Walk No 3a: Usk Castle - River (West) - Llanbadoc - River (East)
(about 3½ miles - 1¼ hours; directions last revised on 29.10.24)

(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.

Pass the car park (on the right) and the entrance to the castle (left) and take the track up the hill, signposted "North Tower & Camping". Follow this round to the right and then left, following blue arrows, and then downhill.

At the bottom of the steps ignore the path down to the left; turn right and you will see the old railway tunnel entrance on the right. Take the path to the left along the route of the former railway line. Cross the river on the railway bridge and at the end of it go down the steps on the left.

Take the short concrete path ahead to the grassy area known as Usk Island and continue along the riverbank in the direction of the road bridge. Take the path with a high wall to the right towards the road bridge. Climb the steps at the end and down the other side.

Usk bridge

Go right for a few metres, cross over the road and take the path signposted "Coed Duon 1.6km". Go through a metal gate (usually open) and across the field, keeping close to the factory building, and at the edge of the narrow wood take a steep, narrow path uphill to the right. At the top climb 7 steps, cross a stile at the edge of the wood and turn left, following the wire fence. Continue in the same direction, crossing 2 stiles. "Circular Walk" is signposted at both of these.

River Usk near Llanbadoc Church

At the end of the field, where there is a metal gate, take a sunken path downhill. Take the signposted path on the left to the left of a wooden gate and turn left on the road. (Llanbadoc Church is a short distance to the right.)

Cross the river via the 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 bridge and walk along the riverbank. (Click here to see another photo.) After about half a mile, the path rises a little; at this point follow the path round to the left, then to the right, along the football field perimeter. Head for the small car park to the left of a white building and turn left on the road (Maryport Street). Pass the prison and Sessions House (now the town's Civic Centre). Turn right at the OneStop supermarket and return to the town square.