The Iron-making Trail

Blaenavon Ironworks, opened in 1789, is the best-preserved example in the world. The imposing water balance tower, constructed in 1839, was used to raise the pig iron to Hill’s Tramroad, which carried it to the forge at Garnddyrys on the other side of the mountain.

• Take the road to Abergavenny (B4246) and stop at the Keeper’s Pond, an early reservoir that supplied Garnddyrys Forge. From here follow The Iron Mountain Trail walk. 
• Take the road opposite to the Lamb and Fox public house at Pwll Du. From here the footpath leads to the limestone quarries, which supplied the flux for the iron-making process. Look eastwards from Pwll Du and see the remaining slag heaps that evidence the site of Garnddyrys Forge and village adjoining the road to Govilon. Wrought iron from Garnddyrys was transported along the tramroad and down to the canal wharf at Llanfoist then onwards by barge to Newport. 
• Return to Blaenavon and go to Big Pit. From the canteen there are great views of the industrial landscape and the terraced housing of Blaenavon. To the right is the community of Forgeside, deriving its name from the forge and steelworks constructed on that side of the river during the 1860s. Daniel Doncaster Company still produce precision forging for aircraft engines on this site.