In Newport the Slow Way initially heads towards the river on the road by the station but soon crosses the road and jinks into a pedestrianised world to pick up cycle route 47. Just before you get there switch to the cycle route 88 to Caerleon, which is well signed. The path has a dual carriageway as a neighbour for a while but soon turns away east, using the pavement of a road for a short stretch before heading on a nice, wide (and clearly popular) off-road route round a bend of the muddy lower reaches of the River Usk. At the edge of Caerleon, the Slow Way (and the continuing cycle route 88) uses goes a straight, efficient path by the railway, then takes a bridge over it and makes its way towards town through via the local football ground, passing a secondary school and some Roman remains. On the way through here, the Slow Way departs the cycle route to cross the back of the football pitch on a grassy public footpath but you can just as easily stay on the metalled path and the cycle route and go around the other side of it instead....

Mockymock

There is a really fascinating lighthouse and some small beaches, which are quite rare for this stretch of the Severn Estuary. There are potential small diversions and tweaks either end. For example, the Newport route goes very close to the Transporter Bridge, where the visitor centre is soon to open....

Aled Singleton

This would be a 3 star review had it not been for the coast path beauty making it 4 stars. To the north, coming off Pont Estyll Lane to head through the fields it was unclear which field to take. If you do this, not only do you not get the high coast path views but you have to jump several locked gates and some random cows blocking the way. Ensure you have water for the coast path section as there are no amenities at all...

Jen Shepherd

Loved walking this route! Such great views....

pilea

I walked this route with Justin Rowlatt (the BBC's Climate Editor) for a story about the Slow Ways inter-city that we're working on. Apparently footprints have been found on the shores of the estuary that are about 7,000 years old - so people have been walking Slow Ways along this coast for a long time!...

danravenellison

some paths across open fields between Ridgeway and the M4 underpass but easy to follow....

Tim Ryan

A lovely walk linking the Pontprennau suburbs of Cardiff to the city of Newport, mainly through fields, lanes and the open spaces of Tredegar Park fields. Photo 1 - The path through the fields after leaving the woods by the M4...

Paul Chilcott

It can be difficult to follow the public footpath through the field alongside the Rhymney River section when the crops are at full height (May/June). I'd recommend following the river bank around the edge of the field, with maybe a short detour to view the restored Iron Bridge....

Sally Carter

Walked the coastal section of this route as part of a longer section of the Wales Coast Path walk and the end sections as part of Cardnew1 in November 2022....

Paul Chilcott

A great walk, with some minor navigational / access issues around the Pillgwenlly area, but the main problem was the link between Green Lane / Pont Estyll Lane and St. My alternative was to go back to go back and carry on down Green Lane and turn right on to Lighthouse road, which added about half a mile to the walk, but Lighthouse road is busy and windy and not great to walk on. There is a good stop off point at the pub (The Lighthouse Inn) on the coast on the Lighthouse Park estate, which needs a couple of hundred yards detour from this route (but is right on the Cardnew2 route). Photo 5 - The Wales Coast Path at Lighthouse Park...

Paul Chilcott

The only exception being at the end of the last field leading on to the lane into Bishton, which was completely overgrown, but at least there is a gate close by that can be climbed. Photo 1 - A green lane leading into the fields section after Magor...

Paul Chilcott

Head onto the canal path and just enjoy the view of the canal, or the hills to your right. Head up through the fields following the well maintained path and you eventually come to a built up area of Al-tyr-ryn....

Philip Jones

The first section follows the River Rhymney (Photo 1) for a while, before deviating through the fields and the forestry section. I particularly liked the walk through Rhiwderin village and chose to walk up Tredegar street (Photo 2), which is a car-free residential street - a nice sight to behold....

Paul Chilcott

No real comments to add from the last review although the long straight stretch south of Rogiet is very long and uninspiring! Mostly all easy to follow and some nice views. No access problems from memory....

Jen Shepherd

The only significant issue is a fairly large stretch of byway that has not been properly maintained making it unusable within the route, however by surveying the map alternative ways to go to get back on the route can be found without too much issue....

Bailey Semmens

Leaving the centre of Caerleon, the path winds its way through a couple of suburban streets before crossing a bridge over the railway line and then running alongside it past a housing estate and the River Usk flood plain until the railway crosses the river....

Paul Chilcott

From there, it`s quite a steep track down to the bottom of the locks where the path goes under the M4 motorway....

Paul Chilcott

Apart from one short stretch of 100 metres or so, the canal is continuous from Cwmbran to its end at the outskirts of Newport....

Paul Chilcott

Most of this route is fine, but there's currently no access along the Ebbw River path from Rogerstone Welfare Ground to the footbridge at Jubilee Park (due to erosion). Dranew3 shows a detour....

MaddyT

Although there's a pavement all the way, much of it is narrow and right next to the road....

MaddyT

This is a good route through fields and woods (Draethen to Rhiwderin) - paths are mostly well-marked. If walking from Newport, at Ty’n-y-ffynnon Farm (as you cross the A468) there’s no footpath sign until you reach the gate by the house. NB: Between the canal and Rogerstone, join/leave the canal via Groes Rd....

MaddyT

Most of this route is fine but there are access issues at: 1) Pontprennau - the footpath alongside the A4232 is no longer in use 2) Around Home Farm - better to stay on the road/track...

MaddyT

This route is fairly easy to navigate: paved paths through parks in Newport and well-marked footpaths. There’s a long stretch of quiet road SW of Bassaleg - I saw more cyclists and horse riders than cars. In Pontprennau, use the path around the side of B&Q....

MaddyT

I’ve uploaded an improved version of this walk - see Newcal 5. I experienced a couple of access problems with Newcal 4:. 1) Coming from Newport, the path into Llanwern was blocked by a construction site. Access may be reinstated when the new housing is finished, but in Sep 2021 the route was impassable. 2) The footpath east of Bishton was totally overgrown (despite being clearly signposted from the village)...

MaddyT

Getting a bus from Friars Walk bus station to Ringland shortens the walk through Newport. Magor is good for a refreshment break....

MaddyT

Overall a really good route between Cardiff and Newport! - The route is pretty varied, and Cardiff and Newport are fantastic and interesting end points with lots to explore. There's a chance on Lamby Way to divert onto a parallel path; the Slow Way route isn't quite plotted that way, but take the parallel path. At the Church after turning away from the Welsh Coast Path, the Slow Way route has you walking through the churchyard....

mtormey

By canal side footpath and suburban roads ; steepish descent to Newport Railway Station. Fourteen Locks Canal Centre is a good place to stop for refreshments. It is of historic transport interest...

Andrew Hemmings