Backwaters

Adventure Equipment Ltd

 Whether you want to enjoy a peaceful day on the river with a waterside picnic, or spend a weekend or holiday exporing an area 'off the beaten track' moving between campsites or B&B's; canoe or kayak touring offers a peaceful and environmentally-friendly way to travel.

We welcome responsible canoeists will enjoy the river and countryside, leaving it as they found it; treating wildlife and other river users with respect.

If you are not sure about your ability for unaccompanied canoe hire; we offer Guided Tours and a 'River Awareness' Day. We can also arrange skills training courses at various levels from beginner to open and white-water.

Contact
Home Page
Frequently Asked Questions
Types of Craft for Hire
Trip Planning Advice
Policy Statements:

Environmental; Ethical Trading; Welsh Language; Access statement.

Availability
Prices
Canoe Hire and Outfitting

Camlas Mynwy ac Aberhonddu

Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

Camlas Mynwy ac Aberhonddu / The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal offers 50 km of placid water canoe touring, mostly without locks. Touring on the Camlas Mynwy ac Aberhonddu / Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal offers spectacular scenery along with a number of places of historical interest en route, and is ideal both for those looking for a gentle introduction to canoeing, or those looking for a different way to explore the rich heritage of the area.

Backwaters hire canoes and kayaks for half-day, full-day or extended tours on the river, starting at Aberhonddu / Brecon (Terminus) or Gilwern Wharf.

Open Canoe Camping. If you want to undertake an extended canoe camping tour, we can supply your canoe with tent, stove/fuel, sleeping mat and bag, and waterproof containers to pack it all in.

The following information may help you plan your itinerary. All distances are given by canal from Aberhonddu / Brecon. It is recommended that you check with the camp site owners/B&B operators before setting off on your trip. Unless you are an experienced canoeist, we recommend that you do not attempt more than 10 miles per day.

Use of Welsh and English place names: Where a the English name of a place differs from the original, Welsh name, the Welsh name is given first, in italics. Please see our 'Welsh Language Policy' for more information.

 

Terminus

Aberhonddu / Brecon

Bridge 166 - Gasworks Bridge

Theatr Brycheiniog - Car Park (Pay and Display), Cafe, Toilets.

Pick-up / Drop-off point. Launching/landing point

 

Aberhonddu / Brecon Historic Town. Pubs, restaurants, Cafes, Hotels, B&B's, Youth Hostel, Bunkhouse, Museums, Theatre, TIC.

Buses to Hereford and Abergavenny (links to British Rail).

Distance from Brecon (approx), bridge number and Location

 Facilities and local points of interest

4.5 miles

Bridge 154 Pencelli Bridge -

Bridge 153 - Cross Keys Bridge  

Pencelli Wharf

Pick-up / Drop-off point. Launching/landing point

Limited car parking and public slipway.

Pub 'The Royal Oak' 01874 665396

4.75 miles  

Bridge 152  Castle Bridge

Castell Pencelli / Pencelli Castle Camping & Caravan Park

Camp-site with canal access for site users. Tel. 01874 665451

Backwaters offers a 'static' canoeing/ kayaking holiday based on self-catering camping at this site with pre-erected tent; sleeping bag with mat; stove with fuel, pots/pans and crockery, and your choice of canoes and/or kayaks available while you are here. Contact us for prices and details.

6.5 miles

Bridge 146 - Gilston Bridge

Gilestone Camping and Caravan Park

Camp-site with canal access for site users. Tel. 01874 676236

7 miles

Bridge 144 - Talybont Drawbridge

Talybont.

 

 

Pick-up / Drop-off point. Launching/landing point

Small car park a short portage from canal.

B&B 07748 051125

Camp site a short portage across the road.

Shop/Cafe/P.O. W.C.

Travellers Rest Inn 01874 676233 and Star Inn: Pub/Food/B&B with canal access

Look out for the waymarked circular 'Vaughan Walk' which follows the canal through Talybont (blue and white signs with a flying swan).

Ashford Tunnel

Please note that there are special requirements for negotiating the tunnel by canoe or kayak.

Portage available over the top of the tunnel.

11 miles.

Bridge 135 Top Lock Bridge -

Bridge 132 Lower Lock Bridge

Llangynidr Lock Flight

Pick-up / Drop-off point. Launching/landing point at Lower Lock

Flight of locks (portage needed). Limited parking by bottom lock. Pub 'Coach & Horses' 01874 730245. B&B.

12 miles

Bridge 131 - Yard Bridge

Llangynidr Village

Shop a short walk away from towpath.

River Usk Historic Bridge nearby.

Bridge 118 - Workhouse Bridge

Access to the road on foot, but no parking.

Ty Croeso Hotel, 01873 810573

Many of the buildings in the locality, including the Ty Croeso Hotel, formed part of the workhouse.

Footpath to the 18th Century bridge over the Usk.

Bridge 117

Footpath to the Old Rectory Hotel 01873 810373

15 miles.

Bridge 115 - Upper Yard Bridge 

Llangatwg / Llangattock Wharf.

19th Century Ironworks and interpretation board.

Crickhowell town centre 10-15 minutes walk: shops (including outdoor equipment shop), pubs, cafes, banks and cash point, garage.

Castle, TIC.

Bridge 112 - Park Bridge

Park Farm, Llangatwg / Llangattock.

Farm Camp-site with canal access. Farm eggs, ice-cream for sale.  

(book first for camping) Tel 01873 812183.

18 miles

Bridge 104 - Auckland Bridge

Gilwern Wharf.

Pick-up / Drop-off point (for extended tours only). Launching/landing point  

Car Park/Picnic site. Short walk to Garage/Shop. This car park and the adjacent section is extensively used by anglers, with regular fishing competitions being held throughout the year. Dates available from BWB..

Look out for traces of the wharf's heyday as a hub of nineteenth-Century transport and industry.

18.25 miles.

Bridge 103 - Gilwern Bridge

Gilwern Village

Shops, P.O. pubs, toilets.

20 miles

Bridge 98

Govilon Station Road Bridge -

Bridge 97

Govilon Yard Bridge

Gofilon / Govilon Wharf.

Shop in village. Access from road, car parking limited in village. BWB offices at Wharf. Private moorings.

Look out for the Gofilon/Govilon heritage trails (Bridge 100-Bridge 97):

Village Centre Trail ('Red Trail') - follows the canal for a short distance, just after the aqueduct to the new bridge.

Tramroad and Canal Trail ('Purple Trail') - follows the canal from the road bridge to the old railway line bridge.

Forge and Railway Trail ('Green Trail') - passes under the canal at the aquduct.

Bed & Breakfast. Rectory Cottage. Angela and Bryan Thomas 01495 785712

27 miles

Bridges 75 Jenkin Rosser's Bridge -

Bridge 74 Saron Bridge

Goytre Wharf

WC. Information Centre. Cafe.

30 miles

Bridge 62

High Bridge

Star Inn 01495 785319

33 miles

Bridge 52

Pont y Moel / Pontymoile Basin.

Pick-up / Drop-off point. Launching/landing point

 

End of navigable section. Car Park, Toilets. Café (seasonal). Shop nearby (garage). Pont y Pwl / Pontypool Town Centre about 15 minutes walk through park. Pont y Pwl / Pontypool and New Inn Station within 1 mile.

Although Pont y Moel / Pontymoile marks the limit of the navigable section of Camlas Mynwy ac Aberhonddu / The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal; the Fynwy / Monmouth, Aberhonddu / Brecon and Y Fenni / Abergavenny Canals which together form the system, can be explored further on foot. Restoration work on the canal system is being carried out by the Monmouthshire Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust, and there is a Canal Centre and Museum at Fourteen Locks on the outskirts of Casnewydd / Newport, near Cwmbran.

Key to Table:

Pick-up / Drop-off point. - this is a point at which you may start or finish your journey. We will collect or deliver to these points.

Launching/landing point - canoes may be launched or landed here. Unless stated, these are not pick-up/drop-off points.

Landing point - canoes may be landed here for access to facilities etc

Camping - camp-site beside or within reach of the canal (unless otherwise stated).

Inn/Pub etc. Where these are listed, it is normally possible to land to visit the Inn.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CANOEISTS
  • The information has been collected to aid our clients in planning a tour on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal. Information has been drawn from the operators and from other published sources. We cannot accept responsibility for eany errors and omissions, and recommend that you check details in advance. Note that many of the campsites are very basic, and some need advance booking. Please note that canoes and kayaks are not allowed in locks on this canal, and if your itinerary includes locks, you will need to portage round them. There are special requirements for negotiating the Ashford Tunnel by canoe or kayak. Be aware that larger motorised craft operate on the canal. There is a public footpath along the length of the canal, but parts of the canal are remote from roads and hire is completely unsupervised. You are responsible for your own safety on the canal.
  • The Monmouthshire & Brecon canal is a BWB managed navigation. Canoeists should be aware of the Waterways Code.

Contact
Home Page
Frequently Asked Questions
Types of Craft for Hire
Trip Planning Advice
Policy Statements:

Environmental; Ethical Trading; Welsh Language; Access statement.

Availability
Prices

The waterways on which we hire canoes and kayaks have an established public right of navigation. However, due to the unclear legal situation, on many rivers in England and Wales the right of canoeists and kayakers to navigate are challenged. Backwaters supports the Campaign for Land Reform in Wales

Backwaters is associated with Mountain & Water: Wales-wide Adventure Ltd.