This is a moderate walk, with 1 steep climb, through woods and farmland, taking in some of the beautiful countryside north of Usk, and returning along the east bank of the Usk. Given the need to study the copious directions, it may take longer than the time indicated above.

Leave the town square and turn right on the main road in the direction of Raglan and the A449. Opposite the fire station, take the lane signposted Gwehelog and Usk Castle. Just after the car park (on the right) cross the stile to the right of the wooden gate where the Usk Castle Visitors Car Park sign is sited. Take the track up the hill, go through a metal gate (sometimes left open) and continue on the gravel track. (The Blorenge and Sugar Loaf can be seen in the distance on the left.)

Bear slightly right at Castle Farm at the top of the hill (shortly to see, on the left, the blue plaque commemorating the Battle of Pwll Melyn in 1405) and in 60 metres cross the stile to the left of a wooden gate. Go straight ahead, with a hedge on the left. At the top corner of the field cross the stile at the left of the wooden gate. (Circular Walk 1 is signposted here.)

Enter the wood and go straight ahead up the broad track, which is often very boggy but can be avoided by a loop path on the left. Follow the track uphill past a small pond on the left. After a short distance cross the stile to the right of a metal gate into a field. Go straight ahead downhill, with a wood and fence on the left.

Cross another stile and head slightly left towards 2 telegraph poles. Pass to the right of the poles, then continue in the same direction and cross a stile to the left of a metal gate. Bear half left across the field to a metal gate in the hedge which appears on the left as you climb the slope. Cross a stile to the right of the gate and head in the direction of the stile's foot plank towards a line of trees. On reaching a small stream, follow it to the left for a short distance until you find a small wooden bridge (2 railway sleepers) over the stream. (NB: This bridge is invisible until you are right upon it as it is in a dip.) Cross the bridge and bear half left to a double stile. Go straight ahead with trees on the right.

Go downhill and just beyond the lane on the right marked "Unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles" take the footpath to the right, immediately crossing a stile. Turn left to reach a stream and cross 2 more stiles, still following the stream. Cross a wooden bridge and stile in the corner of the field and head half right towards the woods (Ash Wood), looking for a stile just to the right of the fir trees. Cross it and take the steep path uphill, keeping the barbed wire fence on the left.

Cross a stile just after the crest of the hill and turn left along the field edge. Follow the field edge a short way round to the right. Cross a stile and immediately another on the right. Turn left and go downhill with a hedge on the left. Cross 2 stiles at the corner of the field and turn left on the lane. After 90 metres cross a stile on the right, then go straight across the field to cross another stile. Head for the far left corner of the field and cross a stile. Turn right on the busy main road and after 110 metres take the track on the left (green footpath sign).

Follow the track round to the left at the bottom of the field and then to the right by a corrugated iron barn. Continue with a hedge and wire fence on the right. Bear left and immediately right and go between wooden gate posts on to a wide gravel track. Go between wooden gate posts, passing a green wooden shed on the right. Go down a short slope to the long field parallel to the river and turn left along the field edge. At the end of the field, where the hedge on the left ends, swing slightly left and follow the field edge with a line of trees and the river on the right. Follow the fairly obvious path along the river bank to where it meets the main road and turn right. After about 500 metres take a path down to the picnic site and river bank. This rejoins the road after a few hundred metres. Walk parallel to the river, back into the town centre, turn left at the T-junction and return to the town square.

(A short optional detour is to take the path through the kissing gate just before the veterinary practice and walk along the river bank (Conigar Walk) as far as the bridge. Take the path up to the road and turn left to return to the town square.)

Shorter return route from point noted above:

Continue on the lane through a pleasant valley, eventually passing Llancayo Farm. Turn left on the main road to Usk. Walk parallel to the river, back into the town centre, turn left at the T-junction and return to the town square.