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 end of Coity Mountain, whilst to the south west you will be looking at Mynydd Maen, the first hill that you climbed at the start of the Valleys 100.

The route passes the Folly Tower. It is generally thought that it was built by a local landowner called John Hanbury between 1765 – 1770. In 1940 the tower was demolished as it was believed by the War Office that the tower would act as a guiding beacon to German bombers who would be targeting the nearby munitions factory.

It wasn’t rebuilt until 1992 – 93 and was reopened by HRH Prince Charles.

The route descends on a good track and then fields to arrive at the road near to the eastern entrance to Pontypool Park. It’s just a simple case (if anything is simple at this stage of a 100) of following streets back to the West Monmouth School and a very warm welcome from the South Wales Group.

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