Mon & Brecon Canal, Monmouthshire
The Mon & Brec meanders through some of the most stunning countryside from the Brecon Beacons National Park and down through the beautiful woodlands of the Usk Valley. It’s a bit of a gem actually, so utterly peaceful, and the canal and its banks are rich in wildlife; ducks swim, kingfishers dart, dragonflies hover, flowers bloom. Take a boat trip and along the way you’ll take in some of the heritage that lines the route of this scenic waterway – old lime kilns and industrial workings that formed an important part of the landscape, like the Big Pit Mining Museum.
Alight for lunch or a snack at one of the many canal side pubs and cafes along the way; you’ll find walkers and cyclists there, as the 35 miles of towpath provide level terrain for both.
There are several places along the canal where the more adventurous can hire a canoe, or you can get behind the wheel of a small motorboat or narrowboat and cruise along lazily to your heart's content. It’s an absolute delight; Wind in the Willows for humans.