We love walking when the trees are bright with reds and gold, and when they drop their leaves to reveal winter views across the Usk valley. There’s something so refreshing about being out in the crisp air, and calling into a friendly pub or café for something warm.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a few of our favourite walks for this time of year – with links to the route maps, and a suggested place to stop for morning coffee or a delicious lunch.
This 3 mile circular route crosses Llanover estate, former home of Benjamin Hall who oversaw the building of the Houses of Parliament. In fact, the great bell ‘Big Ben’ was named after him. Part of the walk goes along the Mon & Brec canal towpath so you could join the route at this point by heading south along the towpath from your cottage.
Refreshments: At point 4 on the map, keep walking straight along the main road (rather than crossing the road and heading towards point 5.Take the next road on the right, and on your right you’ll find The Retreat - a farm shop, deli and café.
The National Trust’s Clytha Park circular route is a 3.8 mile signposted walk through this classic 18th-century landscaped park. There are views of the Grade 1 listed Clytha House, and Clytha Castle folly which was built by William Jones of Clytha House in the 1790s as a memorial to his ‘most excellent’ wife.
Refreshments: On this walking route is The Clytha Arms, a family-run pub, complete with wood-burning stove. Check out their real ales, ciders and perrys, tasty tapas dishes, and full restaurant menu.
Follow in the footsteps of 17th century metaphysical poet and doctor Henry Vaughan, who lived most of his life in this area, and drew inspiration from the natural world around him. This 2 mile circular walk begins by the Mon & Brec canal in Talybont-on-Usk. Known as the ‘Swan of the Usk’. Henry Vaughan’s grave is at Llansantffraed Church, about a mile from Talybont-on-Usk – a place immortalised by Siegfried Sassoon in his poem ‘At the Grave of Henry Vaughan’.
Refreshments: The village of Talybont-on-Usk has a selection of places for a bite to eat, including Canalside Café, The Star Inn, The Traveller’s Rest and The White Hart Inn.
For more walks in the area, check out this list of routes.
