Walk 20

USK WALKS

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WALK 1 • WALK 2 • WALK 3 • WALK 4 • WALK 5 • WALK 6 • WALK 7 • WALK 8 • WALK 9 • WALK 10 • WALK 11
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Walk No 20: Usk Valley Walk - Clytha Castle - Coed y Bwnydd - Bettws Newydd Church - Trostrey Common - Lady Hill Wood (14 miles - 5 / 6 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 strenuous but rewarding walk with several moderate climbs. It follows the route of the popular Usk Valley Walk and then returns through hilly farmland and woods to the north of Usk. From the hilly sections there are excellent views of the countryside to the north and west.
Leave the town square by turning left on the main road. Cross the river and take the steps at the end of the bridge up and then down to the river bank. Walk along the river bank and go under the old railway bridge. From this point the Usk Valley Walk is obvious and well signposted. Where it joins a lane at a hamlet called Great Estavarney, it is necessary to walk westward along the lane for 600 metres, passing farm buildings on the left, before crossing the stile on the right. Follow Usk Valley Walk waymarks across fields, through a small wood and along the riverbank (a distance of 2.7 kms from the stile). Turn right on a lane, soon crossing Chain Bridge. Turn left on a lane signposted Bettws Newydd and after 300 metres cross a stile on the left to follow the well-marked Usk Valley Walk.		The Usk south of Chain Bridge

Clytha Castle		After 3.2 kms, at a kissing gate near the river, where the Usk Valley Walk goes left, turn right on a track, soon passing the Clytha Car Park. Turn left on the road and after a short distance go through a metal gate on the right. After 25 metres take the re-routed direction shown on the National Trust marker post. Follow the path past 2 more National Trust posts, then at 2 posts close together near a large tree turn right uphill. Pass to the right of and below Clytha Castle and go through a wooden gate signposted Coed y Bwnydd. Follow the path round to the left through the wood, soon approaching Clytha Castle. (This is a folly built in 1790, owned by the National Trust and leased to The Landmark Trust for use as holiday accommodation.)

Just to the right (east) of the castle turn right on a broader track signposted Coed y Bwnydd and after 30 metres turn right on a narrow path through the wood, signposted Coed y Bwnydd. Soon cross a stile (again signposted Coed y Bwnydd) and go straight across the field. Cross a stile and narrow fence section at the corner of the field and turn right, keeping a wire fence on the right. At the field corner, by a metal gate, turn left (don't go through it), keeping a wire fence and hedge on the right. Continue with a wood on the right. After climbing for some distance, cross a stile and go straight on, soon crossing another stile. Soon go through a wooden gate and turn right on a lane.

Go uphill for some distance and a few metres to the left of a metal gate on the right cross a stile marked "This is a permissive path only." Go to the right of a barn and through a kissing gate to enter Coed y Bwnydd (a National Trust site and Iron Age hill fort). This wooded hill makes a pleasant detour and picnic stop, especially in Spring when the bluebells are magnificent. The circular path can be followed in either direction, the right side (straight on) being the longer. Leave the site through a gate and turn right on the lane.		Coed y Bwnydd

Bettws Newydd Church		Where the lane swings right, turn left and after 15 metres cross a stile on the right. Follow the indicated direction and cross a stile to the right of a large tree near the corner of the field. Go straight on, cross another stile and turn left. Go down the field with trees and a wire fence on the left. Cross 2 stiles 40 metres apart and turn right. Cross a stile at the end of a stone wall to enter Bettws Newydd churchyard. (There are 2 seats here so this makes a pleasant place for a rest.) Cross a stile at the south-west corner of the churchyard and follow the grassy track downhill and then left. Go through a wooden gate and turn left on a lane.

After passing a cottage on the left, cross a stile on the left to the right of a wooden gate, near a stream. Go straight ahead with a hedge on the right. In the far right corner of the field cross a stile and take the indicated direction half right across the field. Cross a stile to the right of a metal gate and turn left, aiming between 2 well-spaced trees in the middle of the field (not the 2 larger trees closer together). Cross a stile to the left of a wooden fence section in a row of trees below the crest of the hill. Go half left, aiming for the end of a hedge. Keep the hedge on the right, following it round to the right by a water trough. Cross a stile to the right of a metal gate and go straight on. Cross a stile and go left, then turn right behind farm buildings.

Cross a stile to the left of a metal gate and go left down a track which soon climbs. Shortly after the track to Russell Hill Farm take a bridleway on the right at a bend. Go down a lane and soon turn right at the junction with another. After 1½ minutes take the bridleway on the left and continue on a track. Go straight on at the crossroads and shortly take the drive on the right signposted Bank House. (This is a public right of way though it appears otherwise.) Keep to the hedge on the left and go through a small wooden gate. Go uphill with trees on the right, cross a stile and turn right on the lane.		Bank House drive

After 600 metres and a short uphill section take the signposted path to the right through a wooden gate alongside the garage next to the white house. Turn left and head for a large tree at the field edge. Continue in the same direction with trees on the left to two adjacent stiles. Cross these and continue in the same direction to a small wooden bridge in the trees (not obvious until you are very close). Cross it and turn half left. Cross a stile to the left of a metal gate and head half right for 2 telegraph poles. Cross a stile to the right of a metal gate and head for the telegraph poles. Continue in the same direction, soon seeing a pond on the left.

The pond in Lady Hill Wood		Cross a stile and go straight on, soon crossing another stile. Go a short distance and cross another stile. After 25 metres cross a stile on the left and turn left. Follow the track round to the right, crossing a stream, and take the fork to the right, going uphill. Cross over another track and go uphill. Go through a metal gate at the edge of the wood (Lady Hill Wood) and turn right. Cross a stile to the left of a metal gate and go straight ahead on a muddy track which soon curves left, passing a small pond on the right.

Go through a wooden gate at the edge of the wood and go straight ahead on a broad track. Cross a stile to the right of a wooden gate. (Note the blue plaque commemorating the Battle of Pwll Melyn in 1405.) Go down the lane to the left of Castle Farm and at the end go through the small gate to the left of the wooden gate. Turn left and shortly rejoin the main road. Turn right to return to the town square.

A printed, laminated card showing this walk route, along with relevant photographs, is available at £1.00 from the Usk Rural Life Museum in New Market Street, Usk, NP15 1AU (Tel. 01291 673777) and from Usk Library at 18A Maryport Street, Usk, NP15 1AE (Tel. 01291 674925). If it is more convenient, the card can be ordered by completing the easy-to-use Order Form. It can also be ordered more cheaply in digital format (PDF file) on the alternative Order Form.

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Page last updated 24.02.13