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200th Anniversary of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal

@ Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal The Canal links Brecon to Newport

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2012 and to commemorate its bicentennial year a wide range of activities and events are planned on and along the canal. The year's celebrations were launched on Friday the 10th of February 2012 with the Ringing of the Bells, recreating the canal opening 200 years ago. Over 70 Church's along the canal rang their bells at 12 noon to mark this historic occasion.

All the Canal Anniversary events and activities can be found on the Facebook page, so for up to date details and a full list of the calendar of events see website link If you have an event which you would like to include in the publicity or plans and ideas you wish to develop for the celebrations get in contact.

The Act of Parliament required to build the canal was obtained in March 1793 and it provided for the making of a navigable waterway from Brecon to Pontymoile, where it would join the Monmouth Canal which went to Newport. It also included permission for the building of several connecting tramways (horse-drawn railways). The canal was opened to Brecon on Christmas Eve 1800, thus connecting the town by water and tramways to Gilwern, Beaufort, Clydach, Glyngwerny and other surrounding industrial areas. Coal, limestone, timber and many other goods were brought up the canal to Brecon and goods were taken from Brecon down the canal included agricultural goods - hay, vegetables etc. - also woollen and leather goods. Brecon old Brewery shipped barrels of ale and porter (a dark brown malt liquor, a favourite drink with London Porters) down by boat to the industrial valleys. In March 1802 work started again at Gilwern and the canal was completed to Pontymoile in 1812, where it joined the flourishing Monmouth Canal, which ran to Newport (and the sea), with a branch going to Crumlin.

From this month the Canal Anniversary "Canalmans" is available from Tipple 'n' Tiffin at Brecon Canal Basin, The Three Horseshoes at Groesffordd, The Star Inn at Talybont, The Red Lion and The Coach & Horses at Llangynidr. The Canalmans is a variation on a Ploughman's but specially developed for the Canal Anniversary with the very tasty Canalman Cheese created by Bleanavon Cheddar. And don't forget to try the `Beacons to the Sea' beer developed especially for the Canal Anniversary by Buster at Brecon Brewing.

6th - 22nd April - Young Navigators Canal Trail at Fourteen Locks Canal Centre, Rogerstone: Join us for the Young Navigators Trail - £2.50 per child. For information contact 01633 892167 or website link 24th April - Canal Talk at The Star Inn, Talybont: Dennis Tippins, talk with slides of the Journey along the canal from Pontypool to Brecon For more information 01874 676635 or Click to email 28th & 29th April - Welsh Waterways Festival at Pontymoile Basin & Skew Fields, Pontypool: Join us for the first waterways festival taking place at Pontymoile with free boat trips, children's activities, entertainment, and canal boats. Free admission. Contact 01633 648072 or Click to email 5th May - Guided Walk `Twmbarlwm or Bust' from Fourteen Locks Canal Centre, Rogerstone: At about 12k this walk is the longest guided walk from the Canal Centre and takes a full day. Start time 10.00am from the Canal Centre. Return to the Centre by 3.30 at the latest. Walkers should bring a packed lunch and wear robust walking shoes. For information contact 01633 892167 or website link 5th May - Art Exhibition at Fourteen Locks Canal Centre, Rogerstone: An art exhibition by local artists - Newport Eastside Art Group. For information contact 01633 892167 or website link 5th & 6th May - Canoe Tour from Pontymoile to Brecon: For suitably experienced/equipped canoeists. For information contact Brecon Canoe Club on Click to email 5th - 7th May - Coracle 200: Come to Middle Ninfa Farm high up on the Blorenge above Llanfoist, and spend 3 days building your own traditional Welsh craft under the expert guidance of tutor Mick Petts of BBC `Countryfile' coracle fame. If it's good enough, float your boat on the canal on completion! The cost is £220 for the 3 day course (or £260 for 2 adults) which includes all materials and delicious lunches. Camping and bunkhouse accommodation is available on site. Contact 01873 854 662 or Click to email

19th May - Canal 200 Cycle Ride: A cycle ride for 200 people, one person for each year the Canal has been flowing gently down the valley to the sea at Newport. A team event, you will need to be in a group of four and choose your starting point. There are 2 start points - one at the 14 locks centre at Rogerstone, near Newport and the other at Govilon, near Abergavenny. Register for the event at website link 20th May - Mini-Fest at The Coach and Horses, Llangynidr: A day of Welsh beer and cider with live music from Beatswork (2.30pm) and Black Rat Effect (5.30pm). For information contact 01874 730245 or website link 2nd June - Fourteen Locks Circular Guided Walk from The Fourteen Locks Canal Centre. Distance 2.5 miles, start time 10.00am from the Canal Centre, Difficulty: 'Moderate', walkers should be prepared to climb over stiles. Walking boots or stout shoes advisable. For more information contact 01633 892167 or website link 2nd June - 6th July - Exhibition by local artists Mark Whittaker and Joyce Hart at The Fourteen Locks Canal Centre. For information contact 01633 892167 or website link 4th June - Llangynidr Village Jubilee & Canal Celebrations: An all day celebration with music, dance and activities for all. 6th - 8th June - Children's & Families Canal Celebration Programme, Brecon: a range of canal based children & family friendly events. Wednesday 6th June 10am-12pm `Who do you think you are?' Family history research session with Breconshire Local & Family History Society in Brecon Library. Free. Drop-in. 11am-1pm Canal Art Painting on canvas & masks at Ardent Gallery £4.50 per head. Booking essential on 01874 623333 2-4.30pm Canal Craft Activities in Brecon Library. £1 per child. Booking essential on 01874 623346 Thursday 7th June 10am-12pm `Who do you think you are?' family history research session with Breconshire Local & Family History Society in Brecon Library. free. drop-in. 10-11.30am Canal Craft Activities in Brecon Library. £1 per child. Booking essential on 01874 623346 11-1pm Canal Art Painting on canvas & masks at ardent gallery £4.50 per child. booking essential on 01874 623333 1-3.30pm Wildlife Walk & Talk along canal & river led by Brecknock Wildlife Trust. Adults £3; children free. Free parking at Subud Centre. Start & finish by bridge at Morrison's Garage. No booking required, further information 01874 625708 Friday 8th June 10am-4pm Canal Art Face Painting in Ardent Gallery. £2 per child. Drop-in. 2pm-4pm 'Who do you think you are?' family history research session with Breconshire Local & Family History Society in Brecon Library. Free, drop-in. 8th June - Forgotten Landscapes `Eco-Day' at Goytre Wharf · Bio-diversity Blitz, 10am-3pm: Join wildlife experts from Blaenavon WHS, SEWBREC, the Brecon Beacons National Park & the Green Valleys woodlands groups to record the wide variety of wildlife along the canal at Goytre Wharf. Contact Sarah Lewis on 01495 742335 or Click to email · Canal T.L.C. - Help our canal to look even better! Please come and join Keep Wales Tidy to give Goytre Wharf a jolly good spring clean. Bring a canoe or boat if you've got one! Contact Tom Ward-Jackson on 02920 726988 or 07766 754894 or Click to email · Bats about Canals, 9pm: Wait for the sun to set and join the Vincent Wildlife Trust's Bat Walk & Talk along the Canal at Goytre Wharf. For more info contact 01874 623724 or Click to email · Or just join us for every event and make a day of it! 10th June `In the Pink - Route 46': The longest fancy dress party every! Get your fairy outfit on and walk, jog or run the 8 miles from Brynmawr downhill to Llanfoist (all off-road) to have fun and raise money for the In the Pink Breast Cancer Charity. Live music are bar and food awaits at the end. 1.30pm start. More info on website link or 01495 308883 Registration is £5 a person. 15th, 16th & 17th June - Beer Festival at The Star Inn, Talybont: With over 25 real ales, good food and live music in the beer garden. For more information 01874 676635 or Click to email 16th June - To the Blorenge and Back, 10am - 3pm: A strenuous walk starting from Llanfoist Crossing car park, over the canal at the Wharf, up the incline to the Blorenge and Keeper's Pond and return via Gilwern Hill . A great day out - led by the Forgotten Landscapes team at Blaenavon WHS. More info on 01495 742333 or Click to email 17th June - Llanfoist Open Gardens, 10.30am - 5.30pm. Join the villagers of Llanfoist for their traditional National Open Gardens event and travel from one super garden to the next not only on foot but by canal boat too! Merriment, plants, great food and tickets at Llanfoist Village Hall. Adults £5, Children - free. More info on website link 24th June - Cycling for Softies, 10.30-3pm: Fancy a nice gentle ride with good company? Wobble your way along the Sustrans Cycle-way starting at the Llanfoist Crossing with the `softies' from Abergavenny Cycle group. Pedal to a perfect picnic! More info on 01873 737671 or Click to email 27th June - The Craig y Ciliau Circuit, 10am - 2.30pm A strenuous walk starting from opposite the Horse Shoe Inn in Llangattock and heading up to the National Nature Reserve of Craig y Ciliau with magnificent views over the Usk valley to the Black Mountains. Led by Monmouthshire Walking Festival leaders. More info on website link