Walk No 10c: Usk Flood Route - Allt-y-bela - Llangeview Lodge - Llandenny - Gwehelog
(11 miles - about 4 hours)

Boots are essential for this walk as parts of the route are often very boggy.  It is best done in winter as the grass in some of the fields can be very high in summer, making it impossible to see the paths.

Leave the town square by the south east corner (i.e. the same side of the square as the Castle Inn) and proceed along Four Ash Street.  Pass the former Greyhound Inn (now a house) and continue on Chepstow Road.  Turn right at the Olway Inn.  Continue along the lane, crossing above the dual carriageway.  At the crossroads (where the Flood Route is signposted) go straight up the narrow lane.  Continue uphill, ignoring after about 120 metres the parallel track on the right which goes to a house.  At "Graig-Yr-Ieir" house (the white house at the end of the lane), take the narrow, muddy and stony track up the hill, through Mardy Hill Wood.  At the top follow the track with a field to the left and a hedge to the right. (There are splendid views from here across to the hills surrounding Abergavenny.)
  
Shortly after the big cream house on the left, where the main track swings right, follow the dirt track round to the left. This becomes muddy, rutted and sunken and eventually descends to an open area.  Follow the obvious track which soon becomes sunken again.  Continue downhill, turning left and soon seeing, on the right, Allt-y-bela, a large, restored Renaissance farmhouse offering luxury B&B (www.alltybela.co.uk).  

Opposite the house take a very sharp right turn on to a muddy track and after 30 metres take the footpath on the left.  After 25 metres cross a stile on the right and turn left, shortly crossing a wooden footbridge over a stream.  Turn half left (north) up the field, with a line of trees on the left.  Go through a gap between trees, passing a disused gate post in a dip.  Continue in the same direction to a large tree in a 10 metre gap in the hedge on the ridge.  Turn left with the hedge and a wire fence on the right.  Just after passing to the right of a small, derelict stone building cross a stile at the corner of the field.

Go straight ahead along the field boundary with a hedge and then a wire fence on the right.  Follow a sometimes poorly defined path, keeping to the left of large bushes.  Go through a very short section of woodland with small metal gates at each side.  Go straight on along the next field with a hedge on the right and cross a stile at the corner of the field.  Continue straight ahead down the next field, with a hedge on the right.  Cross a stile to the left of a metal gate (not visible until close) at the field corner and turn right on a lane.  After a few minutes turn right on the busy road (B4235, the Usk - Chepstow road).  Shortly after passing The Lodge by Cefn Tilla (formerly Llangeview Lodge and before that the Rat Trap), go through a small wooden gate on the left and head half right across the field to a wide crossing over a brook to the left of a tree. Head half right for the more distant, large tree and the far corner of the field, where there is a road bridge over the dual carriageway. 

Go through the tunnel (with metal gates at each end) under the minor road and follow the field edge with the Olway Brook on the left. Go though a tiny metal gate into the South Wales Gliding Club's field. Take extreme care when there is gliding activity in progress.  Keep to the left edge of the field, still alongside the brook. Turn left where there is a wide opening and a yellow notice about the danger from aircraft, and go through 2 metal gates close together. Head slightly left to the far corner of the field. 
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Go through the metal gate, immediately cross the brook and follow the track to the right which crosses the dual carriageway and leads to the tiny village of Llandenny. Turn left on the road at the Raglan Arms; sadly this pub restaurant is now closed.

Keep straight on at the next junction, signposted Cold Harbour, and after about half a mile, just before the crossroads turn left into Kitty's Orchard (Gwent Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve). Follow the path to a kissing gate and then keep to the left side of the field. At a wooden gate near the third large tree, turn right and head for a small wooden gate in front of a white house. Turn right on the lane and, shortly after, left at a T-junction.

After about a mile, at the junction near a green gravel bin, go straight uphill.  At the top of the hill cross a stile on the left. (If, instead of turning left, you take the road to the right at this point, you will soon come to the Hall Inn.  A good choice of meals can be had here.  Return to the stile if you make this detour.)  Go straight ahead, passing to the left of double telegraph poles and a line of trees. Cross a stile to the left of a metal gate and take the track ahead through the wood, which has a beautiful display of bluebells in the spring. Cross a stile, go through a small orchard and cross another stile. Go straight ahead on the lane and after 40 metres cross a stile on the left.

Turn right, cross the field and cross a stile to the left of a tree. Head for a large tree with a double trunk. Continue in the same direction, heading for a distant red brick farmhouse. Go downhill and through a wide, rutted gap in the line of trees. Head for the red brick house and cross a stile by a large tree to the left of the house. Turn right on the lane, eventually passing the allotments. Turn left on the road and follow it back to Usk centre.

Revision 25, 16.04.25 
(directions for the main walk last checked on 10.01.25 and for the 2-mile extension on 16.04.25)