Leave the town square and turn left on the main road. Cross the river and turn left. Go up the steps at the side of the bus shelter and take the path along the embankment. Rejoin the pavement for 50 metres, then take the track to the left, passing to the left of Saint Madoc's churchyard. (Note the plaque (see photo) commemorating Alfred Russel Wallace, naturalist and author.) Take the lane to the right before Llanbadoc Island recreational area (where there is a "NO EXIT" sign) and turn left on the road. Immediately after a long, low building on the right turn right on to a bridleway which passes Ty Mawr Farm, turns left by a double garage, narrows, then climbs steeply through trees.

Continue on the track with a wire fence on the right and go through a small wooden gate. After a few minutes go through a small wooden gate and straight on between trees. After a few minutes pass to the left of a metal gate (often left open) and continue with a small sheep enclosure, bushes and wire fence on the right. Shortly reach 2 redundant gate posts and take the sunken bridleway downhill between trees. (If this is blocked by fallen trees, take the embankment on the right.) Shortly go through a small wooden gate to the right of 2 larger gates and follow the waymarked track (Circular Walk 1) along the field edge.

Continue to the right of a small wood and, just after the second bridleway marker post, turn right down the field. Pass to the left of trees to the left of double power-line poles, then follow a line of trees on the left parallel to a track which leads to a lane. Go through a small metal gate to the right of a larger metal gate and turn right on the lane. Shortly turn left on a lane where there is a signpost for Cefn Ila. (This is a very pleasant, 84 acre site owned by Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust in Wales). It offers a number of paths, wildlife opportunities and historic sites.)

Pass the car park and shortly fork left on a track where there is a wooden gate (the lane beyond this point is private). Continue on the track which curves right, soon passing the site of a former maternity hospital. Pass to the left of a wooden building and go through a kissing gate. Continue on a narrow path, soon seeing a walled garden on the right. Go through a kissing gate and uphill through trees. Swing right where it becomes an open, grassy area and soon go through a metal kissing gate to the left of a wooden gate. Cross a stile and turn half right towards large trees. On reaching a wire fence, turn left downhill and soon cross a stile near 2 large trees very close together.

Wooden sculpture, Cefn Ila

Usk Valley and Llancayo Mill
(See enlargement of this photo.)

Go half right downhill on an obvious path, then swing right, soon climbing gently for a short distance. Shortly cross a stile 8 metres off to the left. Go straight ahead with a wood (Coed Duon) on the right.

Go through a metal gate and turn right. Shortly turn left at a metal gate (don't go through it) and follow the field edge. Go downhill, cross a stile on the right and turn left. Go left downhill, gradually approaching large trees and a gully on the right, and cross two stiles 12 metres apart. Follow the path, cross a footbridge (not the one on the right) and follow the field edge. Take a track on the right before the field corner and shortly turn right on the road. Cross the river and return to the town square.