The first Brecon Choir Festival…
Come, take a stroll in the footsteps of Henry Vaughan, a 17th century poet, whose bardic name was ‘the Swan of the Usk’. Like Henry you will be able to enjoy the peace and beauty of this special corner of the Brecon Beacons which inspired much of his poetry. This is a grade 2 walk: Routes with some sections with slightly looser surfaces, slight gradients and gates but no stiles. Seats are few and far between.
Walk grade
3.5km / 2.17miles
Talybont on Usk (OS grid reference SO114225) (postcode LD3 7JD)
Starting GPS co-ordinates
° 0' 0" N ° 0' 0" W (DMS)
1 hour 15 mins
Ascend about 80m / 262ft
Begin your walk by following a short stretch of the canal which certainly brought change to the area when it was built in 1800. Since Henry Vaughan’s time the village of Talybont has grown from being a collection of scattered farmsteads to a village centred around canalside wharves. Along the way have a read of the interpretation panels and pop into the Vaughan Garden to find examples of the herbs which he would have used. Relax at the picnic benches there before continuing along part of the Brinore Tramroad along which coal was transported from near Tredegar to the canal. Your return route to the village will take you alongside the beautiful little river, Afon Caerfanell.
Report any problems with this route via our online reporting system
Find exclusive range of maps, guides and books to help plan your visit to our National Park