Keepers Pond to Blorenge

Circular walk offering extensive views across the Bannau Brycheiniog/Brecon Beacons National Park. Admire Usk Valley and climb the Blorenge mountain.

This Circular walk offers extensive views across the Bannau Brycheiniog/Brecon Beacons National Park. You can admire Usk Valley towards the Sugar Loaf and the Black Mountains, watch dragonflies and birds on the pond and climb up the Blorenge.

This is a grade 3 walk: Routes with occasional long or steep gradients, a narrow path in places, poor surfaces and kissing gates or stiles. There may be no seats.

Of interest

Keepers Pond, known as Pwll Pen-ffordd-goch – pool of the head of the red road in Welsh, was built in the early 19th century to provide water for Garnddyrys Forge. Its original purpose came to an end when the forge was dismantled in the 1860s but the pond then became a beauty spot.

As you wind your way across the heather-clad moorland on the Blorenge, spare a thought for the gamekeeper who lived in a cottage nearby and who gave the pond the English version of its name. Although the epitome of tranquillity today, the area would have resounded to the sound of horse-drawn trams during the area’s industrial heyday and so it now falls within the Blaenavon World Heritage Site.

Bear in mind – the name Blorenge may come from the old Saxon word ‘blore’ which means wind – it’s best to come prepared.