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Home , Caerleon, East Wales, Fourteen Locks, Gwent (county), Newport Castle, Newport City Council

Newport Coast Path

The Coast Path of is 870 miles. The Newport Coast Path A4042 Section is 23 miles/ 32km of this. A4051

Caerleon

A48

M4

M4 A4048

Fourteen Points of Interest Locks Redwick

Goldcliff Sea Wall & Priory Waterloo Hotel Wetlands Nature Reserve & Bistro The East Lighthouse The Wetlands Centre A48 Great Traston House Meadows Reserve

The Docks B4239 The Newport Transporter Bridge The (SDR) The Newport City Footbridge Rose Inn Waterloo Inn Wetlands Centre

Steel Wave Farmer’s Arms Newport Sea Wall Tearooms, The Goldcliff The Gout at Inn at The Elm Tree Tourist Information Centre Peterstone Church B4239 Food & Drink

Lighthouse , St Brides Ty Coch Camping Accommodation & Caravanning Newport Coast Path Route Camping & Caravan site Valley Walk Public house Walk link (under construction) Parking (free) (paid) The Inn Miles 0 0.5 1 Forest areas 0 0.5 1 Usk Valley Walk link (under construction) Kilometres Urban areas Newport Boundary

Transporter Bridge crossing Levels (SSSI*)

Let’s Walk Newport (SSSI*) www.newport.gov.uk/countryside

*Site of Special When walking, refer to the OS Map 152 Newport & Scientific Interest

Usk, in a journey time of around one and a half minutes. half a and one around of time journey a in Usk, workshop rooms, a conference room and licensed café. licensed and room conference a rooms, workshop They are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Scientific Special of Sites designated are They

gondola takes up to six cars at a time across the River River the across time a at cars six to up takes gondola visual art galleries, a studio, a recording studio, studio, recording a studio, dance a galleries, art visual increasingly important for the rare plants found there. there. found plants rare the for important increasingly www.newportship.org | Ship Newport

bridges could handle traffic conditions of the time. The The time. the of conditions traffic handle could bridges spaces, two two spaces, theatre land management, so the Reserve’s hay meadows are are meadows hay Reserve’s the so management, land

between 1893 and 1916, a period in which transporter transporter which in period a 1916, and 1893 between end, it houses two two houses it end, lost since the Second World War due to changes in in changes to due War World Second the since lost

special events during the year. the during events special

Only 16 transporter bridges were built in the world world the in built were bridges transporter 16 Only creativity. To that that To creativity. More than 95% of Britain’s hay meadows have been been have meadows hay Britain’s of 95% than More

Works in the 1930s. The site is open to visitors for for visitors to open is site The 1930s. the in Works

with the arts and and arts the with

before being placed in the care of the Ministry of of Ministry the of care the in placed being before

world. and plants. plants. and

possible into contact contact into possible

the castle was home to a tannery and then a brewery brewery a then and tannery a to home was castle the

Bridges still working in Britain; one of seven in the the in seven of one Britain; in working still Bridges habitat for species of wildlife wildlife of species for habitat

as many people as as people many as

falling into disrepair in the mid 1500s. By the 1800s 1800s the By 1500s. mid the in disrepair into falling

spectacular landmarks, one of only two Transporter Transporter two only of one landmarks, spectacular reens which creates a unique unique a creates which reens

purpose is to bring bring to is purpose

was substantially renovated in the early 1400s before before 1400s early the in renovated substantially was

passage of tall-masted ships. It’s one of Newport’s most most Newport’s of one It’s ships. tall-masted of passage of grazing marsh bordered by by bordered marsh grazing of

centre whose whose centre

which provide a great source of food. of source great a provide which

heavily repaired following Owain Glyndwr’s attack. It It attack. Glyndwr’s Owain following repaired heavily

tidal range in the world, whilst still allowing the the allowing still whilst world, the in range tidal . It consists consists It Trust. Wildlife Gwent

theatre and arts arts and theatre

As the sea water floods in, so do the fish and prawns prawns and fish the do so in, floods water sea the As

constructed by the monks at Goldcliff. at monks the by constructed

Gilbert ‘the Red’ Clare. In 1405, the castle had to be be to had castle the 1405, In Clare. Red’ ‘the Gilbert

crossing the River Usk, which has the second-highest second-highest the has which Usk, River the crossing and the the and Council City Newport

Newport’s thriving thriving Newport’s

to ensure the saline get enough sea water. water. sea enough get lagoons saline the ensure to

was first documented in the 13th Century and probably probably and Century 13th the in documented first was

Newport Castle was probably built in the late 1200s by by 1200s late the in built probably was Castle Newport

design was an ingenious solution to the problem of of problem the to solution ingenious an was design reserve in conjunction with with conjunction in reserve

The Riverfront is is Riverfront The

wetland birds. The water levels are carefully regulated regulated carefully are levels water The birds. wetland

preventing the fresh water from flooding the levels. It It levels. the flooding from water fresh the preventing

Arnodin, it was built and opened in 1906. The bridge bridge The 1906. in opened and built was it Arnodin,

Industries) established the the established Industries)

tidal moat. tidal

excellent habitat for a range of species, especially especially species, of range a for habitat excellent Riverfront Arts Centre Arts Riverfront carries water from an upland stream to the coast, coast, the to stream upland an from water carries

structure. Designed by French engineer Ferdinand Ferdinand engineer French by Designed structure. Solutia (now Eastman Eastman (now Solutia

three plain walls surrounded by a simple but effective effective but simple a by surrounded walls plain three

lagoons, wet grassland, and scrub and provide an an provide and scrub and grassland, wet lagoons,

through the village on its way to the sea. Monkditch Monkditch sea. the to way its on village the through

The Newport Transporter Bridge is a Grade I listed listed I Grade a is Bridge Transporter Newport The

Meadows Reserve Reserve Meadows

The landward defences were modest, comprising of of comprising modest, were defences landward The

Now 438 hectares cover salt marsh, reed beds, saline saline beds, reed marsh, salt cover hectares 438 Now

“Monksditch” also known as “Goldcliff Pill” passes passes Pill” “Goldcliff as known also “Monksditch”

The Newport Transporter Bridge Transporter Newport The

The ash was removed and the site re-landscaped. re-landscaped. site the and removed was ash The

Traston Great been greeted by ’s three soaring towers. soaring three Castle’s Newport by greeted been

years to the day after the Transporter Bridge. Transporter the after day the to years century, possibly by the monks at Goldcliff. Goldcliff. at monks the by possibly century,

In the 1300s visitors sailing up the River Usk would have have would Usk River the up sailing visitors 1300s the In

major regeneration project. It was opened exactly 100 100 exactly opened was It project. regeneration major

Uskmouth power station. power landscape was planned out between the 11th and 13th 13th and 11th the between out planned was landscape

borrowed to complete the project. the complete to borrowed

is part of Newport’s Newport’s of part is Newport Castle Castle Newport covered wasteland for the neighbouring -fired coal-fired neighbouring the for wasteland covered medieval ‘cope’ land allocation pattern. This fascinating fascinating This pattern. allocation land ‘cope’ medieval

to £131,000 and in 1842 a further £10,000 had to be be to had £10,000 further a 1842 in and £131,000 to

design award and and award design stretches from Goldcliff to Uskmouth was once an ash ash an once was Uskmouth to Goldcliff from stretches from the road in long strips of pasture. It reflects a a reflects It pasture. of strips long in road the from be arranged from here. from arranged be

years. By April 1841 the estimated cost had grown grown had cost estimated the 1841 April By years.

bridge has won a a won has bridge Bay Barrage scheme was undertaken. The land which which land The undertaken. was scheme Barrage Bay

The houses and farmsteads in Whitson are set back back set are Whitson in farmsteads and houses The visitors to relax. Guided walks around the Reserve can can Reserve the around walks Guided relax. to visitors

underestimation which besieged progress for some some for progress besieged which underestimation the west bank. The The bank. west the of the wildlife habitat in the area after the Cardiff the after area the in habitat wildlife the of

to provide activities and events as well as a place for for place a as well as events and activities provide to

Whitson

shares of £100 each. This turned out to be a gross gross a be to out turned This each. £100 of shares

developments on on developments Council for Wales (CCW) in 2000 to mitigate the loss loss the mitigate to 2000 in (CCW) Wales for Council shop, café, an education room and conference facilities facilities conference and room education an café, shop,

in 1835 was £35,000 which was raised by selling 350 350 selling by raised was which £35,000 was 1835 in

River Usk to new new to Usk River The reserve was first established by the Countryside Countryside the by established first was reserve The

in 2008 and is now managed by the RSPB. It houses a a houses It RSPB. the by managed now is and 2008 in

Originally the estimated cost of building the dock dock the building of cost estimated the Originally the east bank of the the of bank east the

to make it look as if it’s floating. The centre was opened opened was centre The floating. it’s if as look it make to

Wetlands Nature Reserve Nature Wetlands

bridge that links links that bridge

The Wetlands Centre is nestled among reeds and pools pools and reeds among nestled is Centre Wetlands The

to the Channel. Bristol the to

pedestrian and cycle cycle and pedestrian

The Wetlands Centre Wetlands The network and, later, the railway lines of South Wales East South of lines railway the later, and, network

church bells in the country. country. the in bells church

Footbridge is a a is Footbridge

floating dock facility in Newport and linked the canal canal the linked and Newport in facility dock floating

even in Roman times. times. Roman in even and are thought to be some of the oldest working working oldest the of some be to thought are and

The Newport City City Newport The

labour unrest. When at last opened 1842, it was the first first the was it 1842, opened last at When unrest. labour

origins with the Priory or or Priory the with origins the central tower date from the pre-Reformation period period pre-Reformation the from date tower central the

The Newport City Footbridge City Newport The

Newport dock was fraught with financial problems and and problems financial with fraught was dock Newport

may well have had its its had have well may originates from the 13th Century. Two of the six bells in in bells six the of Two Century. 13th the from originates

and prosperous port of Cardiff. Yet, building the the building Yet, Cardiff. of port prosperous and

fishing of salmon, which which salmon, of fishing stone carvings, a full immersion baptistery and its font font its and baptistery immersion full a carvings, stone

coal from the Valleys and to compete with the growing growing the with compete to and Valleys the from coal

associated with the tidal tidal the with associated Among its unique features, the church has medieval medieval has church the features, unique its Among

the River Usk. River the provide a safe port for large American ships exporting exporting ships American large for port safe a provide

Goldcliff has long been been long has Goldcliff worth a visit. visit. a worth

and city the between partnership the celebrate that on the Alexandra Dock in 1835. A dock was needed to to needed was dock A 1835. in Dock Alexandra the on

Apostle, is well well is Apostle,

– continuing the work of the Romans. the of work the continuing – – and completes the family of seven different bridges bridges different seven of family the completes and – River. There was great celebration when work began began work when celebration great was There River.

Thomas the the Thomas

steel and stands 14 metres high by 35 metres long. long. metres 35 by high metres 14 stands and steel

land to farm though they had to reclaim it from the sea sea the from it reclaim to had they though farm to land Bridge – the first cable-stayed highway bridge in the UK UK the in bridge highway cable-stayed first the – Bridge From here you can see the Alexandra Docks across the the across Docks Alexandra the see can you here From

The church, St St church, The

1990, the sculpture was made using 50 tons of sheet sheet of tons 50 using made was sculpture the 1990,

Goldcliff. The monks were also given the surrounding surrounding the given also were monks The Goldcliff. between the Transporter Bridge and the George Street Street George the and Bridge Transporter the between

of the town on the banks of the River Usk. Erected in in Erected Usk. River the of banks the on town the of

Benedictines a priory which was built on the island of of island the on built was which priory a Benedictines changed since. changed the City of Newport’s industrial heritage. It’s located located It’s heritage. industrial Newport’s of City the

and the foundation foundation the and

the Norman Lord of granted the the granted Caerleon of Lord Norman the In 1113 In layout has hardly hardly has layout ad This outstanding 190 metre steel arch bridge celebrates celebrates bridge arch steel metre 190 outstanding This

steel manufacturing manufacturing steel

Goldcliff was an island until the sea wall was built. built. was wall sea the until island an was Goldcliff century; its its century; grounds of the Wetlands Nature Reserve. Nature Wetlands the of grounds

Newport’s history of of history Newport’s

in the eleventh eleventh the in it forms part of the sea wall and stands within the the within stands and wall sea the of part forms it

to ships passing in the . Channel. Bristol the in passing ships to

The sculpture reflects reflects sculpture The

originated late late originated now but legs, on built was it Originally, generations.

that had a glittering appearance in sunshine, especially especially sunshine, in appearance glittering a had that

in the 19th Century. Century. 19th the in

village probably probably village coast. His family continued to tend the lighthouse for for lighthouse the tend to continued family His coast.

feet high, that once rose over a great bed of yellow mica mica yellow of bed great a over rose once that high, feet

were thriving early early thriving were

Levels. The The Levels. the lighthouse from Nash down the long lane to the the to lane long the down Nash from lighthouse the

Goldcliff was named after a limestone cliff, about 60 60 about cliff, limestone a after named was Goldcliff

passenger wharves wharves passenger

on the Gwent Gwent the on build to used steel the dragged horse, his of help

commercial and and commercial

medieval village village medieval wonderful brightness’. wonderful still operational. In 1893, Thomas Williams, with the the with Williams, Thomas 1893, In operational. still

riverbank where where riverbank

best-preserved best-preserved described Gouldclyffe in Latin as ‘glittering with a a with ‘glittering as Latin in Gouldclyffe described

either side of the River Usk at the Severn . It is is It Estuary. Severn the at Usk River the of side either

Stands on the the on Stands

Redwick is the the is Redwick

Giraldus Cambrensis, who toured Wales in 1188, 1188, in Wales toured who Cambrensis, Giraldus

The East Usk Lighthouse is one of two lighthouses on on lighthouses two of one is Lighthouse Usk East The

Steel Wave by Peter Fink Fink Peter by Wave Steel The Docks The The City Bridge (SDR) Bridge City The

Redwick Redwick Goldcliff Sea Wall and Priory and Wall Sea Goldcliff

The East Usk Lighthouse Usk East The

The Docks and Uskmouth and Docks The From Redwick to Nash to Redwick From

West Usk Lighthouse to the Wentloog Levels Sites of interest around Newport

Tredegar House Caerleon Wentwood One of the architectural wonders of Wales, Tredegar The Second Roman Wentwood is the largest forest in Wales with a 1000 Newport House is also one of the most significant late 17th- Augustan Legion hectares of continuous woodland and a history www.newport.gov.uk/visiting century mansions in the whole of Britain. It’s a Grade I occupied Caerleon spanning more than 1000 years. It’s home to deer, listed building and is set in its own beautiful 90 acre park. from AD75. What dormouse, adders, lizards and wood ant as well more survives are: sections than 130 species of birds. Walks, bridal paths and Coast Path The Morgan family lived on the site of Tredegar House cycling trails of various lengths are well signposted so from 1402, but the oldest part of the building we see of the fortress wall; that it’s almost impossible to get lost. There are picnic today dates from the late 15th Century. Originally built the amphitheatre areas, BBQ facilities, a children’s play area, an assault of stone, it was substantially rebuilt between 1664 and which once could course and stunning views of the reservoir and of the 1672 in red brick, at that time a rare and expensive seat the whole legion Bristol Channel. building material. – 6,000 spectators; remains of Roman barrack buildings and remnants of Recently the National Trust took on the management The Gout at Peterstone fortress baths which would have been the legionnaires’ of the building, as well as of the gardens and parkland. leisure centre complete with heated changing rooms, a More visitors than ever can now enjoy the splendour of The gout is a simple tidal flap system similar to that pool and a gymnasium. Some people believe Caerleon to the house. used by the Romans nearly 2000 years ago. Fresh water be the location of ’s . from the ditches and reens goes through the sea wall For opening times and more information, at low tide via a flap and out to the sea. When the tide visit www.newport.gov.uk/visiting or refer to comes in, the incoming seawater pushes against the Let’s Walk Newport 5 Lodge Hill Circular Walk flap and closes it. The fresh water on the other side of the wall builds up temporarily in the reens until the tide turns and goes back out. The weight of the fresh water Other Walks then pushes the flap open again – draining out to the The Fourteen Locks Canal Centre celebrates the The Usk Valley Walk A 48 mile (77km) walk between sea until the next high tide. engineering feat of Thomas Dadford in the last years Caerleon and through the beautiful Vale of Usk of the 18th Century. Dadford created a flight of locks will take an average of 4 days to complete. that raised the water level of the Canal The Sirhowy Valley Walk A 26 mile (42km) walk Peterstone Church 160 ft in just 800 yards. This is one of the steepest rises starting at Sirhowy (near Tredegar) and finishing in Britain, and when combined with the sheer number St Peter’s Church at Peterstone Wentloog is now a at Tredegar House in Newport. It passes through of locks in a small area, it becomes one of the most private home though it still looks like an impressive spectacular mountain scenery, upland and lowland The West Usk Lighthouse significant and impressive in the country. 15th Century church. It is thought to have provided farms and urban fringe. The West Usk Lighthouse is on the sea wall south of St a refuge for local folks sheltering from the Bristol For opening times and more information, Brides. It was built in 1821 by Scottish architect, James Channel Flood of 1607. visit www.fourteenlocks.co.uk or refer to There are plans to link both walks to the Coast Path. Walker. It was the first of 22 lighthouses he built. The Let’s Walk Newport 1 Fourteen Locks Circular Walk lighthouse was on its own island up until 1856 when the land around it was reclaimed. It was a working lighthouse warning ships until 1922 when it was decommissioned. Since 1989 The West Usk Lighthouse has been a bed and breakfast.

All information is deemed correct at the time of print. We can not be held responsible for any changes to the walk or points of interest that are featured in this booklet. In case of enquiry regarding content or photography please contact: 01633 656656.