Walk 16

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Walk No 16: Usk Castle - Cwmcayo Farm - Gwehelog Common - Lady Hill Wood
(5 miles - 1¾ hours; directions last checked (not revised) on 13.12.24)

Boots are essential for this walk as some stretches can be very boggy in winter,
especially where cattle pass between fields. In summer some sections
are very overgrown with briars and nettles so shorts are not recommended.
Binoculars are useful for spotting stiles and footpath markers in the distance.

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 Usk Castle. 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. Descend the steps and turn left at the bottom. (If you go to the right at this point you will see the old railway tunnel.) Turn right on the road. After 200 metres, near a wooden seat, take the path down to the river bank and picnic area. After a few minutes rejoin the road and after 100 metres turn right on a lane by a house called Ty-Melyn.

The old railway tunnel, Usk

Go downhill and after a short uphill section take the signposted path to the right through a small wooden gate alongside the garage next to the white house. Turn left and head for a large tree at the field edge. Cross two stiles very close together and after 5 metres take a narrow opening between bushes on the right. Turn left and head half right on a grassy section to a line of trees on the right. After 40 metres cross a small wooden bridge (hidden by bushes until you are very close as it is in a dip). Cross it and turn half left. Cross a stile to the left of a metal gate and head half right for 2 distant power-line poles. Go through a metal gate (often left open) and head for the power-line poles. Head for the far left corner of the field.

The pond in Lady Hill Wood

Battle of Pwll Melyn commemorative plaque

A laminated A5 card showing this walk route, along with photographs, can be easily ordered here.
The walk can be ordered more cheaply in digital format (PDF file) on the alternative Order Form.

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Walk No 16: Usk Castle - Cwmcayo Farm - Gwehelog Common - Lady Hill Wood (5 miles - 1¾ hours; directions last checked (not revised) on 13.12.24) Boots are essential for this walk as some stretches can be very boggy in winter, especially where cattle pass between fields. In summer some sections are very overgrown with briars and nettles so shorts are not recommended. Binoculars are useful for spotting stiles and footpath markers in the distance.
This is a short walk, through farmland and woods, taking in some of the beautiful countryside north of Usk.
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 Usk Castle. 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. Descend the steps and turn left at the bottom. (If you go to the right at this point you will see the old railway tunnel.) Turn right on the road. After 200 metres, near a wooden seat, take the path down to the river bank and picnic area. After a few minutes rejoin the road and after 100 metres turn right on a lane by a house called Ty-Melyn.		The old railway tunnel, Usk

Gwehelog area (taken from Pen-Twyn Farm)		After the large house on the left take the lane to the left and continue on the track through a pleasant valley. Go through a farmyard with gates either side and continue straight ahead on the track, with a wood and a stream on the right. After a few minutes, where the track swings left, take a track to the right and after 25 metres go through a metal gate. After 30 metres go through a gate on the left and head half right up the slope. Head for the far right corner of the field and go through a metal gate (often left open). Continue to the far corner of the next field, through a metal gate (often left open) and straight on. Go through a metal gate, pass some barns on the left (Pen-twyn Farm) and go through a metal gate to join a lane. Turn right at the crossroads by a house called "Ty Mynydd".

Go downhill and after a short uphill section take the signposted path to the right through a small wooden gate alongside the garage next to the white house. Turn left and head for a large tree at the field edge. Cross two stiles very close together and after 5 metres take a narrow opening between bushes on the right. Turn left and head half right on a grassy section to a line of trees on the right. After 40 metres cross a small wooden bridge (hidden by bushes until you are very close as it is in a dip). Cross it and turn half left. Cross a stile to the left of a metal gate and head half right for 2 distant power-line poles. Go through a metal gate (often left open) and head for the power-line poles. Head for the far left corner of the field.		The pond in Lady Hill Wood

Cross a stile and go straight on, with a pond on the left, and soon cross another stile. Go a short distance and cross another stile. After 25 metres go through the gate on the left (encountered earlier in the walk) and turn left. Follow the track round to the right, crossing a stream, and immediately take the fork to the right uphill (Kittybeech Road). Cross over another track and go uphill. Go through a metal gate at the edge of Lady Hill Wood and turn right. Go through a metal gate and straight ahead on a muddy track which curves left, soon passing a small pond on the right.
Battle of Pwll Melyn commemorative plaque		Go through a wooden gate at the edge of the wood (often left open) and straight ahead on a broad track. Go through a wooden gate (often left open). Note the blue plaque off to the right commemorating the Battle of Pwll Melyn in 1405. Go down the track to the left of Castle Farm, through a metal gate, then through a small wooden gate and then another small gate to the left of a larger wooden gate. Turn left on the lane (taken at the start of the walk) and shortly rejoin the main road. Turn right to return to the town square.