The Mon & Brec Canal

The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal runs for almost all its route within the Brecon Beacons National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty covering over 500 square miles. For much of its 35 miles it follows the tree lined course of the River Usk, often seeming to hang on the hillsides above it.  It is one of the most beautiful cruising waterways in Britain, completely isolated from the rest of the canal system and cruised easily in a very relaxed week.

See more at Canal Junction!
Abergavenny and Brecon are both bustling market towns with plenty of interesting things to see and do, especially on market days! Crickhowell is an interesting country town and there are numerous other villages to explore. However the canal is essentially a rural waterway and you'll probably see more wildlife than people along its route; swans, kingfishers, herons and buzzards are common and the canal is well stocked with fish.
The Waterfolk Canal Centre in a fine old warehouse at Llanfrynach has some interesting exhibits in its canal museum and runs horseboat trips. In many places it is possible to see where feeder narrow gauge tramways once brought coal, limestone and iron-ore down to canal wharves for loading onto the barges and disused lime kilns are visible along the canal.
Hireboats (self drive) on this canal: Beacon Park Boats, Castle Narrowboats, Cambrian Cruisers, Red Line Boats
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promotes the wonderful leisure opportunities on UK canals. We don't offer boats or vacations of our own!
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