GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Trefil Quarry Walk

5 miles (8 km)

This walk visits the Trefil Quarry in the small village of Trefil in Blaenau Gwent, south Wales.
The limestone quarries sit just north of Trefil, not far from Tredegar. At 409 metres (1,342 ft) above sea level, the Ordnance Survey recognise Trefil as the highest village in Wales.
You can follow a country lane north towards the quarry before picking up trails above the site with some fine views over the unusual landscape of the quarry. The route then continues south to visit Shon-Sheffrey's Reservoir before returning to the village.
Along the way there's some nice views of the surrounding countryside and moorland too. You can see the nearby Sirhowy Valley and the mountains of the Brecon Beacons National Park from these fine vantage points. The area is also great for wildlife with ring ouzel, wheatear, stonechat, whinchat, snipe and red grouse to look out for.
To continue your walking in the area head south to visit Parc Bryn Bach where there are some lovely walks around a pretty lake and park.

Postcode

NP22 4HG - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Trefil Quarry OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Trefil Quarry Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

Back in the village you can enjoy some post walk refreshments at the Top House pub. They serve a fine Sunday lunch and have a garden area to relax in. The building dates to 1851 and you can find them at a postcode of NP22 4HG for your sat navs.

Photos

Trefil - geograph.org.uk - 4247451

Trefil

Track above Trefil Quarries - geograph.org.uk - 760466

Track above Trefil Quarries. This track climbs out of Trefil village onto the moorland to the east of the quarries where Carboniferous Limestone and Gritstone meet.

Shon-Sheffrey's Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 667759

Shon-Sheffrey's Reservoir

Trefil Quarry - geograph.org.uk - 760475

Trefil Quarry. One of the key quarries exploiting the north crop of the South Wales Carboniferous Limestone.

Upland pond near Trefil - geograph.org.uk - 3949213

Upland pond near Trefil

Trevil Quarry from Trefil Ddu - geograph.org.uk - 3389316

Trevil Quarry from Trefil Ddu

Tafarn Ty Uchaf (Top House) - geograph.org.uk - 568196

Tafarn Ty Uchaf (Top House)

Old and older rail embankments - geograph.org.uk - 498472

Old and older rail embankments. The Trefil Tramroad and the Sirhowy Tramroad formerly linked the quarries with the heavily industrialised areas to the south, providing limestone for the furnaces. The former Brinore Tramroad connected the quarries at Trefil with the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal at Talybont in the Usk Valley to the north.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Trefil Quarry.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Share>Save to Files')