Brecon Castle – Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal loop from Brecon

Hiking trails & Routes

Brecon Castle – Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal loop from Brecon

Moderate

4.7

(3)

hikers

Brecon Castle – Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal loop from Brecon

03:05

11.2km

170m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 23, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Bannau Brycheiniog National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

485 m

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.

Tip by

7.70 km

Brynich Lock

Highlight • Historical Site

Brynich Lock and its scenic gatekeeper cottage is situated adjacent to the river bridge over the River Usk near Llanfrynach. It is a super lovely place in a lovely tranquil setting. It was built in 1800 because the section of canal that crosses the River Usk here on the nearby aqueduct is lower than the last stretch of water going into Brecon. It is just a nice place to sit for a while to watch the lock being put to use with the coming and going of the barges.

Tip by

8.72 km

Bridge 164A (Brecon Bypass Flyover Bridge)

Highlight • Bridge

Actually this is not Bridge 164. This is bridge 164A (Brecon by pass fly over bridge). Bridge 164 is further along. Photo appended and Kamoot informed.

Tip by

9.10 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.

Tip by

9.88 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!

Tip by

10.3 km

Horse-Drawn Tram Cart Wooden Sculpture

Highlight • Structure

Located alongside the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal, this wooden sculpture recalls the horse-drawn tram carts of the early nineteenth century, before railways. At that time, canals and tramways were used to carry freight, including items such as farm produce, timber, and beer in barrels. Coal was also carried for industrial use, domestic heating, and cooking. The main item to be carried was the local limestone so it could be burned in limekilns to produce lime for whitewash, fertiliser, and building mortar.

Tip by

10.5 km

Watton Bridge (Bridge 165)

Highlight • Bridge

This is the bridge that brings you out by Morrisons garage in the Watton in Brecon.

Tip by

11.1 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.

Tip by

11.2 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

5.70 km

4.92 km

603 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

3.56 km