The
River Usk rises in the Carmarthen Fans
mountainA mountain is a large landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area usually in the form of a peak. A mountain is generally steeper than a hill. The adjective montane is used to describe mountainous areas and things associated with them...
s or
Fan Brycheiniog|}Fan Brycheiniog is a mountain in the Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales. The peak is also within the Fforest Fawr Geopark designated in 2005 in recognition of the area's geological heritage....
of mid-
WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
, in the westernmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park then flows south-east through
BreconBrecon is a long-established market town in southern Powys, mid Wales, with a population of roughly 8,000 with around 6,000 in the surrounding area...
,
CrickhowellCrickhowell is a small town in Powys, Mid Wales.- Location :The name Crickhowell is taken from that of the nearby Iron Age hill fort of Crug Hywel above the town, the Welsh language name being anglicised by map-makers and local English-speaking people...
,
AbergavennyAbergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales.It is located 24 km west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 10 km from the English border within the Welsh Marches...
and the eponymous town of
UskUsk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.Usk is noted for its rural setting, tranquil lifestyle and quality of life. It feels more like a village than a town. The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at...
past the
Roman legionThe Roman legion is a term that can apply both as a translation of legio to the entire Roman army and also, more narrowly , to the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of the ancient Roman army in the period of the late Roman Republic and the...
ary fortress of
CaerleonCaerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales.It is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress and an Iron Age hill fort...
, through the heart of
NewportNewport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff, and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
and into the Severn estuary at
UskmouthUskmouth is an area to the south of the city of Newport, South Wales.- Location :Uskmouth is effectively in the west of the village of Nash...
beyond Newport.
The whole river has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The
River Usk rises in the Carmarthen Fans
mountainA mountain is a large landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area usually in the form of a peak. A mountain is generally steeper than a hill. The adjective montane is used to describe mountainous areas and things associated with them...
s or
Fan Brycheiniog|}Fan Brycheiniog is a mountain in the Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales. The peak is also within the Fforest Fawr Geopark designated in 2005 in recognition of the area's geological heritage....
of mid-
WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
, in the westernmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park then flows south-east through
BreconBrecon is a long-established market town in southern Powys, mid Wales, with a population of roughly 8,000 with around 6,000 in the surrounding area...
,
CrickhowellCrickhowell is a small town in Powys, Mid Wales.- Location :The name Crickhowell is taken from that of the nearby Iron Age hill fort of Crug Hywel above the town, the Welsh language name being anglicised by map-makers and local English-speaking people...
,
AbergavennyAbergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales.It is located 24 km west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 10 km from the English border within the Welsh Marches...
and the eponymous town of
UskUsk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.Usk is noted for its rural setting, tranquil lifestyle and quality of life. It feels more like a village than a town. The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at...
past the
Roman legionThe Roman legion is a term that can apply both as a translation of legio to the entire Roman army and also, more narrowly , to the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of the ancient Roman army in the period of the late Roman Republic and the...
ary fortress of
CaerleonCaerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales.It is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress and an Iron Age hill fort...
, through the heart of
NewportNewport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff, and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
and into the Severn estuary at
UskmouthUskmouth is an area to the south of the city of Newport, South Wales.- Location :Uskmouth is effectively in the west of the village of Nash...
beyond Newport.
Environmental significance
The whole river has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It contains
estuaryAn estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries are thus subject to both marine influences, such as tides, waves, and the influx of saline water; and riverine influences, such as flows of...
with
mudflatMudflats are coastal wetlands that form when mud is deposited by tides or rivers. They are found in sheltered areas such as bays, bayous, lagoons, and estuaries. Mudflats may be viewed geologically as exposed layers of bay mud, resulting from deposition of estuarine silts, clays and marine animal...
s and salt marsh,
lagoonA lagoon is a body of comparatively shallow salt or brackish water separated from the deeper sea by a shallow or exposed sandbank, coral reef, or similar feature. Thus, the enclosed body of water behind a barrier reef or barrier islands or enclosed by an atoll reef is called a lagoon. This...
s,
bogA bog or mire is a wetland type that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—usually mosses, but also lichens in Arctic climates....
and marsh, varied
grasslandGrasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
and
woodlandEcologically, a woodland is an area covered in trees, usually at low density, forming an open habitat, allowing sunlight to penetrate between the trees, and limiting shade. Woodland may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to...
habitats along its course. Its flora and fauna is diverse and includes
salmonAtlantic salmon, known scientifically as Salmo salar, is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic and the north Pacific....
,
troutThe brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
, otters,
twaiteThe twait shad or twaite shad is a species of fish in the Clupeidae family. It is found in Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Morocco, the...
,
shadThe shads or river herrings comprise the genus Alosa, fish related to herring in the family Clupeidae. They are distinct from others in that family by having a deeper body and spawning in rivers. The several species frequent different areas on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and in the...
,
lampreyA lamprey is a parasitic marine animal with a toothed, funnel-like sucking mouth. Translated directly, their name means stone lickers . While lampreys are well known for those species which bore into the flesh of other fish to suck their blood, these species make up the minority...
,
perchThe European perch is a highly predatory species of perch found in Europe and Asia. In some areas it is known as the redfin perch or English perch, and it is often referred to by the shortform perch. The species is very popular and has been widely introduced beyond its native area, into Australia,...
,
sea troutThe brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
, chub,
daceThe Common Dace , also known as the Dare or the Dart, is a freshwater or brackish fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae. It is an inhabitant of the rivers and streams of Europe north of the Alps as well as in Asia, but it is most abundant in those of France and Germany, as well as having spread...
and
roachThe Common Roach is a freshwater and brackish water fish native to most of Europe and western Asia...
as well as kingfishers, herons and other wildfowl and bird life.
DipperDippers are members of the genus Cinclus in the bird family Cinclidae. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements. They are unique among passerines for their ability to dive and swim underwater.-Description:...
s can be seen upriver along with
red kiteThe Red Kite is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. The species is currently endemic to the Western Palearctic region in Europe and northwest Africa, though formerly also occurred just outside...
.
The Usk has long been a noted salmon and trout fishing river. Salmon of over can still be caught. The river has the highest estimated salmon egg deposition of any river south of Cumbria and the Scottish rivers, and exceeded its spawning target. The river has recently been rated as the best
fly fishingFly fishing is a distinct and ancient angling method, most renowned as a method for catching trout and salmon, but employed today for a wide variety of species including pike, bass, panfish, grayling and carp, as well as marine species, such as redfish, snook, tarpon, bonefish and striped bass...
water in Wales for salmon and inside the UK Top Ten.
The Normal Tidal Limit (NTL) of the river is the bridge at
Newbridge-on-UskNewbridge on Usk is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, in the United Kingdom.- Location :Newbridge on Usk is located on the River Usk five miles to the north of Newport in the Vale of Usk.- History & Amenities :...
, some five miles north of Newport.
In history and legend
The River Usk has played an important role both in the history of
South WalesSouth Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, and features in some local folk-tales.
Historically, the tidal reaches of the Usk has been used as a major shipping port for much of the last millennium, mostly because of its wide and deep mouth, and good navigable access from the
Severn estuaryThe Severn Estuary is the estuary of the River Severn, the longest river in Great Britain. Its high tidal range means it has been at the centre of discussions in the UK regarding renewable energy.-Geography:...
and the
Bristol ChannelThe Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England, and extending from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
and thence access to home waters and further overseas.
Evidence of the Usk's long-standing use in transport and trade came in the form of the remains of the
Newport shipThe Newport ship is a fifteenth-century sailing vessel discovered by archaeologists in June 2002 in the city of Newport, South Wales. It was found on the west bank of the River Usk, which runs through the city centre, during the building of the Riverfront Arts Centre; from which process it...
which were unearthed in July 2002. The medieval ship, dated to around 1465, was most likely a trading ship, and may have sailed around much of Europe and beyond in its lifetime. Its presence in the Usk has confirmed what an important trading route the Usk must have provided to the many towns and villages along its route.
The Usk has also played a role in many local legends. The Medieval Latin text
The Rise of Gawain, Nephew of ArthurThe Rise of Gawain, Nephew of Arthur is an anonymous Medieval Latin romance dating to the 12th or 13th century. An Arthurian tale, it describes the birth, boyhood deeds, and early adventures of King Arthur's nephew Gawain...
recounts a humorous tale in which an incognito
GawainGawain is King Arthur's nephew and a Knight of the Round Table who appears very early in the Arthurian legend's development. He is one of a select number of Round Table members to be referred to as the greatest knight, most notably in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight...
pushes his uncle
King ArthurKing Arthur is a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defense of Britain against the Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and his historical existence is debated...
into the Usk, and is then forced to explain to his wife
GwendoloenaGuinevere was the legendary queen consort of King Arthur. She was most famous for her love affair with Arthur's chief knight Sir Lancelot, which first appears in Chrétien de Troyes' Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart...
(Guinevere) why he is so wet.
Geoffrey of MonmouthGeoffrey of Monmouth was a British clergyman and one of the major figures in the development of British history and the popularity of tales of King Arthur...
writes of
CaerleonCaerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales.It is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress and an Iron Age hill fort...
in the mid 12th century:
For it was located in a delightful spot in GlamorganGlamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying names and boundaries until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three preserved...
, on the River Usk, not far from the Severn SeaThe Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England, and extending from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
. Abounding in wealth more than other cities, it was suited for such a ceremony. For the noble river I have named flows along it on one side, upon which the kings and princes who would be coming from overseas could be carried by ship." (Historia Regum BritanniaeThe Historia Regum Britanniae is a pseudohistorical account of British history, written c. 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth. It chronicles the lives of the kings of the Britons in a chronological narrative spanning a time of two thousand years, beginning with the Trojans founding the British nation...
"History of the Kings of Britain")
It is not until the 13th century
FrenchFrench is a Romance language globally spoken by about 65 million people as a first language , by 50 million as a second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired foreign language, with significant speakers in 57 countries. Most native speakers of the language live in France,...
prose romances that
CamelotCamelot is the most famous castle and court associated with the legendary King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and eventually came to be described as the fantastic capital of Arthur's realm and a symbol of the fabulous Arthurian...
began to supersede Caerleon, and even then, many descriptive details applied to Camelot derive from Geoffrey's earlier grand depiction of the Welsh town."
The valley of the Usk contains many sites of archaeological significance from
prehistoryPrehistory is a term used to describe the period before recorded history. Paul Tournal originally coined the term Pré-historique in describing the finds he had made in the caves of southern France...
and the valley has long been a trade route, settlement area and suitable avenue into Wales for successive invaders such as the
RomansAncient Rome was a civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea, it became one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
and
NormansThe Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. They descended from Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of mostly Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
.
The
Newport Transporter BridgeThe Newport Transporter Bridge is a crossing of the River Usk in Newport, Wales. It is a Grade I listed structure. Designed by French engineer Ferdinand Arnodin, it was built in 1906 and opened by Godfrey Charles Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar on 12 September 1906. The span is an example of the very...
across the river is the longest surviving
transporter bridgeA transporter bridge is a type of movable bridge that carries a segment of roadway across a river. The gondola is slung from a tall span by wires or a metal frame. The design has been used to cross navigable rivers or other bodies of water, where there is a requirement for ship traffic to be...
in the world.
External links