Sections & Photos

Valleys 100 Section 1 - Pontypool to Cwmcarn

Section 1 of The Valleys Hundred sees the route leave the start at West Monmouth School and walk via Mynydd Maen and Twmbarlwm to Cwmcarn. The route leaves the school, and utilises a minor road that climbs to the rural hamlet of Penyrheol. On arriving at Penyrheol, views to the east will begin to…

Valleys 100 Section 2 - Cwmcarn to Maesycwmmer

Section 2 of The Valleys Hundred sees the route leave Cwmcarn, cross the Ebbw Valley and enter the Sirhowy Valley. The route follows a disused railway line before climbing out of the valley and dropping into Maesycwmmer, the home of boxing legend, Joe Calzaghe. From the checkpoint in Cwmcarn, the…

Valleys 100 Section 3 - Maesycwmmer to Trallwn

Section 3 of The Valleys Hundred leaves Maesycwmmer and heads west via ancient trackways to climb to Mynydd and Cefn Eglwysilan before descending to the Taff Valley and Pontypridd. From the community hall in Maesycwmmer, the route crosses the Rhymney Valley via ancient trackways. To the north the…

Valleys 100 Section 4 - Trallwn to Llanwonno

Section 4 of The Valleys Hundred leaves Pontypridd and heads to the Rhondda, the most famous of all the Welsh valleys. The route climbs steeply to Ynyshir and ends at the delightful Brynffynnon Arms Hotel, a pub that has been named as one of the 10 best pubs in Wales! From the community hall in…

Valleys 100 Section 5 - Llanwonno to Abercynon

Section 5 of The Valleys Hundred leaves the forestry of Llanwonno and heads into the first night section as it descends to Abercynon. We anticipate that this first night section will be rather fast!! Walkers will prise themselves away from the comforts of the Brynffynnon Hotel and follow a forestry…

Valleys 100 Section 6 - Abercynon to Gelligaer

Section 6 of The Valleys Hundred provides a real contrast of terrain to be covered as it follows three seperate cycle tracks and then agricultural land as it arrives in the hilltop village of Gelligaer. The night section remains fast as two disused railway tracks are followed. The first…

Valleys 100 Section 7 - Gelligaer to Deri

Section 7 of The Valleys Hundred will see the route continue into the night as it leaves Gelligaer and heads to the village of Deri. Leaving the comfort of St. Catwg’s Village Hall in Gelligaer, the route follows a footpath that passes through the churchyard of the 13th century church. A series…

Valleys 100 Section 8 - Deri to Butetown

Section 8 of The Valleys Hundred will probably be the most difficult section of the entire route navigationally. It will leave Deri, and head north to the delightful village of Butetown where there will be a checkpoint in St. Aiden's Church, which is believed to be the smallest church in Wales. On…

Valleys 100 Section 9 - Butetown to Tredegar

Section 9 of The Valleys Hundred will be very short and the twin destinations of Bedwellty House and Georgetown Community Centre will soon be reached. Walkers can freshen up in Bedwellty House before walking to Georgetown where they will enjoy a hospitable breakfast! Tredegar was the home town of…

Valleys 100 Section 10 - Tredegar to Pen y Fan Pond

Section 10 of The Valleys Hundred will take the route from the Sirhowy Valley to the Cefn Manmoel ridge and provide outstanding views of Ebbw Vale and Cwm before reaching the checkpoint at Pen y Fan Pond. Leaving Georgetown Community Centre, the route leaves the town by following streets to arrive…

Valleys 100 Section 11 - Pen y Fan Pond to Nantyglo

Section 11 of The Valleys Hundred will take the route over Mynydd Carn-y-cefn to Nantyglo from Pen y Fan Pond. The route will descend to Aberbeeg via footpaths and a short stretch of road walking. The next part of the route has been negotiated with the Forestry Commission and provides a very gentle…

Valleys 100 Section 12 - Nantyglo to Cwmavon

Section 12 of The Valleys Hundred will see the route leaving Nantyglo, climb to Coity Mountain before descending to Talywain. Here a cycle track will be followed to Cwmavon. A short stretch of road walking will take the route uphill past Nantyglo Rugby Club. The route will soon leave the town…

Valleys 100 Section 13 - Cwmavon to Keepers' Pond

Section 13 of The Valleys Hundred will see the route tackle the penultimate big climb as it leaves Cwmavon Village Hall to reach the checkpoint at Keepers' Pond. From the checkpoint, the route crosses the Afon Lwyd and following a short steep climb, the route levels out as it goes north to meet the…

Valleys 100 Section 14 - Keepers' Pond to Llanellen

Section 14 of The Valleys Hundred will see the route descend nearly 2000 feet to the village of Llanellen. Keepers' Pond is a small reservoir that was built in the early 19th century to power Garnddyrys Forge that was located further down the hill towards Govilon. The pond area forms part of the…

Valleys 100 Section 15 - Llanellen to Goytre

Section 15 of The Valleys Hundred will be one of the easiest sections on the Valleys 100, and after 90 miles you’ll deserve it as the route heads for Goytre. Llanellen was the home village of author Alexander Cordell in his latter years. Cordell wrote many books, but his most famous was ‘The…

Valleys 100 Section 16 - Goytre to Folly Tower Car Park

Section 16 of The Valleys Hundred will contain the final climb on the Valleys 100 as it reaches the Folly Tower Car Park. Leaving Goytre, the route rejoins the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal. This is followed for 2 miles before it leaves and follows a road that starts to climb. The climb is only…

Valleys 100 Section 17 - Folly Tower Car Park to Pontypool

Section 17 of The Valleys Hundred will close the circle, and return you to where you started on Saturday morning. The good news is that it’s one big descent! The route brought you to this location to give you a farewell view of the Welsh Valleys. To the west you will be looking at the southern…

2014 Hundred