Walk No 3a: Usk Castle - River (West) - Llanbadoc - River (East)
(about 3½ miles - 1 hour)

(Variation of this route, about 2½ miles: Walk No 3b)

Boots are recommended for this walk as parts of it are often muddy. In Summer some sections of the path on the ridge are sometimes overgrown with nettles and thistles, so long trousers are advisable.

This is a short walk in the countryside immediately around Usk, affording good views over the town and river. However, it involves scrambling up a steep, sometimes muddy path in order to reach the ridge to the west of the river. Click here to see the view which can be had from the ridge (70 Kb file).

Pass the car park (right) and entrance to the castle (left) and take the path up the hill. Follow this round to the right and then left and down again.

At the end of the steps ignore the path down to the left; turn half right at which point you will see the old railway tunnel entrance on the right.

Take the path to the left alongside the route of the former railway line. Cross the river on the old railway bridge and at the end of it go down the steps on the left.

Take the short concrete path to the area known as Usk Island and continue along the riverbank in the direction of the road bridge.

Take the path with a wall to the right which joins the end of the road bridge.

Usk bridge

Cross over the main road and take the path signposted Coed Duon.

Cross the stile and take the path straight across the field to another stile. Follow the path up a steep hill to the right.

Cross 2 stiles a few metres apart at the edge of the narrow wood and turn left, following the wire fence. Continue in the same direction, crossing 2 stiles. Circular Walk 2 is signposted at the first of these.

At the end of the field cross a stile to the left of a metal gate and take a secluded overgrown path down the hill.

Cross a wooden gate, turn left on the minor road and cross the main road to Llanbadoc Island. (Llanbadoc Church is on the left.)

The bridge photographed from the ridge to the west
(Click here to see another photo (70 Kb file.)

Turn left on the riverbank, shortly joining the main road again. Shortly after take the path up to the riverbank.

Cross the river on the road bridge and at the far end take the path called "Conigar Walk" on the left down to the riverbank. (See a photo of a commemorative plaque giving the history of the bridge and another explaining the origin of "Conigar Walk".)

Turn left, go under the road bridge and walk along the riverbank. (Click here to see another photo (48 Kb file.)

After about a third of a mile, the path rises a little; at this point take the path which curves to the left, following the field perimeter. Head for a small car park and a white building.

Turn left on the main road (Maryport Street), pass the prison, and turn right at the One Stop supermarket.

Follow this back to the town square.