Eight of the best Abergavenny walks

Whether you’re looking for a gentle family-friendly stroll, a scenic waterside walk or a challenging climb up one of the Brecon Beacons’ many mountains, you’ll find an array of walking routes in and around Abergavenny and the Black Mountains.

Here are some of our favourite Abergavenny walks to try during your next Brecon Beacons getaway.

Llanfoist to Govilon circular

This lovely family-friendly walk starts and ends in the peaceful Monmouthshire village of Llanfoist, just to the south of Abergavenny. The gentle and flat route starts off by following the forested path of an old railway line before connecting to the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal at Govilon, which takes you through pretty woodland with benches where you can stop and watch the boats on your way back to Llanfoist.

Facilities and refreshments are available at Abergavenny Garden Centre and The Bridge Inn both in Llanfoist. 

Castle Meadows and Linda Vista Gardens

Another easy Abergavenny walk to try is this circular route around the town that takes in some of the town’s best gardens including Castle Meadows where you can enjoy views across to the Blorenge, one of the highest peaks in the Black Mountains. These lovely riverside meadows are next to Abergavenny Castle and Museum and feature trees, ponds, streams and even some grazing cattle.    

You’ll take a bridge over the River Gavenny before following a pathway along the banks of the River Usk before heading back to your starting point at Linda Vista Gardens. Originally planted as private pleasure gardens, these gorgeous grounds are now free-to-access for all with a network of pathways winding around colourful flowers and a tranquil rose garden.

There are numerous facilities and places to stop for refreshments around Abergavenny, including Ambika Social, located in Linda Vista Gardens. 

The Sugar Loaf

The Sugar Loaf trail is one of the most popular Abergavenny walking routes to try thanks to the stunning views you’ll get from the summit. There are various places where you can kick off your climb up the Sugar Loaf, but we recommend starting at The National Trust car park on the southern slopes of the mountain, which is just a few miles from Abergavenny.

You can ease yourself into the walk by following grassy paths through woodland and crossing gentle streams to the western edge of the mountain. The climb then gets a bit tougher with a fairly steep ascent to the top of The Sugar Loaf which is marked with a trig point. It’s worth lingering here to enjoy panoramic views across the Brecon Beacons before winding your way around the mountain to eventually rejoin your original path.    

The nearest facilities to The Sugar Loaf are in Abergavenny so we recommend bringing some food and drink with you for the walk.

The Skirrid

Also known as Holy Island and Ysgyryd Fawr, The Skirrid is another Brecon Beacons peak on the edge of the Black Mountains near Abergavenny. The Skirrid is separated from the main Black Mountain range by the Gavenny Valley and seems to rise from the landscape out of nowhere with spectacular 360-degree views from the top.

The walk to the summit of The Skirrid will take you through ancient woodland and past the remains of St Michael’s Chapel which was built as a sanctuary for Catholics during the reformation of the 16th century.

Facilities and refreshments are available at The Skirrid Mountain Inn, a public house that dates back around 900 years. 

Abergavenny to Llanthony Priory

This challenging linear walk forms part of the Beacons Way walking route which runs right the way through the Brecon Beacons National Park. Abergavenny to Llanthony is typically completed on day one of the Beacons Way but can also be done as its own standalone walk.  

The route includes a section at The Skirrid before going through the village of Llanfihangel Crucorney where you’ll join Offa’s Dyke Path and walk along Hatterall Ridge to the sprawling ruins of Llanthony Priory which is known for its dramatic location, stunning views and dark skies for stargazing.

Facilities and refreshments are available in Abergavenny as well as at The Llanthony Priory Inn.

Keepers Pond to the Blorenge

This 7-mile circular walk starts at Keepers Pond near Blaenavon World Heritage Site which was built in the 19^th century to provide water to Garnddyrys Forge. It’s now one of the most well-loved beauty spots in the Brecon Beacons and you’ll pass through heather-clad moorland that’s a haven for local wildlife including red grouse, merlins and even polecats on your way to the Blorenge. 

One of the highlights of the walk is The Punchbowl, a steep woodland valley with a man-made lake on the edge of the Blorenge where you can see mallards, herons and woodpeckers. Carry on up the hill and you can enjoy a wonderful view over The Punchbowl from a series of limestone markers that are close to the summit.

The nearest facilities are either at Abergavenny or Blaenavon so we recommend bringing along your own food and drink for this walk.

Usk Valley walk

The long-distance Usk Valley walk follows the path of the River Usk through the Brecon Beacons National Park from Usk to Abergavenny and on to Brecon. If you fancy tackling a scenic section of this walk, you can follow riverside and canal pathways between Abergavenny and Crickhowell and then catch a bus back to the start. 

The walk is wonderfully scenic and mainly flat with views along the way of the surrounding mountains and several waterside pubs where you can stop for refreshments. Once in the town of Crickhowell you can climb to the top of the motte at Crickhowell Castle and walk over the 13 arches of the longest stone bridge in Wales.

There are numerous pubs, cafes and restaurants in both Crickhowell and Abergavenny along with several places where you can stop for food and drink along the way during the walk.

Gilwern to Clydach Gorge

The beautiful Clydach Gorge is located in a steep-sided Brecon Beacons valley with ancient woodland, fast-flowing streams, hidden caves and spectacular waterfalls. You can follow a series of tree-lined trails to seek out the tumbling falls making Clydach Gorge a perfect choice for a scenic walk.      

This route to Clydach Gorge starts in the pretty village of Gilwern and you’ll walk along the River Usk and a selection of pretty pathways through lush green countryside to get to the lovely nature reserve.

Facilities and refreshments are available in Gilwern.

Plan your getaway to Abergavenny

If you have been inspired to try some of these Abergavenny walks, there are plenty of holiday cottages in and around this Brecon Beacons market town where you can rest weary legs after days of exploring.

Browse our range of Abergavenny cottages to find the perfect base for your next Brecon Beacons getaway.