach, Llantarnam

Pentre Bach, or the little village, dates back to the time of Henry II. It was a grange and manor owned by Cistercian Monks of Llantarnam Abbey. It was endowed to them by Howel ap Jorwerth ap Owen, Lord of Caerleon.

It was later leased to and then owned by the Morgans of Llantarnam for several centuries.

The building consists of two houses, erected at different periods; the later one (Stuart) being built against the pine end of the earlier (Tudor) house.

There is a curious tradition respecting the later house, for old people have been heard to say:-

“That many years ago, there was a ball given in the great hall (now a barn) which at the time was ceiled and hung with pictures and that when the revelry was at its height, the walls shook until the pictures fell and the guests and visitors all fled in dismay”.

There is, however, no date given of this occurrence, nor does it seem to be at all known who last inhabited the old mansion, or why it was abandoned.

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