What an amazing place, high up on the Brecon Beacons. Full of history about coal mining and the ironworks. There's a great visitor centre with spectacular views across the valley and it has an art gallery above (It was full of fabric work as you can see below).
You can wander for free, in the restored workers' cottages in the grounds of the ironworks. The interiors have been done very sympathetically, it certainly makes you think what a hard life these people had.
The town of Blaenavon has a real mix of architecture, rows of neat terraced houses and some really quite grand town buildings.
I also found a cheese maker, how convenient was that for a foodie like me! The couple who own the shop are passionate about cheese and they happily explained all the history and inspiration behind their fabulous cheeses. I was in my element tucking into the generous tray of samples and I came away with some Oak Smoked cheddar which is smoked in one of the old mine shafts 300ft below ground. I also got Dragons Breath which is cheddar blended with chilli mustard and ale, and my final choice (you get 3 of these rounds for £10) was Blaenafon Cheddar which has the Penderyn Welsh Whisky blended in it with chunks of ginger. These cheeses are amazing, the depth of flavour and the ingredients you can taste in every mouthful is something quite special, beautiful texture too.
If you want to enjoy it too you can buy from them online so check out the link
1 comment:
Mmm those cheeses sound good! I'm really taken with the skies in your photos.
Love the plate of food in your previous post and my husband would have a field day in those bookshops!
Vivienne x
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