All the best walking, running and cycling routes in Blaenau Gwent

The Blaenau Gwent area of the South Wales Valleys spans the valleys of Ebbw and Sirhowy valleys. It's one of the quietest, greenest parts of the South Wales valleys and is understandably therefore a hot spot for hikers, runners and other fitness enthusiasts.

Janine Price is the perfect candidate to share all of the best places for running, walking and cycling in the area. A Blaenau Gwent local, in 2015 she started her own personal fitness journey with the Couch to 5K programme. She posted her runs on social media to encourage others. Her followers grew in number, as more people wanted to follow her journey, which took her all the way to competing in the Cardiff Half Marathon.

She has encouraged countless people of all abilities in the local area to join in her quest for health and wellbeing, setting up Blaenau Gwent Sole Sisters & Misters, a social club for fitness fans, and she promotes the benefits of physical activity in the community by running sessions at schools and sports centres.

I feel so lucky to have the Ebbw Fawr Trail local running, walking and cycling route right on my doorstep. It goes a long way around the valley - starts in Ebbw Vale and goes right around Blaenau Gwent. The views are outstanding in some parts of the route! In addition to the beautiful scenery, you pass some historical places along the way, so it really is a great track.

I actually used this route while I was half-marathon training to build up my miles and the views helped keep me going!

If you're not quite at marathon level, don't worry - the trail is suitable for all abilities and is a perfect spot for a family walk or cycle too. You can also learn about local history along the way, passing a former mine and The Guardian, a 20 metre tall statue built to commemorate the mining disaster that happened in Six Bells Colliery in 1960.

Festival Parc is a good place to start the trail and there is ample parking. And, if you want to explore even further afield, the track links up other existing trails in the area, such as the Ebbw Fach Trail.

I count myself incredibly lucky as just a short walk from my home is the Silent Valley Nature Reserve (there's also parking for those who can't get there by foot!). It's a beautiful spot where you can see all the changes of the seasons - special highlights are the changing colours in autumn and the bluebells in spring.

There are 50 hectares to explore and two walking trails you can follow through the woods to look out for birds and wildlife, including frogs, lizards and butterflies.

Parc Bryn Bach is beautiful and is a great way to get outdoors - you can walk, run or cycle, and take the dog with you! It's a real gem within Blaenau Gwent and one of the best of the Valleys Regional Parks, it's one of my favourite places. Plus there's also golf for a more relaxed hit of fresh air and a children's play area which opened in July 2020. There's plenty of wildlife with ducks, swans, geese and lots of other varieties of birds to spot too.

A perfect opportunity to get together with others to exercise is the Bryn Bach parkrun - a free to enter 5 km timed run every Saturday morning. It's a really popular parkrun because of the views, it really is beautiful.

There's plenty for adventure and adrenaline seekers of all ages too - including a BMX track, archery venue, plus local trips for caving, climbing and abseiling or guided courses around Wales to try out coasteering, scrambling or rafting.

They also do stand up paddleboading (SUP) there - I had a go in the summer as part of a trail and it was amazing! You can come along and hire paddlesport and kayaking equipment, or bring your own and buy a day ticket.

And, if you are in need of refreshment after all that excitement, there's an onsite visitor centre and cafe where you can treat yourself to an ice cream or relax with a lovely cup of tea!

There's lots of mountains you can walk up around Blaenau Gwent, but one of my favourites is Trefil. There are lots of running, walking and cycling routes you can take from Trefil and plenty of history too. 

This includes the Aneurin Bevan memorial stones, which were put in place in memory of Aneurin Bevan, founder of the National Health Service. This is a historical site and lots of people come to visit because they have an interest in the NHS. There's also The Naughty Stone - the views from here are absolutely stunning.

From Trefil you can also access Talybont-on-Usk or Merthyr by foot or bike and the routes are absolutely outstanding. There are former film sets along the route, which were for cowboy films, Doctor Who and others - it's really famous for having films and TV shows shoots.

You can also get to Llangynidr Moors which is another area where I love to exercise. Remember to pack a map and compass and you will be rewarded with amazing views in all directions.

And, of course, you can go up and around Trefil itself and you can visit the Wellington Bomber crash site memorial, where six men lost their lives in 1940. These might not be the most famous or well-known routes, but they are just as beautiful and you hardly pass a soul!

There are so many beauty spots within a 30-mile drive of Blaenau Gwent, including lots more walks and trail runs. We're on the doorstep of the Bannau Brycheiniog, so it's an excellent base for visitors. To get away from the crowds at Pen-y-Fan, I always visit some of the hidden gems.

Some of my favourites are Blorenge, Sugar Loaf and Table Top Mountain, to name but a few - and for anyone seriously interested in the local trail runs (or for those who would prefer to walk), I would highly recommend Trail Runs in the Brecon Beacons by Lily Dyu and John Price. The book details the distance and a map of each route along with other useful information to help you make the most of your workout.

• Website: www.janineprice.wales
• Instagram: @janinepricewales
• Adventure Smart UK has plenty of advice on how to ‘make a good day better’, and we recommend you read it before planning your day out. 
• Please be respectful of our beautiful land and other people, and follow the Countryside Code.
• If you bring your dog along, please be responsible and follow the Dog Walking Code.