Clytha and Coed y Bwnydd, Monmouthshire, Circular Walk / Clytha a Choed y Bwnydd, Sir Fynwy, Taith Gerdded Gylchol

Event Details

Start Date Sunday, 21st of April 2024
End Date Sunday, 21st of April 2024
Start/End Time 10:30 - 16:00
Near Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Categories Dog-friendly, Walk
Groups South Wales
Approx Distance 8 Miles
TerrainStrenuous, but manageable, with a few short gradual climbs during the first leg of the walk

A beautiful circular walk of about 8 miles around this part of the Monmouthshire countryside taking in Coed y Bwnydd, the largest and one of the best preserved hillforts in Monmouthshire, and Clytha Castle, one of Wales's most outstanding 18th-century follies.

The route initially runs close to the River Usk on a lovely route for about 2 miles on the western edge of the Clytha Estate, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation, before leaving the valley and climbing gradually up nearby hills via roads and field tracks, and St Aeddan's Church, Bettws Newydd, to eventually reach Coed y Bwnydd. There are some short up and downs along the river, and three more gradual climbs to eventually reach Bettws Newydd, the final climb more steep than the others, but only for about a quarter of a mile. From here, the route is mainly downhill or on the flat, passing Clytha Castle back to the start again alongside the River Usk.

This is quite a strenuous walk and the route travels along numerous quiet roads, meadows, woods, and open fields, and multitudes of spring flowers, carpets of bluebells, and almost permanent bird song tracks the whole way. The route will be muddy in a lot of places and will not be suitable for those unsteady on their feet. Good boots or walking footwear need to be worn. Numerous kissing gates and ten styles, three dog-friendly.

UPDATE: We recently walked the route again and after the amount of recent rain, the route was muddy and wet in a lot of places. The drier weather this week and into this weekend should improve things underfoot quite a bit, however. You will still probably need change of footwear and trousers for travelling home.

Taith gerdded gylchol hardd o tua 8 milltir o amgylch y rhan hon o gefn gwlad Sir Fynwy gan gynnwys Coed y Bwnydd, y bryngaerau mwyaf ac un o'r rhai sydd wedi'u cadw orau yn Sir Fynwy, a Chastell Clytha, un o ffyliaid mwyaf eithriadol Cymru yn y 18fed ganrif. I ddechrau mae’r llwybr yn rhedeg yn agos at Afon Wysg ar lwybr hyfryd am tua 2 filltir ar ymyl gorllewinol Ystâd Clytha, Safle o Ddiddordeb Gwyddonol Arbennig ac Ardal Cadwraeth Arbennig, cyn gadael y dyffryn a dringo’n raddol i fyny’r bryniau cyfagos trwy ffyrdd a llwybrau caeau, ac Eglwys Sant Aeddan, Betws Newydd, i gyrraedd Coed y Bwnydd maes o law. Mae rhai dringo a lawr byr ar hyd yr afon, a thair dringfa raddol arall i gyrraedd Betws Newydd yn y pen draw, y ddringfa olaf yn fwy serth na’r lleill, ond dim ond am tua chwarter milltir. O'r fan hon, mae'r llwybr yn bennaf i lawr yr allt neu ar y gwastad, gan fynd heibio i Gastell Clytha yn ôl i'r man cychwyn eto ar hyd yr Afon Wysg. Mae hon yn daith eithaf egnïol ac mae’r llwybr yn teithio ar hyd nifer o ffyrdd tawel, dolydd, coedydd, a chaeau agored, a lliaws o flodau’r gwanwyn, carpedi o glychau’r gog, a thraciau canu adar parhaol bron yr holl ffordd. Bydd y llwybr yn fwdlyd ac ni fydd yn addas ar gyfer y rhai sy'n simsan ar eu traed. Mae angen gwisgo esgidiau cerdded neu esgidiau cerdded da. Nifer o gatiau mochyn a deg arddull, tri sy'n gyfeillgar i gŵn.

DIWEDDARIAD: Yn ddiweddar fe wnaethon ni gerdded y llwybr eto ac fel gyda phob llwybr presennol, ar ôl y glaw mawr yn ddiweddar, mae’r llwybr yn fwdlyd ac yn wlyb mewn llawer o lefydd. Gobeithio y bydd y rhagolygon tywydd sychach am weddill yr wythnos hon yn gwella pethau. Bydd angen newid esgidiau a throwsus ar gyfer teithio adref.