We are in Abertillery this week as we hold an out and back walk of 5 miles from Six Bells to Llanilleth. Six Bells is a small village who’s name comes from the Six Bells public house that stood near a small cluster of early cottages. Six Bells colliery was a major employer in the late 19th then into the 20th centuries. Unfortunately Six Bells is well-known in Welsh history as the site of a tragic 1960 underground colliery explosion that claimed the lives of 45 miners. As a tribute a memorial statue named the ‘Guardian’, a striking 20-meter high steel sculpture stands on the hillside overlooking the former colliery site to honour the men that died. Our walk starts from the free car park off six bells road opposite Ty Ebbw Fach Cafe and Heritage Centre. The walk will be pretty flat underfoot.