A walk along Neath & Tennant Canal - 11/02/2014

It’s been awhile since I blogged due to a nasty respiratory/chest infection. For over a week I couldn’t look at a computer screen let alone write my blog.

About 2 weeks ago I did a lovely walk along Neath & Tennant Canal and felt it’s a waste if I didn’t document it.  So even though this walk is a few weeks old I still want to talk about it - By the way, even though I am on the mend (dosing myself up with endless vitamins and tonics) I still feel it’s going to take a few weeks to get my energy level up before I can do a long walk again – This is frustrating, but I am not letting this virus beat me!

So here goes…better late than never :)

My walk starts from my house in Glanymor Street (sometimes it’s so nice not to drive anywhere) and down the steps to Giants Grave Cemetery. A few weeks prior to this it had been overgrown by aggressive weeds and it was hard to see the gravestones. It was such a pleasure to see that the council (?) had cut all the plants down and you could now make out the dates and names on the gravestones – some dating back to the early 1800s. 

The steps down to Giants Grave

Giants Grave Cemetery sign

The graves you can now see after the weeds have been cut down

Such a pretty cemetery - so glad they cut back the weeds.

From here we made our way down to the canal. On the right is the old Zoars Church, which has now been converted into a rather impressive house. After admiring the restoration of the church we headed down the canal, past a small stone bridge and were greeted by a rather muddy horse. The weather prior to our walk had been terrible: storms, heavy rain, wind and there were massive puddles everywhere. The canal itself seemed really high! From here we passed through metal barriers with a marker for the National Cycle Route 47.

The stone bridge - with massive puddles where there is supposed to be a path!

The canal is part of the National Cycle Network -  Number 47 starts at Newport and finishing at Fishguard passing through Neath and Carmarthen.

A muddy horse

I have never seen the canal so high!

Walking along the canal is so peaceful with so much to see and it wasn’t long before we saw a solitary Swan on the water. Feeling a bit sad that this swan was alone, we stopped to take some pics and were relieved to see his partner fly in – it would have been an amazing shot to capture the swan coming in to land, but neither of us were fast enough with the cameras. The pair embraced each other with a sort of neck dance and made the shape of a heart - Valentine’s Day was only a week away so this was sweet :)

The beautiful swans making a heart shape :)

After watching the swans we carried on walking along the canal, there were glimpses of River Neath appearing on our left and on our right were familiar sights like Peter Sadd Carpets, Melyn School and the busy Briton Ferry Road. We also passed the old Metal Box (a works where my mum and dad once worked) it is now called Crown Food UK.

The River Neath

Peter Sadd Carpets on the other side of the canal.

The huge factory once known as the Metal Box - It's now called 'Crown Food UK'

It wasn’t long before we reached an informative wildlife plaque telling us that we could spot Otters at dawn and evenings and also Kingfishers. I am eager to see both of these animals in the wild…but no luck yet :(

Nice to see signs that tell you information on what you might see

Our walk continues and after a few very low bridges (which don't do Dan's back any good) and good views of the River Neath, we eventually came out by Zoar's Ark Garden Centre. From here we crossed the road where the canal continues towards B&Q.

Poor Dan and the really low bridges.

 

Being short does have some advantages LOL!

Another view of the River Neath - Very high too!

Rather than crossing the road we took a detour to Morrisons (literally only a few metres away) to get some more supplies (and a cheeky toilet break). After a bottle of water and some sore throat sweets (my virus was brewing then!) we made our way back to Zoars Ark and continued our walk on the other side of the road, eventually reaching a green bridge and another sign with information about the canals. There was also another marker for the 47 National Cycle Network and a sign that said Briton Ferry was 3 miles away. It felt like we'd walked more than that though!

Another informative sign about the canal

The really cool National Cycle Network marker

The next section of the walk is really pleasant and the path is nice and flat with hardly any obstacles. Probably suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Neath canal is on your right and you pass Neath castle and a lot of houses that have the canal right at the bottom of their garden - I am jealous! There are lots of bird life along this part of the walk: Blue Tits, Great Tits, Pied Wagtails and Mallards to name just a few.

Neath Castle peeps out behind some houses.

River Neath is on our left and looks beautiful. At this stage of walk the weather started to become unpredictable - Sun, rain, hailstones we had it all :) - We were also faced with evidence of the recent storms with a huge tree in the canal.

The River Neath

A fallen huge tree, due to the recent storms.

Not long after the fallen tree we reach a beautiful church. This ancient building is called St Illtyd's Church, and was originally built by St Illtyd in the 6th century, a Welsh Saint and ex-Knight in pre-Norman times. The church was originally constructed from wood but was later rebuilt with stone during the Norman period.

The ancient St Illtyd's Church

A heavy hailstone shower - we weren't the only idiots out LOL!

An impressive log full of Turkey Tail Fungi

The weather was continuing to be fickle. One minute sunny, the next minute heavy showers. But there were two creatures who were really enjoying the rain and they were two Dippers that were flying up and down the canal. Absolutely beautiful birds that are amazing to watch. They just dive into the water and disappear for ages! It was definitely a treat to see these :)

Dan took this amazing pic of the Dipper - such fab colours!

Not long after we saw the Dippers we reached an old lock house with another informative sign on what wildlife you might see (again otters and kingfishers!). The lock house is a Grade II listed building but it looks pretty run down and it's a shame - it could be made into a historical attraction. It was built in the late 18th Century and extended in the late 19th century.  I am not sure if it still is, but it was up for sale for offers over £120,000. I cant imagine a more beautiful place to live than on the canal. Unfortunately it looks like the whole building would need renovation. If I won the lottery tomorrow I would buy it!

A sign to show what wildlife you may see

The back of the lock house

An awesome location...if only I was rich!

The walk continues along Neath canal, passing Riverside Golf Range and a huge Calor Gas factory on the left. Eventually we come out in Aberdulais - walking under a massive bridge you come out by Pont Gam skew bridge at Aberdulais canal basin, a very pretty little bridge. This is where the Neath and Tennant canals divide. After crossing the bridge you have two options: you can continue right, which would eventually lead you to Glynneath and Resolven, or you can turn left to join the Tennant canal - the Tennant canal will lead you back to Neath and eventually to Port Tennant (near Swansea).

The bridge we walked under to get to Aberdualis Basin

A pretty scene with Pont Gam bridge in the distance

Before coming back on Tennant canal we took a little detour under the bridge and across the road to Aberdualis Falls. We didn't go in today but you could see the falls towards the back of the attraction - they were really fast and flowing strong. Aberdualis Falls is a lovely place, it has a tearoom (which is an old School) and they sell amazing Bara Brith. We skipped on this treat today and made our way back over the bridge and headed down towards Tennant Canal.

The Aberdulais Aqueduct carries the Tennant Canal over the river Neath

Aberdualis Falls is owned by the National Trust and features Europe's largest electricity-generating waterwheel.

You have to pass a row of quaint houses called Canal Side. A beautiful place to live. Dan made a new friend, a friendly dog who followed us all the way down the row of houses and was showing off her hunting skills with the ducks and geese that frequented the canal. After saying goodbye to the dog we walked through a gate and were immediately confronted by a series of huge bridges. Fantastic structures that make you look very insignificant. The canal is now on your right hand side.

The pretty Canal Side.

Dan and his new friend...

...and here she is showing off her scaring skills :)

Dan walking under one of the huge bridges.

After a few more bridges we come out to a very pretty part of the canal, the sun was shining thus instantly making everything more beautiful. We reached a small foot bridge, along this part of the walk the paths are well kept and it is reasonably easy and pleasurable.

Very pretty foot bridge

Lovely blue sky is very welcoming and makes everything beautiful.

Very good paths make this part of the walk very easy and pleasurable.

We passed under a number of other bridges, including a very gothic looking iron bridge and a very impressive bridge that was almost like a history lessons: graffiti from the 70s, 80s and beyond with band names such as The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, The Doors... and derogatory graffiti about the Tories!

A rather gothic looking bridge

Me standing at the beginning of the 'history of graffiti' bridge

Some of the graffiti under the bridge.

At the other end of the bridge you start getting glimpses of Neath town centre and the spire of St David's Church. The time was getting on and the sun was starting to set.

St David's Church in the distance

For the last leg of the walk we continued over the path that leads over to Neath College and joined Tennant canal the other side, passing through a tiny opening that's somewhat obstructed by a rather massive rock.

Approaching the Neath College bridge where you just continue the other side

The entrance to the rest of Tennant Canal with River Neath on the left and Tennant canal on the right.

River Neath is now on the left and Tennant canal is on the right. There is an impressive building on the left hand side, which I need to find out what it is.

A big building on the River Neath

It's not long before we are confronted with more bridges, one of them is under the A474 with lots of graffiti on almost every pillar, some artwork is really cool. After admiring some of the talent and discovering a print of Dr Manhattan (of Watchmen fame) we came out the other side to be confronted by a familiar sight - Tesco (they get everywhere lol!). 

Some really cool graffiti under the bridges

Dr Manhattan of the Watchmen makes an appearance.

Neath Abbey Tesco the other side of Tennant Canal.

We continued walking along the canal until we got to Neath Abbey ruins. I've never seen it from this side and it just looked so beautiful. The Abbey was founded in 1130 by the Norman Baron Richard De Granville (one of the twelve knights of Glamorgan). A Cistercian monastery that was once the largest abbey in Wales. It is now in the care of Cadw and definitely worth a visit. Da Vinci Demons, Dr Who and Merlin have all filmed in the abbey for their TV shows.

Neath Abbey

Taken from the bridge that crosses over the canal to the abbey

The moon shows itself at the end of our walk

So this is where our walk comes to an end - After walking over 9 miles it was safe to say our legs were tired and we literally couldn't face walking home, so after crossing the small foot bridge over to the Abbey I called my sister to pick us up :)

A fantastic walk that I can't recommend enough. If we continued down Tennant canal, past the Abbey you will eventually come out at Port Tennant in Swansea - this is definitely something we want to do, as well as continuing past Aberdulais and up to Resolven. There is also a canal boat that goes from B&Q that would be lovely to do in the summer.

Read more information here on the canal and Neath Abbey on Wikipedia:
Neath & Tennant canal
Neath Abbey