Usk Valley Walk
A 48-mile long-distance path in Monmouthshire and Powys, South Wales. The walk follows the valley of the River Usk upstream from Caerleon near Newport to Brecon in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: ST 341 903
Distance: 48 miles (77 km)
Time: 20–24 hours
Duration: 3–5 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
OL12 Brecon Beacons / Bannau Brycheiniog: Western Area
OL13 Brecon Beacons / Bannau Brycheiniog: Eastern Area
152 Newport and Pontypool / Casnewydd a Pont-y-Pšl
Summary
The Usk Valley Walk is a long-distance footpath that follows part of the course of the River Usk, running from a start point at Caerleon—not far upstream from the river mouth at Uskmouth, south of Newport—up the river valley with interesting detours to Brecon in the north.
It passes from Roman Caerleon uphill, climbing the Wentwood ridge, to descend into gentle dairy pastureland, visiting the riverside towns of Usk and Abergavenny. Here it enters the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, follows the towpath of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, bypasses Crickhowell where it climbs again providing views of the Black Mountains, and returns to the canal towpath. Just after Llangynidr, it climbs towards Talybont Reservoir with fine views of the highest part of the Brecon Beacons. Passing below the reservoir, the route climbs towards Talybont Forest, rejoining the canal at Pencelli before finishing at Brecon.