British Waterways has produced a guide that will help cyclists to enjoy the picturesque Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal at a safe and leisurely pace.
David Davies MP for Monmouth officially launched the guide on the towpath adjacent to the British Waterways offices in Govilon during British Tourism Week – the official curtain raiser to the new UK visitor season.
The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal attracts around three million visitors annually, ranging from walkers to boaters, anglers to cyclists.
The handy guide features colour grading to mark the varied towpath conditions along this beautiful and diverse heritage and nature trail. The waterway links the bustling hub town of Brecon with a stunning national park and world heritage site on its 35 mile route to the River Usk at Newport.
It has been produced in conjunction with Sustrans, the Government backed sustainable travel organisation. It is aimed at every grade of leisure seeker, from the group to enthusiast.
British Waterways South Wales & Severn Manager Nick Worthington said the guide provided a simple and user friendly way to navigate the varying towpath surfaces by bike.
“Our towpaths are leisure amenities which can be enjoyed by everyone. This waterway is very popular with a wide range of community members, both young and old. With this in mind, we would ask cyclists to watch their speed and always give way to pedestrians,” said Mr Worthington.
“We work with partners to ensure the waterways of Wales are accessible to everyone, regardless of any individual mobility restrictions. Under the Welsh Assembly Government’s ‘Equal’ project, we’ve upgraded miles of towpath along our canals, opening them up to everyone. This initiative will continue as partnership funding becomes available,” he added.
The two side A4 leaflet divides the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal into easy to follow sections of towpath, dividing the cycling route by bridge numbers.
For most of its winding 35 miles, the green and yellow towpath classifications offer a leisurely cycling experience through unspoilt scenery and tranquil surroundings.
There are only three sections of red classified towpath – the most challenging terrain – typically comprising loose uneven covering with wet surfacing in bed weather.
Green denotes a consistently even and sealed surface such as tarmac, suitable for all types of cycle and ability of cyclist;
Yellow signifies an unsealed covering like crushed stone. It will have occasional surface irregularities, with the possibility of light mud and shallow puddles in wet weather. These stretches are suitable for off road bikes only and novices should take additional care;
Red marks an unsealed surface such as grass, with consistent surface irregularities. They become very muddy in wet weather and are unsuitable for novices. Experienced cyclists should take extra care, with the surface suitable for off-road bikes only.
“The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal is probably the finest example of a self contained waterway in the entire United Kingdom. Whether you choose to visit by boat or bike, summer or winter, the experience is guaranteed to be a memorable one,” said Mr Worthington.
The guide, plus the required cycling permit can be downloaded from www.waterscape.com
Photographs are reproduced by permission of British Waterways