April 22: Sirhowy Valley (north)

I set off from Pontllanfraith, crossing the Sirhowy and heading north along the old tramroad from the early days of the Industrial Revolution.

Just beyond Blackwood the landscape has changed considerably, with significant road construction in the last couple of years. As the new roads were not on my OS map, I got lost with more ease than usual.

After lengthy detours (that is, getting lost again), I managed to rejoin the trail at Manmoel, leading to the bleak but pleasant hill of Cefn Manmoel. From here there were views of the neighbouring hills. Here I had a rare meeting with another traveller - a Czech man staying in nearby Ebbw Vale.

The Sirhowy Valley Walk ends on a hill just beyond the Tredegar - Ebbw Vale road, at a spot where the great socialist Aneurin Bevin held open air meetings during his long years as the local Member of Parliament.

The greatest of Bevin's many claims to fame is the introduction of the National Health Service, inspired partly by a system already long in use in Tredegar.

I then headed west for Tredegar, a neglected town with many interesting features, and walked a few miles south to Coronation Villas before calling it a day and catching a bus back to Pontallanfraith. It had been a very enjoyable walk.

Today: 16 miles
2006 total: 174 miles