91훑괵 Wales - Nature - Weatherman Walking 2009

The Usk Valley

Last updated: 10 August 2009

Location: A linear walk starting at Clytha National Trust car park and ending at Chainbridge Inn, or a circular walk returning to the car park
Distance: 3.75 (linear) or 6.25 miles (circular)
Time: Approx three hours (linear) or five hours (circular)
When to listen:14 August, 6.32pm and 15 August, 6.32am on Radio Wales.

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Walk description

The walk was done as a linear walk of 3.75 miles, starting at the National Trust car park at Clytha (GR361085). It is possible to return to this point from the end point that Derek and his guide Chris Barber (South Wales editor of Walking Wales magazine) chose, but this adds a further 2.5 miles to the journey. The return to the Clytha car park is via the waymarked Usk Valley Walk.

Along the route Derek and Chris encountered the 18th century folly of Clytha Castle, Coed Y Bwnydd Iron Age hillfort and Betws Newydd Church and its impressive rood screen and balustrade.

In the grounds of the church was a 2000 year old yew tree, which displays an interesting feature of a new trunk emerging from the centre of the older tree, as though the tree was regenerating itself through the centuries.

Quartz conglomerate, also known as 'puddingstone' - a rock that outcrops significantly around Monmouthshire - was one of the geological points of interest.

The walk ended at the Chainbridge Inn, previously known as the Boat Inn, since a ferryboat predated the construction of the chain bridge spanning the river.