Directions: OS Reference S0254107/ OS Explorer Map OL13
The Iron Mountain Trail is a figure-of-eight walk, with the pond as the centre of its loop - which means you can divide it up into two walks rather than one and use Keeper's Pond as your base for both.
Derek Brockway says...
This area was once a hive of industrial activity and it's worth stopping to try and imagine what it must have been like in the 1800's when the ironworks were in full swing. The weather here can deteriorate quickly and the terrain is rough and boggy in places.
We were lucky as we wanted snow and we got it! It was inches deep in places, transforming the mountain into a winter wonderland with fantastic views of Sugar Loaf, Skirrid and the Beacons.
Have a look around Blaenavon Ironworks and if you're feeling thirsty pop into the Cordell Contry Inn for a glass of shandy!
Fiona Ford - Torfaen Borough Council says...
The trail is an intermediate walk of 12 miles with two steepish climbs. If this is too much then the walk can be easily split into two.
I never tire of taking visitors around this walk. There is always some part that will make them stop and go 'Wow' be it the spectacular views over the Usk Valley and the Brecon Beacons, the intoxicating scent and sight of a hill full of heather bloom or 'discovering' one of the many archaeological gems.
From the bleak but beautiful Keepers Pond on the Blaenavon road, this walk twists around the back of the Blorenge mountain and is in the heart of what is now called Cordell country.
The phrase was coined by walking guide, author and publisher Chris Barber who tells Derek how the author Alexander Cordell fell in love with this area, its people and its history.
Chris Barber - Walking Wales Magazine says...
Cordell's books "Rape of the Fair Country", "The Fire People" and "the Hosts of Rebecca" charted the rise and fall of the iron works in the Nant-Y-Glo and Clydach areas and are hugely popular.
Some of the towns and places mentioned in those books can be seen on this walk from the lost village of Pwll Ddu to the 'balance pond' now drained, where the characters met to fight on a Friday night.
The route offers some fantastic views of the Sugar Loaf mountain and the Brecon Beacons and traces a network of old tram and railway lines that were built in the 1800s (while some parts of the path are much older).
The Keepers Pond itself was named after the game keeper who kept the ironmaster's grouse although you are more likely to see a Peregrine Falcon or other moorland birds these days and lots of sheep!
From abandoned mountainside forges, to giant lumps of iron slag and ruined cottages the area is alive with its industrial history and heritage - something which seems at odds with the peace and tranquillity of the walk today.
The Blorenge is owned by the South East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club - for more details see their website at www.sewhgpgc.co.uk*
(This walk was also done with Chris Barber as part of the Radio Wales Weatherman Walking series 3 in 2004)
*The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites
