Walk 19

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Walk No 19: Pentwyn Farm - Llandenny - Llangeview - Springdale Farm Nature Reserve - Llanllowell
(11 miles - 3½ hours)

Boots are essential for this walk as stretches of it are often very muddy.
Binoculars are useful for spotting stiles and footpath markers in the distance.

Shortly turn right on a lane. Turn right on the main road and opposite the church turn right on to the Usk Flood Route (better called the Usk Flood Avoidance Route). Follow this for 1 mile and turn left at the crossroads (signposted Usk). Follow this to the T-junction by The Olway Inn Hotel and turn left. Follow the road back to the town square.

A printed, laminated card showing this walk route, along with relevant photographs, is available at £1.00 from the Usk Library at 18A Maryport Street, Usk, NP15 1AE (Tel. 01291 674925, Fax: 01291 674924) and from the Usk Rural Life Museum in New Market Street (the road that leaves the main road by the Police Station at the east end of the bridge over the river). If it is more convenient, the card can be ordered by completing the easy-to-use Order Form.

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Walk No 19: Pentwyn Farm - Llandenny - Llangeview - Springdale Farm Nature Reserve - Llanllowell (11 miles - 3½ hours) Boots are essential for this walk as stretches of it are often very muddy. Binoculars are useful for spotting stiles and footpath markers in the distance.
This is a substantial walk on quiet lanes and through farmland and woodland with one significant climb. Refreshments can be obtained at the Rat Trap Hotel which is about half way round the route.
Pentwyn Farm		Leave the town square and turn right on the main road in the direction of Raglan and the A449. After passing the school, take the minor road to Gwehelog (straight on) where the main road bends right. Continue straight on at the junction with Ladyhill. After ¼ mile turn right into a lane by the allotments. After a mile, pass a red brick farmhouse on the right. Go down the hill and up the other side and, immediately after the private drive to Pentwyn Farm, cross a metal gate on the right and go down an often muddy, tree-lined track parallel to the farm drive (not obvious that this is a right of way).
Follow the wire fence on the right which turns half right to a stile 25 metres ahead at the corner of the field. Turn half right, passing a small red brick construction on the left and heading for a large tree in the corner of the field. Cross a stile, go straight down the field and cross a stile 30 metres to the left of a single telegraph pole. Cross a footbridge and very shortly another bridge and a stile. Go ahead for 20 metres and turn right on a grassy section. Follow this uphill with a wire fence on the right and, going half left, cut through the trees to reach a stile and footpath post. Turn left on the lane, ignoring the private drive on the left, and after about 1 km cross a stile on the right by a footpath sign just after a large tree.
Follow the signposted direction and cross a stile. Go straight on with a hedge on the left. Cross a stile and head half left. Near the far left corner of the field cross a stile on the left and follow the hedge on the right round to a metal gate and wooden post with a footpath marker. Turn right on the lane (in Llandenny village) and continue on a track, soon crossing the dual carriageway (A449).		Llandenny

At the end of the track cross a bridge over a brook and go through a metal gate. Turn half right and head for 2 metal gates between 2 short walls to the left of 2 tall trees. Turn right into the South Wales Gliding Club's field. Take extreme care when there is gliding activity in progress. (See a photo of the Club's Pawnee tug (tow plane).)

The Rat Trap Hotel		Follow the brook and the field edge, cross a stile and continue parallel to the brook. Go through a tunnel under the road with metal gates at each end. Head half left across the field to the left of a line of trees and bushes. Take a wide crossing over a stream and turn half right towards a white building. Go through a wooden gate at the corner of the field. Turn right on the busy road, soon passing the Rat Trap Hotel (the only place on this walk where refreshments can be bought apart from in Usk).

Just before the dual carriageway turn left on a lane. Just after houses on the right cross a footbridge on the right and go straight ahead. Where the trees on the right end, go slightly left and cross a footbridge hidden in the trees on the left side of the field (impossible to see until you are close). Turn right on the lane.

(The walk can be shortened considerably at this point by remaining on the lane and turning right at the crossroads (signposted Usk). Follow this to the T-junction by The Olway Inn Hotel and turn left. Follow the road back to the town square.)
If doing the full walk, cross a stile on the left just before a track on the right leading to St David's Church, Llangeview. Go straight up the field and cross a stile. Continue in the same direction, go through a small gap in the trees and up the next field with a wood (Newhouse Wood) on the right. Cross a stile at the top of the hill and follow the signposted direction to a 90º corner in a wire fence. Go straight on with the fence on the right. Cross a stile and go straight on between the conifers. Cross a stile and head half left across the field. Cross a stile to the right of a metal gate. Turn left on a track and almost immediately cross a stile on the right.		Llangeview Church (See an enlargement of this photo.)
Go half left to a kissing gate to enter the Springdale Farm Nature Reserve (Gwent Wildlife Trust). Go through another kissing gate on the right and turn left with a wire fence and trees on the left. Go through a kissing gate and follow the path through the wood. Go through another kissing gate and straight on with a wire fence on the left. Ignore the next kissing gate on the left and shortly go through another one. Go through a wooden gate (at the end of the nature reserve), straight ahead and through a metal gate. Go straight on with the wood on the left. Cross a stile and go straight on with the wood on the left. Cross a stile to the left of a metal gate and turn left on a drive. Turn right on a lane and shortly take the track on the right across a cattle grid. Follow it round to the left. Just before a house at the end of the drive turn right into a field and proceed with a hedge on the left, shortly crossing a stile. Go straight across the field and cross a stile. Go straight on with a wire fence on the right. Cross a brook into the next field and follow the brook and wire fence on the right. Go through 2 metal gates and turn left on a track.

Taken from the Flood Route on 04.04.07		Shortly turn right on a lane. Turn right on the main road and opposite the church turn right on to the Usk Flood Route (better called the Usk Flood Avoidance Route). Follow this for 1 mile and turn left at the crossroads (signposted Usk). Follow this to the T-junction by The Olway Inn Hotel and turn left. Follow the road back to the town square.