Blaiabe one

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Care is needed with navigation. Particularly in the woodland north of Abertillery where there are numerous tracks and trails in all directions, not all marked on the map and some of these are clearer than those that are marked.

A 3-star rating and would have been more, but for the lack of signage. I only noticed 2 footpath signs along the way and both of these were at places where the path was clear and there were no choices to make. Had to make several detours to find a way through.

Heading out of Blaina up the steep street, there was no obvious path to the right, but I eventually came out on a track that then led back to the path. The path followed the lanes at the back of the highest row of houses and then on to tracks and fields before leading out on to the open moor. There were no signs and no obvious paths made by general usage, so it was a matter of following the general map directions as close as possible. Some difficult walking followed over rough ground, through bramble patches and across some steep ravines. My path then headed straight for some private land, so I had to make a steep detour up the hill until I found what may have been a style to cross the fields. This then led to some lovely beech woodlands, with the (my) path following the contours for a good way. Eventually, the woodlands changed into a mixed woodland and then on to some newer plantations, mainly birch trees, on what looked like old colliery spoil tips.

On the outskirts of Abertillery, the path ran out on to a lane and I couldn`t find the mapped path that led straight on to Ty Dan Y Wal Road. Instead I walked along the highest of the built up roads (Attlee Avenue), which met up with Ty Dan Y Wal a little further on. Then on through the streets of Abertillery to the town centre. This was the third leg of a 4-Slow Ways walk from Brynmawr to Newbridge.

Photo 1 - The mountain side above Blaina
Photo 2 - Looking across the Ebbw Fach valley from Blaina
Photo 3 - Beech woodlands on the mountain side between Blaina and Abertillery.

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