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Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal – Brecon Castle loop from Brecon

Routes

Running trails & routes

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal – Brecon Castle loop from Brecon

Moderate

3.0

(1)

runners

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal – Brecon Castle loop from Brecon

01:03

10.1km

40m

Running

Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: May 16, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Bannau Brycheiniog National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

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3.53 km

Watton Limekilns

Highlight • Historical Site

These are local historic lime kilns from the time of the canal’s inception. There are three historic limekilns along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canals. Here in The Watton, Llangattock, and Goytre. They have all been restored through financial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Brecon Beacons Trust. They are an important part of the history of the community and the canal.

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3.84 km

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal

Highlight • Cycleway

Our beautiful local canal, which sits on the northern fringes of the Brecon Beacons, is a hidden gem of a place. It is one of the most underestimated locations in Wales and a great plan 'B' walk if the weather is a tad 'Welsh' higher up. Be it walking, biking, or kayaking, this is simply a gorgeous venue! Given life by the River Usk, the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal stretches 35+ beautiful, tranquil miles between the Brecon Basin and Pontymoile Basin. The scenery here never fails to impress, and it is simply my favourite place on earth!

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4.61 km

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal

Highlight • Structure

This is the canal tunnel that goes underneath the A40 dual carriageway. It is quite a length and the footway is narrow, so if you are on a bicycle I would suggest you take it carefully as pedestrians have right of way here.

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6.91 km

Brecon Canal Basin

Highlight • River

This is a beautiful canal basin forming the start of the Monmouth and Brecon Canal. It's a beautiful setting overlooked by Brecon Theatre, where there is a cafe/bistro. Meanwhile, on the water, there are chartered barge trips along with boat and kayak trips most of the year. Brecon town centre is nearby, and there is pay-and-display parking on site.

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7.34 km

Wellington and Picton Memorial, Brecon

Highlight • Historical Site

This monument in the heart of Brecon is both a memorial to Wellington and to Sir Thomas Picton, who was considered to be the most important Welsh general fighting alongside Wellington at Waterloo. Picton is the source of much discussion now in Wales with an effort to remove all of his statues due to his cruel connection to the slave trade, and in particular the torture of a 14 year old slave girl.

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7.69 km

Brecon Castle

Highlight • Settlement

Brecon, the town after which the Beacons are named, is unsurprisingly a fantastic base for exploring the national park. The graceful, green forms of the Central Beacons and Pen y Fan, which at 2,907 feet (886 m) is the highest peak in Britain south of Snowdonia, rise to the south, within hiking distance. Meanwhile, it is only a short drive to the Black Mountain in the west and the Black Mountains (not to be confused with each other) in the east.

Brecon itself is a vibrant market town on the River Usk and is the start point of the historic Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Its lively streets are full of cafes, restaurants, pubs, independent shops and host an annual jazz festival. Its magnificent cathedral is also worth a visit.

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