Wye Valley & Vale of Usk 2009

Wye Valley & Vale of Usk

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Chef Matt Tebbutt’s Perfect Day Out Best food & drink in Wales Luxury on a budget Rossini’s Cinderella in a pub Ryder Cup preparations Olympic hopeful Rebecca James Visitor Guide 2009

Monmouthshire & Newport visitwyevalley.com

Wye Valley & Vale of Usk

the perfect day starts with the perfect place To find that perfect place you need the very best advice, so you seek out the experts. And there’s no shortage of them in the Wye Valley & Vale of Usk. After all, this is where British tourism began. From locals who are passionate about their patch, to others who have a real fondness for the delights they find here. They’ll wax lyrical about the popular tourist spots and the picture-postcard views. They‘ll also reveal things you’d never find in a guide book.

So, what’s your perfect day out in the Wye Valley & Vale of Usk?

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Tristan Blanchard

David Broome

Laura Tenison

Alison Tod

Melanie C

Visitor Information Adviser, Monmouth Tourist Information Centre “I’d spend the whole day sitting on the banks of the Wye at Redbrook, fishing for Shad. They’re also called Mayfish because that’s the time of year they arrive in our rivers. And I’d enjoy a pint of good ale, like Humpty’s Fuddle from Kingstone Brewery.”

Olympic showjumper “The beauty of the Wye Valley is unforgettable from my school days in Monmouth. And my wife accepted my proposal of marriage by Tintern Abbey! Now, having travelled the world, I know that nowhere compares to the River Wye for a spot of canoeing followed by a delicious pub lunch.”

Founder of maternity and childrenswear company JoJo Maman Bébé “I’d climb the Skirrid with my family on a bright, crisp winter’s day. After an hour’s brisk walk we’d reach the summit and point out all we could see. Then, a quick sprint back down and off to The Bell at Skenfrith for Bloody Marys in front of the roaring log fire and adventures for the children in the castle across the road.”

Couture milliner “It would definitely involve going up a mountain.

Perhaps the Blorenge, starting at the boathouse in Llanfoist on the Mon & Brec canal. I spent my childhood here surrounded by trees and hydrangeas.

Then I’d nip down to Abergavenny and browse in The Art Shop before relaxing with traditional afternoon tea at The Angel, where they put any leftover cakes into a box tied with ribbon for you to take home – it’s delightful!”

Former Spice Girl, now local resident “I’d go for a wonderful walk in the Wye Valley alongside the green blue waters of the river. The changing colours of the seasons always make for an inspiring day out.

Following the ancient pathways of Offa’s Dyke or the Wye Valley Walk, with a climb up the valley sides to Devil’s Pulpit for a magnificent vista of Tintern Abbey, earns you a hearty pub lunch back in Tintern at The Anchor or tea and teacakes at Abbey Mill.”

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The Sugarloaf, one of many perfect places

Owen Sheers

Fay Mansell

Franco Taruschio OBE

Gareth David-Lloyd

Matt Tebbutt

Author and poet “Firstly I’d need more than 24 hours in the day! I’d go for a morning ride through the green lanes around Abergavenny then call into the town’s produce market to buy supplies for a walk up from the Llanthony Valley along Offa’s Dyke.

To recover, I’d sit beside the fire in the Skirrid Inn, reading the papers. In the evening, dinner in one of the area’s many excellent restaurants (The Hardwick, The Bell, The Walnut Tree), knowing that much of what is put on the table has come from farms just down the road, followed by a few pints with old school friends from Abergavenny in the Hen and Chicks.”

Chair of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes “I find the fresh breeze, stunning views and challenge of the Three Castles Walk – a 19-mile circular walk near Abergavenny – combined with a visit to a local inn, are the perfect antidote to London, travelling and chairing meetings!”

Chef and former patron of The Walnut Tree “White Castle is nestled in a secluded spot of great beauty about 7 miles from Abergavenny. I have lost count of how many times I have visited this castle, of Norman origins, linked with Skenfrith and Grosmont but by far the most impressive of the three. I never tire of going there; the views from the ramparts never cease to excite me. To me it is a little gem of a castle.

Apparently Rudolph Hess liked to walk there daily when he was a prisoner of war in nearby Maindiff Court!”

Ianto Jones in Torchwood “It’d be a trip to the Goose and Cuckoo at Llanover, near Goytre.

It’s a beautiful pub in the hills, very picturesque and perfect for walkers. It’s ideal for taking dogs – I take my two with me – and it has gorgeous guest ales and a friendly family atmosphere. The pub holds Blues Days (and I’ve performed there with my band Blue Gillespie). It’s a spectacular setting and probably the only place that you can be standing alongside a goat listening to live bands with a beer in your hand.”

Chef proprietor of The Foxhunter, Nantyderry and presenter of Market Kitchen on UKTV Food “I‘d like to combine a walk with foraging for wild foods for the restaurant. So it’d have to be late summer on the Blorenge, starting from Goytre Wharf on the canal, to pick wild whimberries while getting magnificent views of the Sugarloaf and the Usk valley. In Autumn, I’d choose the Kymin - a great spot for wild mushrooms and similarly spectacular views over Monmouth.”

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Wye Valley & Vale of Usk

news The best in Welsh food and drink is here!

£2.8M to improve historic Wye Valley sites

It’s official – the very best in Welsh food and drink can be found right here in the Wye Valley & Vale of Usk! Named Food Tourism Destination in the True Taste Wales Food & Drink Awards 08/09, Monmouthshire has a prolific number of outstanding food and drink producers. And, for the past decade, Abergavenny Food Festival has drawn culinary experts from all over Britain to this ‘foodie capital’ every September. The area’s longstanding reputation for fine restaurants started back in the 1960s with Franco Taruschio at The Walnut Tree.

Today it boasts the likes of The Crown at Whitebrook, one of only two restaurants in Wales to boast a Michelin star, The Hardwick, near Abergavenny, run by Great British Menu chef Stephen Terry, Matt Tebbutt’s The Foxhunter, at Nantyderry and The Walnut Tree, AA Restaurant of the Year 2008, which has entered a new chapter with Shaun Hill at the helm. The Awards also proved a great success for several local food producers who picked up individual medals. Details of local winning products and outlets can be found on page 33. Be sure to try some while you’re here.

Visitors to Abbey Mill in Tintern can see the restored waterwheel once again powered by water, after it lay in a state of disrepair for over 30 years. Dating back to 1131 when it was the original mill for Tintern Abbey, this site has evolved over the years becoming a corn mill, woollen mill, saw mill and even a wire works. The waterwheel was recently brought back into full working order as part of the £2.8M Overlooking the Wye scheme which is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund within the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Over 40 projects, including conservation work, access improvements and new trails between heritage sites and local businesses, will be undertaken by 2011 to help increase visitors’ enjoyment of the Wye Valley. wyevalleyaonb.org.uk

From left to right: Welsh lamb, The Crown at Whitebrook Abbey Mill waterwheel starts its journey to restoration Dragon boat race on the River Wye

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Eventful Bigger and brighter than ever, the “What’s On” guide is indispensable for visitors wanting to make the most of their stay in the Wye Valley & Vale of Usk. “We want visitors to experience the wealth of festivals and events which take place across the region, throughout the year,” says Nicola Smith, Principal Tourism Officer.

“What’s On” provides everything you need to know in a colourful, compact publication.

Produced in March and July, it’s the ideal travel companion. And for stop press events, check www.visitwyevalley.com before you travel. Order your FREE copy now by emailing tourism@monmouthshire.gov.uk, calling the 24-hour brochure line +44 (0)1633 644842 or returning the FREEPOST form on page 53 of this guide.

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Wye Tour exhibition at Chepstow Museum A new, permanent exhibition about the ‘Picturesque’ Wye Tour opens in Chepstow Museum in 2009. Its centrepiece is a reconstruction of a Wye Tour boat with one side cut away so that visitors can enter it. A Claude glass, sketch book, watercolours and picnic hamper, along with other objects which 18th century tourists would have taken with them, also feature in the exhibition. monmouthshire.gov.uk

Tithe Barn

Mon & Brec re-opens to boats

A 900-year-old Tithe Barn, believed to be the oldest of its kind in Wales, has been transformed into Abergavenny’s newest visitor attraction. Officially opened last October by HRH The Prince of Wales, the Tithe Barn explores a thousand years of Abergavenny’s history through an interactive exhibition and a 24-foot long tapestry which took 60 volunteers almost four years to hand-stitch! Originally built to house the taxes (called ‘tithes’) paid by the local community to the monks of St Mary’s Priory, it was used as a theatre in the 17th century and a discotheque and carpet warehouse in the 20th century. stmarys-priory.org

Considered by many to be Britain’s most picturesque waterway, the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal re-opens to boats in spring 2009, following a £7.5M refurbishment. Meandering south from Brecon to Cwmbran, the 35 miles of navigable waterway, with just 6 locks, is perfect for a week-long boating holiday or for hiring a boat or a canoe for the day. Much of the canal lies within the Brecon Beacons National Park and its tranquil, leafy waterside is popular with walkers, anglers and cyclists.

It also passes through Blaenavon World Heritage Site, filled with fascinating relics from the Industrial Revolution, including Goytre Wharf, south of Abergavenny. waterscape.com

© Chepstow Museum

From left to right: Chepstow Museum A Wye Tour journal by Anne Cooper from 1786 Mon & Brec Canal HRH The Prince of Wales opens the Tithe Barn

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Wye Valley & Vale of Usk

Matt Tebbutt

we don’t need to shout about our food and drink It’s best kept quiet. Small-scale.

Artisan. Dedicated. Hands-on.

We like it this way.

It’s something really special; we’ve known it for decades. Our farming tradition and rich heritage of food and drink production means we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to quenching our thirst and filling our plate.

Word has got out now. The accolades have been pouring in over recent years…. from the people at Michelin, AA, Great Taste,

CAMRA Good Beer Guide, True Taste Wales, Wine Spectator, Good Food Guide, Tea Guild and others. And now Monmouthshire is officially the top Food Tourism Destination in Wales. It’s still the same to us, with or without the titles. We continue to respect the land and enjoy our food, our way of life.

We leave the shouting to others.

“the most democratic of festivals, the most easygoing, the most celebratory”, Matthew Fort of The Guardian describing Abergavenny Food Festival 6

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people

It all started with one Franco Taruschio, back in the 1960s, opening a small restaurant called The Walnut Tree, near Abergavenny.

Unknowingly, his skills put the area on the culinary map.

Now, excellent chefs are all over the place:

Matt Tebbutt at The Foxhunter, Nantyderry (and presenter of UKTV’s Market Kitchen) James Sommerin at the Michelin-starred The Crown at Whitebrook Great British Menu’s Stephen Terry at The Hardwick, near Abergavenny Editor’s Choice Award for Best Use of Local Produce in the Good Food Guide 2009

Simon Newcombe at The Chandlery in Newport, regional winner of the True Taste Wales Eating Out Award 2008 Meanwhile, The Walnut Tree has entered a new chapter with Shaun Hill at the helm and is already AA Restaurant of the Year for Wales 2008.

From left to right: Franco Taruschio Shaun Hill

Don’t expect just leeks and lamb; there’s everything from breads, cheeses and ice cream to handmade chocolates and salami!

pubs The area has over 30 pubs recommended in the Good Beer Guide 2009 and The Castle Inn, Caldicot, picked up the Wales Pub of the Year award for the second year running at the British Pub Awards.

produce

pick your own

Farmers’ Markets are thriving in Abergavenny, Chepstow, Monmouth, Newport and Usk. Check out the dates on fmiw.co.uk.

Other stockists include Berry Hill Fruit Farm in Coedkernew, near Newport Sugar Loaf Food Hall at Raglan Garden Centre Newhall Farm Shop at Chepstow Garden Centre Meadow Farm Shop in Tintern Deli-delicious and the Tithe Barn in Abergavenny.

Abergavenny area: Llanvihangel Crucorney Fruit Farm +44 (0)1873 855558 Tredilion Fruit Farm +44 (0)1873 854355 Glan Usk Farm +44 (0)1873 880599 Newport area: Berry Hill Fruit Farm, Coedkernew, as featured in Rick Stein’s Food Heroes berryhillfruitfarm.co.uk

picnics We’ve taken picnicking very seriously for years.

In fact, the Round House on the Kymin was built in 1794 by the Monmouth Picnic Club to provide a breathtaking spot for lunch, overlooking this border town. Nelson stopped off there during his visit in 1802. And last year, the general public voted Tintern Abbey the winner of Warburtons Best Picnic Site Award for Wales.

diary dates

23-25 May Welsh Perry & Cider Festival welshcider.co.uk

20 June Cooking on the Hill Day class with Franco Taruschio and Lindy Wildsmith conferencecentrewales.co.uk

19-20 September Abergavenny Food Festival abergavennyfoodfestival.com 7

Wye Valley & Vale of Usk

caroline

maria

adrianne

steve

gardener

teacher

RSPB officer

bank manager

For a potted version of all that happens in this verdant landscape, spend the entire day at one of our country shows, an eclectic mix of livestock, traditional crafts, prize vegetables and homemade jam.

diary dates 8

1 August Llanthony Valley & District Show llanthonyshow.co.uk

8 August Chepstow Show chepstowshow.co.uk

12 August St Mellon’s Agricultural Show stmellonsshow.org.uk

27 August Monmouthshire Show monmouthshow.co.uk

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a flock of birdwatchers That’s what you’d expect to find at the recently opened, 439-hectare Newport Wetlands.

After all, the starling roost is a real spectacle; from October onwards around 50,000 chattering starlings gather at dusk, swooping and soaring in great black clouds. And it’s one of the few places where you’re likely to spot a lone bittern. Not to mention the bearded tits, little egrets and dunlins.

But it’s far more than that. It’s a photographer’s perfect composition.

A classroom for learning about moths.

A pond for dipping in. An estuary for strolling along. And a coffee stop on that Sunday afternoon drive.

Newport Wetlands attracts all sorts.

A menagerie of visitors and an unlikely set of staff. Adrianne Jones looks after the 40-odd volunteers who help out on the reserve. “Since opening in 2008 we’ve had no shortage of help - and very few of the volunteers are twitchers,” says Adrianne.

“In fact, Maria, who helps out in the café, is a primary school teacher, Caroline, who looks after our wormery, is a gardener and Steve, our handyman, is a bank manager who likes to get away from his desk! We all love it here. Each for a different reason.”

Similarly, you’ll find more than enough room for everyone at Wentwood Forest, north-east of Newport.

Although only a remnant of a vast forest that once stretched from the River Usk to the River Wye, it is still one of the largest ancient woodlands in the UK. It offers delightful walks, great views, picnic and barbecue facilities and mountain bike trails.

“Saving Wentwood for the nation is a remarkable achievement... it will help secure the future of many threatened wildlife species and provide a wonderful place for people to visit.”

And if fly fishing is your thing, you’ll enjoy our rivers even more after a visit to the tiny Sweet’s Fishing Tackle shop in Usk, where owner Jean Williams ties the unique Usk Grub fly.

Described by flyfishing writer Jon Beer as “just the nicest tackle shop in the world ”, it’s been an important place for anglers for over a hundred years!

Dame Judi Dench, commenting after a successful public appeal enabled the Woodland Trust to purchase part of this ancient woodland.

If you like to get close up to nature, try one of Gwent Wildlife Trust’s hands-on events, such as moth trapping, dry-stone walling or hedgelaying.

Make a day of it On a clear day, park at Lower Wyncliffe car park 3 miles north of Chepstow and climb to the Eagle’s Nest, up the ‘365 steps’ cut into the rock in 1828 as a tourist attraction. It’s easier than it sounds - there are only 300 steps now.

And the panoramic views are worth every step. After lunch at the Old Station, just north of Tintern, enjoy a leisurely afternoon exploring Tintern’s many treasures. wyevalleyaonb.org.uk | tintern.org.uk 31 August Shire Horse Show, Abergavenny swshs.org.uk

12 September Usk Show uskshow.co.uk

explore

cwmhedd.co.uk gwentwildlife.org rspb.org.uk

wentwoodforest.org.uk wyeuskfoundation.org

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Wye Valley & Vale of Usk BC

1st –11th centuries

World

c.550 Confucius born

c.700 Gunpowder developed in China

UK

c.500 - 100 The Celts started to arrive in Britain. The language of most of Britain was derived from a branch of Celtic known as Brythonic; it later gave rise to Welsh, Cornish and Breton.

c.43 The Romans invaded Britain and ruled until the 5th century.

Late Mesolithic human footprints, around 6,500 years old, have been found preserved in clay along the Gwent Levels, near Newport.

c.75AD The Romans built a huge fortress at Caerleon that would guard this region, the furthest outpost of the Roman Empire, for over 200 years. Called Isca, it was one of only three permanent fortresses in Roman Britain.

Extensive remains, including the most complete amphitheatre in Britain, the only Roman Legionary barracks visible in Europe, together with The National Roman Legion Museum make Caerleon a great day out. caerleon.net

Wye Valley & Vale of Usk

Trellech

The small village of Trellech, south of Monmouth, probably takes its name from three standing stones - ‘tri’ meaning three and ‘llech’ meaning flat stone. Known locally as Harold’s Stones, they date back 3,500 years and feature on the remarkable sundial, now in the village church.

Other interesting features are The Virtuous Well and Tump Turret, possibly the site of a Norman castle.

Unbelievably, Trellech was the largest mediaeval city in Wales and, at that time, was approximately a quarter of the size of London. Excavations of the remains continue today. lostcityoftrellech.co.uk

13th century

1170 Assassination of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury

1215 King John signed the Magna Carta

1110 One John Crowther, was tried for sheep stealing, found guilty and hung from a beam in the Skirrid Inn at Llanvihangel Crucorney, which is said to be Wales’ oldest inn. The tradition of trials at the inn continued for centuries and, whilst the current building is Elizabethan, marks from the many hangings can still be seen in the wooden beams. skirridmountaininn.co.uk

Stone bridge built over the River Monnow. It is the only preserved bridge of its design remaining in Britain. By the 13th century a vast number of castles had been established by the Norman Lords. Over twenty are still standing, some in ruins, some restored. cadw.wales.gov.uk

1066 Battle of Hastings 1086 Domesday Book completed

c.784 Construction of Offa’s Dyke began. This massive linear earthwork was erected during the reign of King Offa and roughly follows the Wales/ England border. A designated National Trail (177 miles) now runs along it from Chepstow to Prestatyn. offasdyke.demon.co.uk 1067 The building of Chepstow Castle commenced.

It was the first stone built castle in Wales and is now the oldest surviving stone fortification in Britain. cadw.wales.gov.uk

Caerleon

how we helped to shape the world 10

12th century

1113 Llanthony Priory was founded by the Augustinians in the secluded Vale of Ewyas.

A victim of Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries, today it stands as a majestic ruin in a wild and beautiful spot popular with walkers and pony-trekkers. cadw.wales.gov.uk 1133 Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote his Historia Regium Britanniae in which he described how King Arthur held court at Caerleon. It was to set writers weaving new versions of the legend right across Europe. legendofkingarthur.co.uk 1175 The infamous Christmas Day massacre took place at Abergavenny Castle when the Norman Lord William de Braose invited the local Welsh chieftains to dinner only to have them killed. William Camden, the 16th-century antiquary, said that Abergavenny Castle ‘has been oftner stain’d with the infamy of treachery than any other castle in Wales’. abergavennymuseum.co.uk 1188 Gerald of Wales toured Wales including the Black Mountains and wrote a vivid account of his travels. Giraldus Cambrensis, as he is often known, was arguably Britain’s first travel writer.

Monnow Bridge

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14th century

15th century

16th century

17th century

1337 Hundred Years War began and lasted until 1453

1431 Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.

1517 Martin Luther sparked Protestant reformation in Germany.

1620 Pilgrims in the ‘Mayflower’ land in Massachusetts

1490 Leonardo da Vinci sketched a design for a helicopter.

1348 -1350 Black Death

1485 Henry VII crowned, after winning the battle of Bosworth which ended the Wars of the Roses.

18th century

1588 Spanish Armada defeated

1536 Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII.

1605 Gunpowder Plot 1642 Civil War starts.

Ends in 1649 with execution of Charles I.

1750 Industrial Revolution begins

1665 Great Plague 1666 Great Fire of London

1387 Henry V was born at Monmouth Castle.

Archers from south east Wales helped Henry V to win the battle of Agincourt. The main square in Monmouth is now called Agincourt Square. monmouth.org.uk

A magnificent carved Jesse Tree was created from a single piece of oak. Somehow it survived the excesses of the Reformation and the Civil War. Today the carving of Jesse, which formed the base of the Jesse Tree, is now in St Mary’s Priory Church, Abergavenny, along with a wealth of early ornate tombs and monuments. In 2001/2 it formed the centrepiece of the Tate Britain exhibition ‘Image and Idol’. Tate Britain described it as ‘the largest and most impressive example of wooden sculpture surviving from the fifteenth century’. stmarys-priory.org

1568 The first brass made in Britain was made at Abbey Forge, Tintern. For the next 300 years there were numerous wire works and forges along the nearby Angiddy valley and, in 1866, the first transatlantic cable was produced here. tintern.org.uk

The area around Abergavenny, with many influential Catholic landowners including the Gunters, became a hotbed of Catholicism during a staunchly Protestant period.

Set in a beautiful 90 acre park in Newport, Tredegar House is one of the best examples of a 17th century Charles II mansion in Britain. The Morgan family, later Lords Tredegar, lived on this site from 1402 for over 500 years. newport.gov.uk/visiting

1779 Nathaniel Wells was born in St Kitts, the son of a white plantation owner originally from Cardiff and one of his black slaves. Sent to Wales to be educated, he became a wealthy landowner, magistrate, Britain’s first black Sheriff and the richest black man in Britain.

He remained a plantation owner and slave owner until emancipation was enacted in St Kitts in 1833 and was compensated financially

by HM Treasury. His estate is now the home of Chepstow Racecourse. monmouthshire.gov.uk

Nathaniel Wells’ estate, Piercefield

Jesse

Tredegar House

cont.

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Wye Valley & Vale of Usk

18th century

19th century

World

1783 American independence recognised by Peace of Versailles

1815 A huge volcanic eruption in Indonesia affected the global climate; the following year became known as the ‘Year Without a Summer’.

1845-49 Irish potato famine kills more than 1 million people.

1869 Suez Canal opened

1801 First British census

1833 Abolition of slavery throughout British Empire

1871 Trade unions legalised

1839 Chartist uprising in Newport, demanding voting reforms. The leaders, John Frost, William Jones and Zephaniah Williams were tried at Monmouth’s Shire Hall (currently being restored to open in 2010) early in 1840 and then transported from Chepstow to Van Diemen’s Land (modern Tasmania). Chartists in Britain continued to campaign for their release. Eventually they were pardoned and John Frost returned to Britain, living until the age of 97. For events commemorating the 170th anniversary of the uprising see chartistnewport.org

1860 Big Pit opened in Blaenavon and continued producing coal until 1980.

It is now Big Pit National Coal Museum of Wales and the main attraction within Blaenavon World Heritage Site.The guided underground tour is led by ex-miners and the Pithead Baths house a fascinating exhibition about the life of a coal miner. museumwales.ac.uk

1789 French Revolution

UK

Wye Valley & Vale of Usk

1805 Nelson killed in battle of Trafalgar

1782 William Gilpin’s Observations on the River Wye and Several Parts of South Wales was published. Effectively the first tour guide in Britain, it led to a huge increase in people visiting the Wye Valley by boat. Tintern Abbey, built

by Cistercian monks in 1131, became the architectural highlight of the ‘Picturesque’ Wye Tour when the Duke of Beaufort cleared the interior of the Abbey and laid a lawn to make it easier for visitors to view the ruins. Once the railway arrived in 1876, Tintern became even more accessible and in the 1880s it was not uncommon for over a thousand people to arrive by train on September evenings to view the harvest moon rising through the Abbey’s rose window. wyetour.adventa.org.uk

1802 Nelson visited Monmouth with Lady Hamilton 1812 The Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal joined with the Monmouthshire Canal to form one waterway, over 52 miles long. It linked with over 200 miles of horse-drawn tramroads to convey coal, iron and limestone to the busy port of Newport and other towns in South Wales and the Midlands.

1823 Alfred Russel Wallace naturalist, explorer, geographer, anthropologist and biologist was born in Llanbadoc, near Usk. He independently proposed the theory of natural selection which prompted Charles Darwin to publish his.

1845 Henry Jones, originally from Monmouth and with a bakery in Bristol, was granted a patent for self-raising flour.

Its runaway success led to him being appointed purveyor of flour and biscuits to Queen Victoria.

1872 Bertrand Russell, philosopher, born in Trellech 1886 The Severn Tunnel opens for trains. It is 4 miles 624 yards long and was the longest mainline railway tunnel within the UK for well over 100 years until the two tunnels were opened under the Thames part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in November 2007. Only 2¼ miles of the tunnel are actually under the River Severn.

1858 Theory of natural selection published

by Darwin & Wallace

Chartists’ plaque in Chepstow

Tintern Abbey 12

Peter, one of the guides at Big Pit

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20th century 1884 International Meridian Conference in Washington DC recognises GMT and establishes Prime Meridian at Greenwich.

1909 Louis Blériot completed the first flight across the English Channel.

1914 -18 The Great War

21st century 1927 First talking picture with musical score, The Jazz Singer, produced by Warner Brothers, USA 1939 -1945 World War II

1897 Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee

1904 Religious revival

1896 Death of Lady Llanover, aged 94. Her husband was Benjamin Hall MP, after whom Big Ben is named. Although an Englishwoman, she was a fervent supporter of Welsh music, culture and the Welsh language, in opposition to the tide of increasing Victorian anglicisation. She helped develop the Abergavenny Eisteddfod which became the largest in Wales by the 1850s and is credited with having created the stylised Welsh costume for women. lady-llanover.org.uk

1910 Charles Rolls, aviation pioneer, made the first non-stop double crossing of the English Channel. He died later that year at an airshow in Bournemouth, aged just 32 - the first British fatality from air travel. Look out for the Charles Rolls Season of Events in 2010 to commemorate the anniversary of his death visitwyevalley.com

2002 Newport became a city

1916 Lloyd George became the first Welshman to be Prime Minister

1930 First talking picture shown in The New Picture House, Monmouth, on the site of the oldest theatre site in Wales, dating back to Elizabethan times. Now called The Savoy Theatre, it hosts various productions and still shows films. savoytrust.org.uk

2008 A formal agreement was signed between the Environment Agency and Black Rock Lave Net Fisheries Association to protect the ancient tradition of lave net fishing which is practised by a small group of fishermen along a short stretch of the Severn Estuary near Caldicot. They stand in the water and use triangular nets to catch salmon. blackrocklavenets.co.uk 2009 Work starts on restoring four locks in the flight of Fourteen Locks on the Crumlin arm of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal which originally raised the canal 155ft in just half a mile. After 20 years of fundraising and volunteering with the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust, Phil Hughes (pictured) is now the enthusiastic Manager of the Fourteen Locks Heritage Centre at Rogerstone and says he feels ‘like a kid in a sweet shop’. fourteenlocks.co.uk

Phil Hughes, Fourteen Locks Heritage Centre

Charles Rolls preparing to take off on the flight which ended in his death

Lave Net Fishermen 13

Wye Valley & Vale of Usk Olympic Team Pursuit Gold Medallists in training

gearing up Olympic hopeful, Rebecca James

2010. It’s not just a number.

For Wales’ newest city, Newport, it’s the next big goal – when the Ryder Cup comes to The Celtic Manor Resort. The extensive preparations have transformed this once industrial port into a vibrant 21st century city.

The developments include a multi-million pound city centre campus for the University of Wales, Newport, a new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists over the River Usk, an improved retail offer, The Riverfront arts centre, a landscaped Riverside Park with public artworks and major road and rail improvements.

You’ll definitely notice a difference.

The exciting International Sports Village has facilities for athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, cycling, football, hockey, netball, squash, swimming, tennis (both indoor and outdoor) and lots more. A very welcome addition to the area, especially on a wet day, and the stomping ground of many an Olympic hopeful.

diary dates 14

16-22 February World Snooker – Welsh Open worldsnooker.com

In fact, Team GB chose the Wales National Velodrome at Newport as the training base for their cyclists prior to the Beijing Olympics.

And local cyclist Rebecca James trains there every week. Rebecca had the thrill of training with (now World and Olympic Champion) Vikki Pendleton during the pre-Beijing training camp at Newport last year – the only non-Olympic cyclist to do so. “It was like a dream,” says Rebecca, “being surrounded by the biggest names in cycling, dozens of coaches, mechanics, photographers…. the lot.

Sharing the track with Vikki was tremendous; I’d love to follow in her path!”

Still only 17, Rebecca has been a member of the Olympic Development Programme for two years and considers the Velodrome a second home. “It’s made a world of difference to the sport of cycling in South Wales. Fantastic facilities and a dedicated team of Welsh Cycling staff to encourage everyone to get on their bikes.”

Indeed, there are opportunities for beginners to take a look at the 250m Siberian pine track and for the brave ones to ride where the Olympic team did.

20-28 June Abergavenny Festival of Cycling abergavennyfestivalofcycling.co.uk

Newport is good for cycling outdoors, too, with three of the National Cycle Network routes (Nos. 4, 46 and 47) passing through the city and a link between the city centre and historic Roman Caerleon is currently in progress for 2009/10.

28 December Welsh Coral National chepstow-racecourse.co.uk

“Newport’s Wales National Velodrome is terrific, a real world-class facility and I know from using it that it offers really great opportunities for Welsh riders. And I think it formed a vital part of Team GB’s success in Beijing.”

visitwyevalley.com

Nicole Cooke, August 2008, South Wales Argus

If you’d rather cheer others on, why not line the streets for Abergavenny Cycling Festival, follow the horses at Chepstow Racecourse or feel the fervour at Rodney Parade when the Newport Gwent Dragons are playing.

Make a day of it There’s action at Chepstow Racecourse all year round. So spend a day at the races then splash out on dinner at The Crown at Whitebrook. chepstow-racecourse.co.uk crown@whitebrook.co.uk.

explore

welshcycling.co.uk newportgwentdragons.com newportunlimited.co.uk sustrans.com 15

Wye Valley & Vale of Usk Eleanor Farncombe follows in the family tradition of music-making

born to perform There’s a rich heritage of performance in Wales.

A down-to-earth tradition, where everyone encourages each other to ‘have a go’.

diary dates 16

Singing, dancing, story-telling, you name it.

It’s competitive, yet supportive, creating a real sense of community. We span the genres and the generations with events such as Llantilio Crossenny Festival of Music and Drama each May, where opera and school children mingle. “And why not;” says Artistic Director Eleanor Farncombe, “they’re the audience of the future. And they love the chance to get involved in all aspects of a staged performance.”

5-12 March Monmouth Women’s Festival monmouthwomensfestival.com

8-10 May Tredegar House Folk Festival tredegarhousefolk.ik.com

2009 will be the 47th consecutive festival in the tiny village of Llantilio Crossenny, originally started by her late father, the conductor Charles Farncombe. The eclectic programme includes performances by professional musicians and singers from the fields of jazz, opera, classical and church music, as well as a scaled-down opera with children from Cross Ash Primary School. And the highlight will be Rossini’s Cinderella performed in the 350-seater barn at the Hog’s Head.

9-17 May Llantilio Crossenny Festival of Music & Drama llantiliocrossenny.com

visitwyevalley.com “People in the Wye Valley & Vale of Usk are as entitled to enjoy quality music on their own doorsteps as anybody living close to centres of the performing arts in London.”

Further evidence of our penchant for expression is seen in the abundance of visual art. Find out more about the creative talents of local artists and craftspeople, their roles in keeping alive traditions and where to buy their works on the Made in Monmouthshire website mim.adventa.org.uk.

The late Charles Farncombe, explaining why he started the Llantilio Crossenny Festival of Music and Drama

Twelfth Night by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men

Jewellery by Fiona Cran

Top musicians also come here for the recording studios: Wyastone, Monnow Valley and Rockfield, the world’s first residential recording studio, where Queen recorded Bohemian Rhapsody.

They keep themselves to themselves so spotting a big name in the street is unlikely.

But you are invited to hear some other uncut versions on Monday and Thursday evenings – at the rehearsals of Caldicot, Chepstow or the City of Newport Male Voice Choirs! malevoicechoir.net. Up and coming stars compete at Abergavenny Eisteddfod, a precursor of the National Eisteddfod of Wales and supported in its early days by Lady Llanover (1802-1896), wife of Benjamin Hall MP, after whom ‘Big Ben’ is named. Concluding with a gala concert, Abergavenny Eisteddfod showcases some of the finest young talent from across Britain; a recent winner was Only Men Aloud tenor Ross Leadbeater.

The relative newcomer, Monmouth Women’s Festival, celebrates the best that women bring to our world, and is already attracting some big names. This year the line up includes former MP Edwina Currie, Bel Mooney, one of Britain’s best-loved columnists, and the National Poet of Wales, Gillian Clarke.

Make a day of it One Friday, start at Chepstow, finish at Abergavenny and stop at a selection of art and craft outlets along the way. Not forgetting a few good places for refreshments! You’ll find full details of this Pots and Paint tour, and others, on mim.adventa.org.uk. Then join a crowd of locals at the Hen & Chicks for an Abergafunny evening of stand-up comedy. comedi.co.uk

3 June Caerleon Amphitheatre & 4 June Chepstow Castle Twelfth Night tlcm.co.uk

20 June Abergavenny Eisteddfod abergavennyeisteddfod.co.uk

10-19 July Caerleon Arts Festival caerleon-arts.org

24 July – 1 August Monmouth Festival monmouthfestival.co.uk 17

diary dates 18

4th – 7th June 2009 The Celtic Manor Wales Open walesopen.com

27th September – 3rd October 2010 The Ryder Cup at The Celtic Manor Resort rydercupwales2010.com

18 courses.

A real feast.

1. Peterstone Lakes This flat parkland course offers wonderful views of the Severn Estuary teeming with wildfowl. peterstonelakes.com 2. St. Mellons Laid out in a cloverleaf shape, this course has been played by some of the world’s finest golfers. Nicknamed ‘Cotton’s Choice’, the third hole was highly rated by Sir Henry Cotton. stmellonsgolfclub.co.uk 3. Parc Pack plenty of balls, as water borders almost every fairway, apart from the closing four holes! parcgolf.co.uk 4. Tredegar Park Since its creation over a century ago it has moved to three locations around Newport. The current undulating parkland course is an exciting challenge. tredegarparkgolfclub.co.uk 5. Newport Popular flat parkland course with first-class greens. Home to the Welsh Boys National Championship and the Welsh Seniors’ Open Championship in 2008. newportgolfclub.org.uk 6. Caerleon A flat parkland 9-holer with a 14-bay driving range. Perfect if you’ve just taken up the game. +44 (0)1633 420342 7. Green Meadow An18-hole parkland course with tree-lined undulating fairways and a 26-bay floodlit driving range. greenmeadowgolf.com 8. Woodlake Park Overlooking Llandegfedd Reservoir, and often with a slight breeze across it, this course has been described as an ‘inland links’. All the holes are named after waterfowl seen nearby. woodlake.co.uk 9. Alice Springs Two 18-hole courses set in rolling countryside. The views over the Usk valley are magnificent; you’ll have difficulty concentrating on your game. alicespringsgolfclub.co.uk 10. Monmouthshire Established in 1892, this is one of Wales’ oldest golf clubs.

It was Mr James Braid, the Scot responsible for Gleneagles, who created this riverside parkland course. monmouthshiregolfclub.co.uk

Disclaimer: This is an artist’s impression and not a map. It is for guidance only and is not drawn to scale.

explore

visitwyevalley.com

12. The Rolls of Monmouth Absolute peace and tranquillity. It is hidden away in the mature parkland of the Rolls estate, former home of Charles Stewart Rolls, the early aviator and motoring pioneer. therollsgolfclub.co.uk 13. Monmouth It has a well-earned reputation as a friendly club and boasts magnificent views into both Wales and England. The challenging 8th hole, entirely downhill and almost a double dogleg, is aptly named ‘Cresta Run’. monmouthgolfclub.co.uk 14. Raglan Parc Near to Raglan Castle, you are likely to use every club in your bag on this mature parkland course with plenty of water hazards. raglanparc.co.uk 15. Marriott St. Pierre Host to many top tournaments over the years, it has two 18-hole courses and a 13-bay floodlit driving range set around a 14th-century manor house in 400 acres of parkland. marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/cwlgs 16. Dewstow Two splendid 18-hole courses and a 26-bay driving range have been developed here in little more than ten years. The ‘Park’ course features a huge ‘totem pole’ carved in situ from a dead Sequoia tree. dewstow.com 17. Llanwern Predominantly flat parkland course with some tight fairways set in a picturesque village on the outskirts of Newport. llanwerngolfclub.co.uk 18. The Celtic Manor Resort The Resort’s 1,400 acres of parkland offers the ultimate golfing experience with the choice of three championship golf courses, two luxurious clubhouses and a state-of-the-art Golf Academy. In 2010 The Celtic Manor Resort will stage The Ryder Cup on its Twenty Ten course, the first course ever to have been designed specifically to host this tournament.

And it’s already open for limited play – so be one of the first to play this spectacular 7,493 yard, par 71 course! celtic-manor.com

11. Wernddu This former fruit farm offers an 18-hole course with delightful par threes to start and finish, a 22-bay floodlit driving range and a 9-hole pitch & putt course. wernddu-golf-club.co.uk

greensofsouthernwales.com golf.visitwales.com

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Wye Valley & Vale of Usk

The Black Mountains as seen from horseback

360° views.

365 days a year.

You’ll probably arrive by car. Or perhaps by train to Newport, Abergavenny or Chepstow.

Unfortunately the last passenger service on the scenic Wye Valley Railway was in 1959.

If you’d come in the 18th century, chances are you’d have arrived by boat. Commercial boats began taking visitors down the River Wye in the 1770s, a practice made popular

by William Gilpin in his 1782 book Observations on the River Wye, one of the first British tour guides. In those days there were even tours from across the Severn; one 17-year-old JMW Turner took a Wye tour by ferry from Bristol. Thankfully the Wye Valley is as ‘picturesque’ now as in the 18th century but the very best views are still reserved for those who venture out onto the water.

That’s where Graham and Sue Symonds at Monmouth Canoe and Activity Centre come in handy. They provide all the equipment and training AND have the knack of instilling confidence in first-timers.

Their guided day trips are particularly rich experiences. Perhaps most thrilling is the carefully timed trip along the tidal part of the Wye, paddling past Tintern Abbey and Chepstow Castle on the outgoing tide.

He has paddled in nineteen countries but never tires of the beauty of the Wye. And, apparently, never runs out of energy; he provides courses throughout the year in kayaking, canoeing, climbing, caving, mountain biking and raft-building.

“So many people have had their first taste of canoeing or kayaking on the Wye. It’s virtually impossible not to enjoy it,” says Graham with his typical passion.

Graham & Sue Symonds

“If you have never navigated the Wye, you have seen nothing.”

William Gilpin, who knew a thing or two about landscapes, after his experience on the River Wye in 1770.

diary dates 20

28 March South Wales Three Peaks Trial cardiffoutdoorgroup.org.uk

19 April ISCA Duathlon sports-centre.newport.ac.uk

16 May Big Black Mountains Challenge longtownmrt.org.uk

14 June Dragon Boat Race stdavidsfoundation.co.uk

visitwyevalley.com

You’ll get a very different view from the water in the National Diving & Activity Centre at Tidenham, near Chepstow. See for yourself on a Discover Scuba Diving course.

If you can’t be tempted anywhere near the water, try a different perspective on horseback. Or get up high on a guided walk in the Black Mountains. Or higher still with a tandem paragliding flight from the Blorenge mountain near Abergavenny.

All this for novices. Absolutely no experience needed. And the rewards are huge.

Make a day of it Start in Monmouth and climb to the top of the Kymin and back down again. It’s around 750 feet of ascent on footpaths, minor roads and forest tracks.

No rush and lovely views. That is, unless you do it on 26 July, when you’ll be joined by 200 other people in the 7-mile Kymin Dash, racing to beat the course record of 38mins 54secs, set by P. Wheeler in 1985. nationaltrust.org.uk | kymindash.co.uk

6 September Monmouth Charity Raft Race mrrr.co.uk

explore

breconbeacons.org breconbeaconsparksociety.org llanthony.co.uk monmouthcanoe.co.uk

ndac.co.uk sewhgpgc.co.uk uskvalleywalk.org.uk wyevalleywalk.org 21

Wye Valley & Vale of Usk

something to suit your palate Personal recommendations from those in the know Abergavenny

Caldicot

City of Newport

Usk

David Thompson, teacher “Explore Abergavenny Castle and Museum and enjoy the views over the Usk valley, then wander down onto Castle Meadows for a stroll along the river.”

Tony Richards, local resident “The castle and its expansive grounds are as popular as ever.

And the recently-opened Dewstow Gardens make for a very interesting day out.”

Pat Bees, business woman “As a keen golfer, I’d suggest visitors discover the range of golf courses in and around Newport – in readiness for next year’s Ryder Cup!

Great food and great value: Scales Bistro at the Gateway Centre, near St Mary’s Priory Church, serves delicious homemade soups and cakes.

Open Tues-Fri. +44 (0)1873 853126

Great food and great value: The Castle Inn, Wales Pub of the Year 2007 & 2008.

Open Mon-Sun. +44 (0)1291 420509

Great food and great value: Gemelli’s on Bridge Street near the railway station, for great Italian food. Open Mon-Sat. +44 (0)1633 251831

Fiona Wilton, business consultant “I recommend Usk Museum of Rural Life, crammed full of exhibits from WW2 and earlier, and staffed by interesting volunteers.

It’s rather bizarre because some of their exhibits are still in everyday use in my own home!”

For a special occasion: Dewstow Golf Club.

Open Mon-Sun for lunch and dinner. dewstow.co.uk

For a special occasion: Dinner at The Chandlery, a Grade II listed building near the River Usk, regional winner of the True Taste Wales Eating Out Award 2008. Open Tues-Sat. thechandleryrestaurant.com

For a special occasion: The Walnut Tree just outside Abergavenny. Unpretentious place. Unbelievable food.

Open Tues-Sat. thewalnutreeinn.com

Caerleon Bethan Lewis, Manager of the Roman Legion Museum “Of course, you can’t fail to spot the amazing Roman heritage here.

But the Ffwrwm Arts & Crafts Centre and the interesting sculptures around the town shouldn’t be missed either.”

Great food and great value: Ffwrwm Café offers light lunches and delicious cakes.

Open Mon-Sun. ffwrwm.co.uk For a special occasion: The Priory. 11th century building with a brasserie-style restaurant displaying a wonderful selection of fresh fish, steaks and salads.

Open Mon-Sun. thepriorycaerleon.co.uk

22

Chepstow Jacqui Sullivan, County Councillor “It’s a pleasure to walk along the High Street and see the eclectic mix: independent shops, cafés, historic buildings and recent sculptures depicting the history of the town.”

Great food and great value: Sitar Balti Indian Restaurant where the food is amazing and the service second to none.

Open Mon-Sun. +44 (0)1291 627351 For a special occasion: Oaks Restaurant in The Beaufort Hotel, right in the centre of town.

Open Mon-Sun. beauforthotelchepstow.com

Monmouth Peter Jones, local resident “You must do two things: walk the Heritage Blue Plaque Trail around town and cycle the Peregrine Path from here to Symonds Yat. The Tourist Information Centre has information about both.”

Great food and great value: Henry’s, Beaufort Arms Court, for elevenses, lunches and teas.

Open Mon-Sat. +44 (0)1600 772290 For a special occasion: Bistro Prego, Church Street, serving modern European dishes.

Open Mon-Sat. pregomonmouth.co.uk

Great food and great value: Choices in Bridge Street is popular for home-cooked take-away food and they will even deliver to local self-catering cottages.

Open Mon-Sat. +44 (0)1291 673440 For a special occasion: Nip down to the Black Bear, at Bettws Newydd, just outside Usk +44 (0)1873 880701

visitwyevalley.com

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Wye Valley & Vale of Usk

a definition of luxury Alison Tod aims to provide luxury, day in day out. After all, she is one of the UK’s leading couture milliners.

diary dates 24

In her line of business, luxury can be measured in fine silks, exotic feathers, handmade fascinators and, more unusually, in paper, leaves and wood veneer. But Alison’s definition of luxury is completely different.

More holistic. “It’s about having things that delight you, doing things which give you a sense of wellbeing. It’s simple to provide customers with a range of products but we strive to offer a luxurious experience by getting the basics right,” says Alison.

So at her shop in Abergavenny there’s a warm welcome, comfortable seats, tea and coffee, lots to look at and touch and expert

18 April – 13 June 60th anniversary exhibition by the Welsh Group at Newport Museum & Art Gallery welshgroup.co.uk

guidance. In fact, everyone who works at the shop also works in her studio, nearby.

“More than anything we spend time with customers, talking,” says Alison. “Chatting about their forthcoming event, suggesting somewhere good for lunch, answering questions like where do you get your peacock feathers?... just ordinary things like that.” (Incidentally, the peacock feathers come from a farm about 2 miles away, previously owned by her grandparents, on the side of the Sugarloaf mountain.)

23-25 May Welsh Perry and Cider Festival welshcider.co.uk

27-28 June Usk Open Gardens usktc.f9.co.uk

visitwyevalley.com

Luxury doesn’t have to be costly. It’s about delight, enjoyment, indulgence, pleasure and the unusual.

Here are some suggestions...

Browse around the higgledy-piggledy antiques shops in Usk or Monmouth.

You may find something priceless; you may not.

They “answered my call within a few rings (no automated machine). Staff knew the area well and gave me lots of useful, personal advice. The staff were … helpful and informative – no question was too much trouble and they rounded off the conversation by wishing me a pleasant stay.”

Sophie Butler, writing about Abergavenny Tourist Information Centre in The Telegraph, August 2008.

Find some space – there’s plenty of it here.

Drive to Hay Bluff for a vast expanse of sky or choose Llanthony Priory for solitude.

Take home a unique, handcrafted product from the friendly couple at Riverside Pottery & Gallery in Chepstow, or any of our other art and craft centres.

Share the delight of local gardeners during Usk Open Gardens Weekend.

Swap memories with friends over a bottle of local wine, cider or perry.

Indulge in a visit to Denise Yapp’s gallery near Whitebrook; you’re a guest in her home and you’ll be treated as such.

Curl up in a comfy chair at your idyllic holiday cottage and lose yourself in a good book.

Alison Tod in creative mood

Sometimes luxury is about things you can’t buy.

It’s enjoying good company.

It’s the personal touch. It’s time well-spent.

Make a day of it Spend the entire day in the kitchen – well, Penny Lewis’ kitchen in the Black Mountains, actually. After many years travelling the globe cooking for dignitaries, celebrities and royalty, Penny has returned home to run her own cookery school. Her speciality courses include An Aga Can and Gentlemen Please. theculinarycottage.co.uk

explore

alisontod.co.uk deniseyapp.co.uk mim.adventa.org.uk 25

Wye Valley & Vale of Usk

festivals and events It’s all happening in Wales – major events and local festivals, music and dance, contemporary entertainment and country shows. Here’s a run down of some of the main events.

21-31 May Hay Festival ‘The Woodstock of the Mind’. Literary festival with an international reputation and a great party atmosphere, attracting leading writers, poets and celebrities. Literature in all its forms – from classical to comedy – plus current affairs and music. Set in Hay-on-Wye, the borderland ‘town of books’.

Tel +44 (0)870 990 1299 www.hayfestival.com 24-30 May Urdd National Eisteddfod, Cardiff Bay Europe’s largest youth arts festival, attracting over 15,000 competitors and 100,000 visitors, celebrates talent in dance, song, drama and science. Held at a different location each year – in 2009 it visits Cardiff Bay. Translation facilities available.

Tel +44 (0) 845 257 1613 www.urdd.org

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4-7 June Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open Newport A European Tour event that attracts the world’s top golfers, the Wales Open is one of the most exciting fixtures on the 2009 sporting calendar. See why Wales is coming into its own as a force in world golf as you watch all the action on Celtic Manor’s 2010 Ryder Cup course.

Ticket line +44 (0)1633 410318 www.celtic-manor.com

7-12 July Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod A colourful, cosmopolitan gathering of musicians, singers and dancers from all over the world perform in the beautiful little town of Llangollen. This truly unique festival, first held to heal the wounds of world war, continues to bring nations together.

It’s ‘like going to an international party’.

Tel +44 (0)1978 862000 www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

July/August Cardiff Summer Festival Cardiff’s summer party is the UK’s largest free outdoor festival. Dozens of spectacular events including the very best in street theatre, live music, children’s entertainment, comedy, drama and funfairs, as well as the Cardiff International Food and Drink Festival.

Tel +44 (0)29 2087 2087 www.cardiff-festival.com

20-23 July Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells Britain’s most popular agricultural show and the prime shop window for farming and country life in Wales. Its friendly atmosphere and entertaining programme attract not just the farming community but visitors from all walks of life.

Tel +44 (0)1982 553683 www.rwas.co.uk

visitwyevalley.com

1-8 August National Eisteddfod of Wales Bala Wales’ most important cultural gathering and Europe’s biggest travelling festival this year comes to Bala. While the major competitions in singing, reciting and dancing will be held in the main pavilion, the Eisteddfod field will be buzzing with a variety of things to do.

Translation facilities available.

Tel +44 (0)845 122 2003 www.eisteddfod.org.uk

28-31 August Bryn Terfel’s Faenol Festival Faenol Estate Near Bangor A glittering music festival held in the beautiful Faenol Estate in which Bryn and friends entertain. Features Welsh and internationally renowned singers from the worlds of opera, pop, Broadway and the West End. Tel +44 (0)1492 872000 www.brynfest.com

6-9 August Brecon Jazz It has been called Britain’s most enjoyable festival. This high summer event attracts top performers from around the world and brings super-cool sounds to one of Wales’ most historic country towns.

Tel +44 (0)1874 611622 www.breconjazz.co.uk

19-20 September Abergavenny Food Festival One of the ‘main courses’ on the UK foodie scene, attracting leading figures from the food world plus TV chefs and media personalities.Talks, tastings, stalls, demonstrations and masterclasses.

Tel +44 (0)1873 851643 www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com

22-25 October Wales Rally GB The final round of the World Rally Championship is Britain’s most popular international motorsport event.

Come and watch the drivers battling it out on classic special stages – the twisty, loose-surfaced high-speed tracks of the South Wales forests. www.walesrallygb.com

For the full picture ask at Tourist Information Centres or visit the website www.visitwales.com

And a date for your diary…

27 September – 3 October 2010 In 2010 Wales plays host to the world’s most prestigious international golf tournament when the Ryder Cup is played at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport. Put the date in your diary and join us when Wales welcomes the world. www.rydercupwales2010.com

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28 Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Brecon Beacons National Park

Cycle Hire

Golf Course

Tourist Feature with café

Vineyard

Country Park

Museum

Ancient Monument/Site

House or Building of Historic Interest

Abbey, Cathedral or Priory

Castle

Viewpoint

Bus or Coach Station

Tourist Information (seasonal)

Tourist Information (all year)

key to symbols

29

Wye Valley & Vale of Usk

sources of information

Tourist Information Centres (TICs)

Websites

Abergavenny Farm Holidays

For the very best advice on where to stay, what to do, how to get about and what’s on, you should contact the staff at our friendly TICs. If, prior to your visit, you require information not contained within this guide, the TICs listed below will be able to help you.

They also offer a free local accommodation booking service and a Book-A-Bed-Ahead service for anywhere in the UK. Please call to check opening hours.

For the very latest information about the region, including events: visitwyevalley.com newport.gov.uk/tourism monmouthshire.gov.uk southernwalesevents.com

For B & B and self catering on farms and smallholdings situated on the hills surrounding the bustling market town of Abergavenny. Brochure available.

Tel: +44 (0)1873 853432 www.afhg.co.uk

Freepost Information Service

Caerleon Tourism Forum

If you want to receive further specific information, you may wish to use the Freepost Information Service. We offer a number of free leaflets. Simply complete and return the request form on page 53.

Local traders and professional organisations working together to promote Caerleon, and the annual art and sculpture festival.

Trail leaflets available.

Tel: +44 (0)1633 422656 Email: caerleon.tic@newport.gov.uk www.caerleon.net

Abergavenny Tourist Information & National Park Centre (open all year) Monmouth Road, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5HL Tel: +44 (0)1873 853254 Fax: +44 (0)1873 853254 Email: abergavennyic@breconbeacons.org Caerleon TIC (open all year) 5 High Street, Caerleon, Newport, NP18 1AE Tel: +44 (0)1633 422656 Fax: +44 (0)1633 422656 Email: caerleon.tic@newport.gov.uk Chepstow TIC (open all year) Castle Car Park, Bridge Street, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 5EY Tel: +44 (0)1291 623772 Fax: +44 (0)1291 628004 Email: chepstow.tic@monmouthshire.gov.uk Monmouth TIC (open all year) Market Hall, Priory Street, Monmouth, Monmouthshire, NP25 3XA Tel: +44 (0)1600 713899 Fax: +44 (0)1600 772794 Email: monmouth.tic@monmouthshire.gov.uk Newport TIC (open all year) Museum & Art Gallery, John Frost Square, Newport, NP20 1PA Tel: +44 (0)1633 842962 Fax: +44 (0)1633 222615 Email: newport.tic@newport.gov.uk

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Other Sources of Advice Caldicot Tourist Information Outlet (open from April - October) Caldicot Castle, Church Road, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, NP26 4HU Tel: +44 (0)1291 420241 Fax: +44 (0)1291 435094 Email: caldicotcastle@monmouthshire.gov.uk Usk Tourist Information Outlet (open Easter – October) Usk Rural Life Museum, The Malt Barn, New Market Street, Usk, Monmouthshire, NP15 1AU Tel: +44 (0)1291 673777 The Old Station, Tintern (open from 1 April – 1 November) Tintern, Monmouthshire, NP16 7NX Tel & Fax: +44 (0)1291 689566 Email: johnsterry@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Local Tourism Groups Abergavenny & District Tourist Association Produces a comprehensive guide which includes details of accommodation, businesses, restaurants and services for visitors to the Abergavenny area.

Tel: +44 (0)1873 853254 Email: abergavennyic@breconbeacons.org www.visitabergavenny.co.uk

Newport Tourism Association Tel: +44 (0)1633 414514 Email: tourism@newport.gov.uk www.newport.gov.uk/visiting

Stay Down Our Lane A group of 13 high quality farm properties in Monmouthshire, all owner-managed, offering country and farm holiday accommodation in the best locations. B & B and self catering.

For information and availability Freephone +44 (0)8000 935156, or visit www.downourlane.co.uk

Wye Valley & Forest of Dean Tourism Association Produces three informative guides, ‘Great places to stay’, ‘Do something different’ and ‘Great places to eat’ throughout this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

An additional and special guide for older visitors will be produced by the Association in Spring 2009.

Tel: +44 (0)1600 715781 or +44 (0)845 053 1173 Email: info@wyedeantourism.co.uk www.wyedeantourism.co.uk

visitwyevalley.com

Blue Badge Guides If you wish to have a guided tour of the area why not contact a qualified member of the Wales Official Tourist Guides Association.

These freelance Guides will undertake various types of tours, ranging from hourly tours by car or coach, to extended tours of longer duration throughout Wales. The following Guides are resident in the Wye Valley & Vale of Usk: Alun Booth, Newport Tel & Fax: +44 (0)1633 663364 Mobile: +44 (0)7742 715374 Email: alunbooth@hotmail.co.uk Phil Coates, Newport Tel: +44 (0)1633 774796 Mobile: +44 (0)7867 786368 Email: phil@walestourguides.com www.walestourguides.com Jonathan Edwards, Usk Tel: +44 (0)1291 672507 Mobile: 07765 836539 Email: david27edw@tiscali.co.uk Sandi Gosden, near Abergavenny Tel: +44 (0)1495 785356 Email: sandigosden@lineone.net Gordon Hill, Caldicot Tel: +44 (0)1291 424143 Mobile: +44 (0)7855 402493 Email: gordon.swguides@yahoo.co.uk Margaret McIntyre (German speaker), Monmouth Tel: +44 (0)1600 712799 Mobile: +44 (0)7801 286098 Email: margaretmcintyre@onetel.com Rosemary Phillips, Usk Tel: +44 (0)1633 450397 Huw Walton, Chepstow Tel & Fax: +44 (0)1291 625134 Mobile: +44 (0)777 945 2819 Email: huwalton@yahoo.co.uk

Janice Williams, Abergavenny Tel & Fax: +44 (0)1873 831824 Mobile: 07710 200237 Email: janrob1@tinyworld.co.uk Central Enquiry Service for Wales Tel: +44 (0)1286 678590 Email: enquiry@wotga.com www.wotga.com

Heads of the Valleys Green Badge Guides Details of those qualified to guide throughout the ‘Heads of the Valleys’ region including Blaenavon World Heritage Site. www.wotga.com

Cordell Country Official Guides Let a tour guide introduce you to the landscapes and places which so inspired Alexander Cordell, author of ‘Rape of the Fair Country’. They are your ideal partners for bringing the sites and his writing to life. www.wotga.com/cordellcountry.php

Golf The region boasts a collection of golf courses to rival any UK destination.

Our golfing ‘One Stop Shop’ will advise on suitability of courses and tailor your break to suit your budget.

Tel: +44 (0)870 600 6088 Email: info@golfteetimeservice.co.uk www.greensofsouthernwales.com

Conferences and Meeting Venues For help finding venues and ideas for conferences, meetings, incentives & team building.

Tel: +44 (0)1633 233292 Fax: +44 (0)1633 232334 Email: tourism.conf@newport.gov.uk www.southeastwales.org.uk

Overseas Visitors If you’re travelling from outside the UK you may wish to visit the websites below or request a copy of the accompanying brochure with information on the southern Wales region in English, French, Dutch & German as well as in Welsh. www.southernwales.com www.lesuddupaysdegalles.com www.sudwales.com www.zuidelijkwales.com Email: tourism@southernwales.com

Weather Forecast Weather Call, run in association with the Met. Office.

Tel: +44(0)906 850 0409 www.weathercall.co.uk

Groups If you’re planning to bring a group to the Wye Valley & Vale of Usk we offer help to organise tours and short breaks and to develop itineraries.

Tel: +44 (0)845 6002639 Email: travel@southernwales.com www.southernwales.org

31

Wye Valley & Vale of Usk

it’s all in the stars

All accommodation grades in this publication have been based on a new set of common quality standards agreed by Visit Wales, Visit Britain, Visit Scotland and the AA. The star ratings reflect the facilities and overall quality of the experience.

Grades may therefore be different from previous years due to the new scheme’s requirements. However, a change does not mean that the quality is any different so customers should not compare the previous star grading with the stars given for 2009.

Here are the quality ratings: ★ ★★ ★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★

Simple, practical, no frills Well presented and well run Good level of quality and comfort Excellent standard throughout Exceptional, with a degree of luxury

Also look out for that extra-special property that has been awarded Visit Wales’ Gold Award, given for exceptional standards of hospitality, comfort and food in serviced accommodation.

Further detailed information on grading criteria and awards can be found at www.wales.gov.uk/tourism

A Guide to Quality Assurance All the accommodation featured in this publication has been quality graded so you can make your choice in confidence, knowing that each place to stay has been given a star grading according to the quality and facilities on offer. Star grades mean that you can be sure of standards and choose the accommodation that’s just right for you.

Visit Wales/AA are the only checking agents in Wales, checking out over 5,000 places. In the case of properties handled by self-catering agencies, the frequency between visits can be longer.

Occasionally, it has not been possible to visit the accommodation prior to publication. In these instances, the property is marked as ‘Awaiting Grading’.

STARS are your guide to quality. The Star Quality Grading Schemes apply to all types of accommodation: serviced – hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfast, farm accommodation, hostel/hostel type accommodation, self-catering cottages and apartments and caravan holiday home and touring/camping parks.

Please note: All gradings and awards were correct at the time of going to press. Occasionally, it may not have been possible to undertake a grading. This situation is clearly identified by ‘Awaiting Grading’ appearing within the advertisement/entry. Grading assessments are on-going and improvements made by establishments may have resulted in a revision since publication. Please check when booking.

Further information on gradings and awards is available from Visit Wales, The Old Junior School, New Street, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8AT. Tel: +44 (0)845 010 8020 Fax +44 (0)1654 704909 Email: quality.tourism@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Any problems?

In the unfortunate event that you do encounter problems with your chosen accommodation, please refer to www.wales.gov.uk/tourism for further guidance.

32

a winning spread.

Welsh Faggots made by NS James butchers in Raglan - all the meat they sell comes from within a 20-mile radius. nsjames.co.uk

Black Mountain Apple & Blackcurrant Brandy produced by Celtic Spirit Company which also has a micro-brewery at the King’s Arms in Abergavenny, producing three craft real ales named after the mountains that surround the town - Sugarloaf, Skirrid and Blorenge. celticspirit.co.uk

Red Dragon Cider, produced by Springfield Cider from an orchard of 25,000 trees near Monmouth. springfieldcider.co.uk

Oak Roast Salmon Fishcakes from Sugarloaf Catering in Abergavenny. sugarloafcatering.com

Trealy Fennel Sausage and Chorizo Salami and Coppa (air dried collar of pork) from Trealy Farm Charcuterie near Monmouth. trealyfarm.com

Right here, in the top Food Tourism Destination in Wales, you’ll find dozens of winners. Here’s a taster…

The Crown at Whitebrook Michelin Star 2007 & 2008 AA Wine Award for Wales 2008

crownatwhitebrook.co.uk

The Bell at Skenfrith Winner in the Condé Nast Johansens Champagne Taittinger Wine List Awards 2008

skenfrith.co.uk

Fruit & Pecan Cake and Bara Brith from Clams Cakes. clamscakes.co.uk

Parva Farm Vineyard, Tintern – winner of four medals in the English and Welsh Wine Awards 2008 parvafarm.com Skirrid Honey collected a staggering 19 awards at Royal Welsh Agricultural Show last year +44 (0)1873 880625 Ty-Bryn Perry from Ty-Bryn Cider (+44 (0)1873 821237), Perai Newydd from Troggi (+44 (0)1291 650653) and Surprise from C J’s Cider (+44 (0)1600 780216), all gold medal winners in the 2008 Welsh Cider and Perry Championships.

The Walnut Tree AA Restaurant of the Year for Wales 2008

thewalnuttreeinn.com

For yet more producers, visit mim.adventa.org.uk or visitwyevalley.com

33

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Abergavenny B4

★★★

The Angel Hotel Establishment Photograph

Each establishment heading carries a map reference (which refers to a square e.g. A1) which can be located on the large map included with this guide. We hope that this will help you to select a holiday base close to those places of particular interest.

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hearing difficulties Facilities for visitors with sight difficulties Garden (for guests’ use)

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Golf course within 20 mins drive

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Ground floor bedrooms available

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34

Gym/Health Club Laundry facilities Licensed Lift Linen provided free of charge Major credit cards accepted Parking/private car park Pets welcome by arrangement Railway station nearby (3 miles) Showers (caravan/camping site) Smoking area provided Special diets catered for Swimming pool Tea/coffee facilities in bedrooms

O

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Historic coaching inn refurbished with art and antiques; also Castle Lodge for four people. Tea Guild ‘Award of Excellence’ for traditional afternoon teas. Stylish restaurant and courtyard. Wine Spectator ‘Award of Excellence’. Near The Walnut Tree restaurant and Brecon Beacons.

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Room Rate: Single £65 to £100 Short

Double £85 to £130 Breaks

Short Break Rates are available – ask for details

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Room Rate – minimum & maximum Price per room per night including breakfast, for single occupancy and double/twin occupancy (unless specifically stated that the rate quoted is per person, per night)

Toilets on site (caravan/camping site or attraction/activity) Totally non-smoking

Pets Welcome Award

Business Class Bedroom Standards

Business Class Meeting Room Standards

Visit Wales Platinum Business Class Standards

Wales Association of Self Catering Operators

Inspected and graded by Visit Wales

Forest of Dean Self Catering Accommodation of the Year

Inspected and graded by Visit Britain

Attraction & Activity Awards

Inspected & graded by the AA

Visit Wales Accredited Attraction

AA Restaurant Rating

AALA accredited

General Awards

British Horse Society

Welcome Host

Wales Trekking & Riding Association

Disability Access Statement Available Online

Museums, Libraries & Archives Council

Green Business Award

Savour The Wye

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Families Welcome Award

Bus stop nearby (0.5 miles)

Coach parties welcome

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CYCLISTS

15 Cross Street, Abergavenny, NP7 5EN T: 01873 857121 F: 01873 858059 E: mail@angelhotelabergavenny.com W: www.angelhotelabergavenny.com Open: All Year Rooms: 32 En-suite: 32

Use of organic produce Welsh spoken Wireless broadband On or close to short circular walk On or close to long distance walk

Quality Grading

Accommodation Awards

Green Dragon Environmental Standard CYCLISTS

Cyclists Welcome Award

Walkers Welcome Award

Local Tourist Associations

Abergavenny & District Tourist Association

Stay downourlane

Wye Valley & Forest of Dean Tourism Association

Serviced Accommodation Abergavenny B4

★★★

Hardwick Farm

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Abergavenny, NP7 9BT T: 01873 853513 E: carol@hardwickfarm.co.uk W: www.hardwickfarm.co.uk Open: All year exc. Christmas Rooms: 3 En-suite: 2 Warm welcome and homely atmosphere awaits you on our dairy farm. Situated on the edge of the Brecon Beacons, surrounded by mountain views and rolling countryside, bordered by River Usk. Ideal centre for walking, exploring castles, pony-trekking.

Brochure available.

Room Rate: Single £40-£45

Double £58-£65

CYCLISTS

Abergavenny B4

Abergavenny B4

Agincourt House B&B

Llanddewi Rhydderch, Abergavenny,NP7 9TS T: 01873 840589 F: 01873 840102 M: 07860 379767 E: agincourthousebb@aol.com W: www.agincourthousebb.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 3 En-suite: 1

Awaiting Grading

Kings Arms Inn

St John’s Square, Nevill Street Abergavenny, NP7 5AA T/F: 01873 855074 E: enquiries@kingsarmsabergavenny.co.uk W: www.kingsarmsabergavenny.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 12 En-suite: 12 Town’s oldest coaching inn, Grade II listed, circa 16th Century. Refurbished 07/08.

12 letting bedrooms with honeymoon and family suites. Fine dining and gastro food restaurant, with micro-brewery. Quality music and entertainment venue.

Nestling by the village green in Llanddewi Rhydderch, just 3 miles from Abergavenny.

A haven of relaxation, close to all local facilities including many high quality restaurants. We look forward to welcoming you and making your stay a memorable one.

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Room Rate: Single from £40

Double from £60

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Room Rate: Single £50-£80

Double £70-£120

Abergavenny B5

Abergavenny B4

Black Lion Guest House

43 Hereford Road, Abergavenny, NP7 5PY T: 01873 851920 F: 01873 857885 E: blacklionaber@aol.com W: www.blacklionaber.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 4 En-suite: 2 Family-run guest-house, proximity Offa’s Dyke, Black Mountains, Three Castles Walk, Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal. Ideal fishing salmon/trout on River Usk. Cycling (Route 42).

Variety golf courses. Links for trains, coaches, bus station. Cyclists, walkers, bikers, all welcome. Courtesy vehicle available.

Cardiff 25 mins away by train!!!!

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Room Rate: Single £35-£55

Double £90-£130

Short Breaks

★★★

Llansantffraed Court Hotel

Abergavenny B3

Brynhonddu Country House B&B

Pandy, Abergavenny, NP7 7PD T: 01873 890535 F: 01873 890792 E: kdwhite@brynhonddu.co.uk W: www.brynhonddu.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 3 En-suite: 3 Our friendly family-run B&B, voted ‘Best B&B in Wales 2003’ by overseas visitors, offers picturesque views over the Black Mountains and an historic country house setting with some of the ‘best walking areas in the country’ and extensive biodiversity of flora and fauna.

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CYCLISTS

Abergavenny A4

★★★★★

Glangrwyney Court

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Crickhowell, Powys, NP8 1ES T: 01873 811288 F: 01873 810317 E: info@glancourt.co.uk W: www.glancourt.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 8 En-suite: 7

CYCLISTS

Stunning listed historic country house hotel, set in 20 acres of landscaped grounds with ornamental trout lake. Breath-taking views of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Multi-award winning kitchen, alfresco dining, afternoon teas, bar snacks, croquet on the lawns. Log fires, luxury bedrooms, wireless broadband access throughout, private salmon and trout fishing on the Usk. Recommended in all major guides. Two AA fine dining rosettes, Wales The True Taste accredited, Les Routiers Welsh Hotel of the Year 2005/06. Spoil yourself here!

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Room Rate: Single £86-£120

Double £115-£175

CYCLISTS

Short Breaks

Abergavenny B4

Mulberry House

Grade II Listed family home standing in beautiful, peaceful gardens and parkland.

Tennis available, log fires, honesty bar, comfortable sofas, charming spacious bedrooms all individually furnished. Bathrooms en-suite and one room has private Jacuzzi bathroom.

Three self catering cottages within the grounds.

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Room Rate: Single £30-£35

Double £55-£60

Llanvihangel Gobion, nr Abergavenny, NP7 9BA T: 01873 840678 F: 01873 840674 E: reception@llch.co.uk W: www.llch.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 21 En-suite: 21

Room Rate: Single £50-£80

Double £75-£110

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Abergavenny YHA, The Old Convent, Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, NP7 5UD T: 01873 855959 F: 01873 855443 W: www.mulberrycentre.com Open: All Year Rooms: 76 A warm welcome, comfortable accommodation (single & twin) and good food, close to town centre. Located on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park and ideally situated to explore the region.

Free parking. Railway station nearby.

Groups and events catered for.

CYCLISTS

Rate:

£21pppn (excluding breakfast)

Short Breaks

35

Serviced Accommodation Caerleon B7

Abergavenny A4

Pentre Court

Llanwenarth Citra, Abergavenny, NP7 7EW T: 01873 853545 F: 01873 851354 E: judith@pentrecourt.com W: www.pentrecourt.com Open: All Year Rooms: 3 En-suite: 3

The Old Rectory

Christchurch, Newport, NP18 1JJ T/F: 01633 430700 E: vivpeters@the-oldrectory.co.uk W: www.the-oldrectory.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 2 En-suite: 1 and 1 private bathroom The Old Rectory overlooks Caerleon and the Usk Valley with fine views of the Bristol Channel. Luxurious bathrooms with rolltop baths. Relaxing guest lounge. Two minutes from Celtic Manor Resort. Close to beautiful Wye Valley. Ideal for golf, cycling, walking and Wetlands.

Listed Georgian home, fascinating antiques, local produce, extensive streamside gardens, interesting plants, walled garden, heated swimming-pool, views over Usk Valley. Ideal centre for walking and cycling in wonderful National Park and heritage scenery. Close to town and excellent restaurants.

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CYCLISTS

Room Rate: Single £35-£50

Double £60-£70

Abergavenny B4

Short Breaks

CYCLISTS

15 Cross Street, Abergavenny, NP7 5EN T: 01873 857121 F: 01873 858059 E: mail@angelhotelabergavenny.com W: www.angelhotelabergavenny.com Open: All Year Rooms: 32 En-suite: 32

First Hurdle Guest House

9-10 Upper Church Street, Chepstow, NP16 5EX T: 01291 622189 E: thefirsthurdle@yahoo.co.uk W: www.thefirsthurdle.com Open: All Year Rooms: 11 En-suite: 11 Situated in the centre of the medieval walled town of Chepstow. Perfectly placed for visiting Chepstow Castle, many bars, restaurants and shops. Ideally located for the Wye Valley and many local tourist attractions like Offa’s Dyke and Tintern Abbey. All rooms en-suite and include full English breakfast.

Historic coaching inn refurbished with art and antiques; also Castle Lodge for four people. Tea Guild ‘Award of Excellence’ for traditional afternoon teas. Stylish restaurant and courtyard. Wine Spectator ‘Award of Excellence’. Near The Walnut Tree restaurant and Brecon Beacons.

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CYCLISTS

Room Rate: Single £65 to £100 Short

Double £85 to £130 Breaks

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Room Rate: Single from £40

Double/Twin from £60

Chepstow D6

Abergavenny A4

The Hill

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Room Rate: Single £50

Double £75

Chepstow D6

★★★

The Angel Hotel

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Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, NP7 7RP T: 01495 333777 F: 01495 333778 E: hill@coleggwent.ac.uk W: www.thehillabergavenny.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 48 En-suite: 48 Victorian Manor house set in 5 acres of beautiful grounds including Victorian walled garden. 10 minutes from town centre on the edge of Brecon Beacons National Park.

Newly refurbished executive suite now available, overlooking Blorenge Mountains.

CYCLISTS

Room Rate: Single £40-£59

Double £70-£89

Short Breaks

Parkfield

St Arvans, Chepstow, NP16 6DN T: 01291 621860 E: elizabeth@parkfield7.co.uk W: www.parkfield7.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 4 En-suite: 4 En-suite accommodation with TV, internet access and coffee-making facilities. Alongside Chepstow Racecourse. Explore castles, Tintern Abbey. Golf at St. Pierre or 2010 Ryder Cup venue, Celtic Manor. Close to National Dive Centre. On Lands End/John O’Groats route.

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Caerleon B7

Monmouth D4

The Celtic Manor Resort

Bistro Prego

CYCLISTS

Room Rate: Single £35-£55

Double £55-£60

7 Church Street, Monmouth, NP25 3BX T: 01600 712600 F: 01600 716016 E: enquiries@pregomonmouth.co.uk W: www.pregomonmouth.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 8 En-suite: 8 Stylish, contemporary restaurant serving award-winning rustic Italian cuisine using the finest locally sourced produce. Imaginative wine list. Close to the picturesque Wye Valley, Forest of Dean and Offa’s Dyke Path. Centrally located in Monmouth’s historic old town.

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CYCLISTS

Monmouth C4

★★★

Church Farm

A spacious and homely 16th Century former farmhouse (Grade II listed) with oak beams and inglenook fireplaces. Set in large garden with stream. Easy access to A40. Two miles from historic Monmouth.

All types of room so suitable for families/groups.

Set in 1400 acres of parkland in the beautiful Usk Valley, this world-class Resort, venue for The 2010 Ryder Cup, boasts a five star Resort Hotel and an historic Manor House. There are a host of facilities to help you relax and unwind including two health clubs and two luxurious spas, three championship golf courses, two clubhouses, a world-class Golf Academy, five restaurants, a kids club and crèche, tennis, shooting, mountain-biking and walking trails.

36

Room Rate: Single £165-£1,500

Double £198-£1,500

Guest House

Mitchel Troy, Monmouth, NP25 4HZ T: 01600 712176 E: info@churchfarmguesthouse.eclipse.co.uk W: www.churchfarmmitcheltroy.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 9 En-suite: 7

Coldra Woods, Newport, NP18 1HQ T: 01633 413000 F: 01633 412910 E: bookings@celtic-manor.com W: www.celtic-manor.com Open: All Year Rooms: 400 En-suite: 400

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Room Rate: Single £40

Double £60

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CYCLISTS

Room Rate: Single £30-£32

Double £60-£64

Short Breaks

Serviced Accommodation Monmouth C3

Monmouth C4

Hendre Farmhouse B&B

★★★★★

The Bell at Skenfrith

Wonastow, Monmouth, NP25 4DJ T: 01600 740484 E: thehendrefarmhouse@hotmail.com W: www.pam-baker.org Open: All Year Rooms: 3 En-suite: 3

Skenfrith, Monmouthshire, NP7 8UH T: 01600 750235 F: 01600 750525 E: enquiries@skenfrith.co.uk W: www.skenfrith.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 11 En-suite: 11

Spacious well-furnished 18th Century farmhouse set in a large attractive garden with trout and carp ponds overlooking open country towards the Sugar Loaf and Black Mountains.

Farm is bordered by Rolls Golf Course, with Offa’s Dyke Path passing the front gate.

An ideal base for exploring Monmouthshire.

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CYCLISTS

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Room Rate: Single from £50

Double from £80

Monmouth D5

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New Mills, Whitebrook, Monmouthshire, NP25 4TY T/F: 01600 860226 E: doug_watkins@hotmail.co.uk W: www.highlandsholidaysmonmouth.com Open: All Year Rooms: 2 En-suite: 0 Warm welcome and homely atmosphere at our traditional country cottage in centre of Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 5 miles south of Monmouth. Explore a wealth of walks. Numerous golf courses nearby.

Cyclists welcome. Self-catering cottage and campsite also available.

Tudor Farmhouse Hotel

Room Rate: Single £37.50

Double £59.50

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Walnut Tree Cottage

Llandogo, Monmouth, NP25 4TL T: 01594 530496 E: townsend@lugano.freeserve.co.uk W: www.luganobandb.com Open: All Year Rooms: 2 En-suite: 2

CYCLISTS

Room Rate: Double from £55

★★★★

Short Breaks

Guest Accommodation

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Whitehill Farm

Whitchurch, Ross on Wye, HR9 6DB T: 01600 890757 E: info@portlandguesthouse.co.uk W: www.portlandguesthouse.co.uk Open: Feb-Dec Rooms: 6 En-suite: 6

]$ ★★★★

Inn

Symonds Yat East, Ross on Wye, HR9 6JL T: 01600 890435 F: 01600 890034 E: contact@saracensheadinn.co.uk W: www.saracensheadinn.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 10 En-suite: 10

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Raglan C5

Short Breaks

Room Rate: Single £55-£70

Double £79-£130

Short Breaks

Symonds Yat West, Ross on Wye, HR9 6BN T: 01600 890828 E: enquiries@walnuttreehotel.co.uk W: www.walnuttreehotel.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 5 En-suite: 5

Room Rate: Single £45-£55

Double £70-£90

Short Breaks

Wonastow, Monmouth, NP25 4DW T: 01600 740253 E: beryl-yeomans@tiscali.co.uk W: www.whitehillfarmuk.com Open: All Year Rooms: 2 En-suite: 2

Room Rate: Single from £45

Double £65-£70 ★★★

The Beaufort Arms Raglan

High Street, Raglan, Monmouthshire, NP15 2DY T: 01291 690412 F: 01291 690935 E: enquiries@beaufortraglan.co.uk W: www.beaufortraglan.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 15 En-suite: 15 Family-owned 16th Century coaching inn with historic links to nearby Raglan Castle halfway between M4/M50 at the A40/A449 junction.

Noted for very good food, real ales and wines, in a relaxed informal atmosphere. Furnished in modern elegant style whilst retaining traditional features. Brazzerie, lounge/bar, private-dining, ‘country bar’, patios and terrace.

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Room Rate: Single from £60 Short Breaks

Double £75-£105

Ideally situated on the banks of the Wye. Perfect for exploring the Wye Valley, Herefordshire, South Wales and the Forest of Dean; by car, cycle or foot. Real ales, fine food and relaxing ambience.

Most rooms overlook the river.

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Room Rate: Single from £60

Double from £90

18th Century farmhouse on working farm set in beautiful surroundings with stunning rural views: A warm reception for quiet stressfree breaks: Flatscreen/freeview TVs, wifi, magazines, etc, provided. Explore the farm, woodland walks and see wild deer. Only 2.5 miles to historic Monmouth.

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Room Rate: Single £48-£55

Double £65-£89

Monmouth D4

Saracen’s Head Inn

High Street, Clearwell, Glos, GL16 8JS T: 01594 835046 F: 01594 837093 E: info@tudorfarmhousehotel.co.uk W: www.tudorfarmhousehotel.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 20 En-suite: 20

Monmouth C4

A warm welcome awaits you at our Georgian listed home situated near Monmouth. Lots to do nearby. Totally relaxing atmosphere.

Wheelchair and family friendly.

All accommodation is spacious and en-suite.

Superb AGA cooked breakfast enjoyed in our elegant dining room.

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Hotel

A warm welcome awaits in this beautiful setting overlooking the River Wye, Yat Rock and Forest of Dean. River walks, take the hand-rope ferry to Symonds Yat East, bird-watching, deer-spotting. Fresh cooked breakfast with local produce where possible.

Dinner by arrangement.

Luxury accommodation set in pleasant landscaped gardens just off main A466, halfway between Monmouth and Chepstow, in the picturesque village of Llandogo. Close to Tintern and Forest of Dean. Ideal touring centre. Walkers’ paradise. Access at all times.

Brochure available.

Portland House

★★★

Monmouth D4

Lugano

Monmouth D4

Room Rate: Single £75-£120

Double £110-£220

Set in the Wye Valley/Forest of Dean borders, the hotel has 20 well-appointed en-suite rooms and dates from the 13th Century. The 2-rosette restaurant offers a great atmosphere and a fantastic menu sourced from local suppliers.

Comprehensive meeting facilities and 14 acres of grounds to explore.

Monmouth D5

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CYCLISTS

Monmouth D5

Awaiting Grading

Highlands

Award winning inn with eleven luxury rooms.

Delicious food from our organic garden and local suppliers. An extensive wine list, real ales and local cider. Wonderful walks in Monnow Valley. Booking recommended. Closed Tuesdays, November to March.

37

Serviced Accommodation Ross On Wye E3

Tintern D5

★★★

The Chase Hotel

Tintern Old Rectory B&B

Room Rate: Single £50-£65

Double £60-£90

Family £75-£130

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Usk B5

Glen-yr-Afon Hotel

Room Rate: Single £95-£195 Short

Double £110-£195 Breaks

Tintern D5

Short Breaks

★★★

Pontypool Road, Usk, NP15 1SY T: 01291 672302/673202 F: 01291 672597 E: enquiries@glen-yr-afon.co.uk W: www.glen-yr-afon.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 27 En-suite: 27

Gloucester Road, Ross on Wye, HR9 5LH T: 01989 763161 F: 01989 768330 E: res@chasehotel.co.uk W: www.chasehotel.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 36 En-suite: 36 Set in 11 acres of grounds only a two minute walk into the old Market Town. All 36 en-suite bedrooms have been upgraded, many have commanding views over the gardens and surrounding countryside. The executive and four poster rooms incorporate en-suite jacuzzi or feature baths. The Public areas are furnished in a contemporary design whilst still retaining the original features of this period manor house. Harry’s Restaurant has a varied menu featuring British and European influences focusing on local fresh produce.

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The Old Rectory, Tintern, Chepstow, Gwent, NP16 6SG T: 01291 689920 E: enquiries@tintern-oldrectory.co.uk W: www.tintern-oldrectory.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 3+ En-suite: 3 Charming, gracious 18th Century Bed & Breakfast, directly overlooking the beautiful Wye River. A very short walk to the magical Tintern Abbey, Offa’s Dyke Path and on Wye Valley Trail. We feature exquisite river views, lovely en-suite rooms, sitting-room, woodfires, croquet, terraced gardens & cream tea. Locally sourced, delicious homemade meals our specialty.

Elegant country house, providing gracious service and fine home-cooked food in warm, friendly atmosphere. Situated in mature, secluded grounds, five minutes walk from the historic village of Usk. Two comfortable lounges (one with colour TV, the other a fully-stocked bar.)

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Room Rate: Single £94-£118

Double £136-£159

Short Breaks

Usk B6

Parva Farmhouse Riverside Guest House

Greyhound Inn/Hotel

Monmouth Road, Tintern, NP16 6SQ T: 01291 689411 E: parvahoteltintern@fsmail.net W: www.parvafarmhouse.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 8 En-suite: 8 Small family-run 17th Century riverside guest house offering informal comfort, situated close to Tintern Abbey. Beamed lounge, Chesterfields, log burner. Intimate inglenook restaurant for traditional home-cooked menu.

Eight well-appointed bedrooms, most with river views. Riverside and woodland walks.

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CYCLISTS

Room Rate: Single £45-£60

Double £65-£85

Tintern D5

★★★

The Best Western Royal George Hotel

Hotel

Tintern Abbey, NP16 6SF T: 01291 689205 F: 01291 689448 E: royalgeorgetintern@hotmail.com W: www.bw-royalgeorgehotel.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 16 En-suite: 16 Charming 16th Century inn located at Tintern Abbey. Bedrooms are arranged around the garden next to the river. There is a well stocked lounge bar with winter fires and a cosy restaurant serving Welsh and borders fayre.

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Room Rate: Single £65-£95

Double £75-£105

Short Breaks

Llantrissent, Nr Usk, NP15 1LE T: 01291 672505 / 673447 F: 01291 673255 E: enquiry@greyhound-inn.com W: www.greyhound-inn.com Open: All Year Rooms: 10 En-suite: 10 The Greyhound Hotel maintains a tradition of excellent country hospitality. Real ales and good wine complement its interesting and varied menu. Fine country accommodation is situated in its converted stone barns and offers all modern day comforts. Find the Greyhound, 2 miles from Usk, in open countryside towards Wentwood Forest. Wales in Bloom Award Winners 2005. Best Gardens and Floral Displays. Wales’ ideal business and holiday base.

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The Wye Valley Hotel

Tintern, Nr Chepstow, NP16 6SQ T: 01291 689441 F: 01291 689440 E: wyevalley.hotel@ukgateway.net W: www.wyevalleyhotel.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 9 En-suite: 9

Olway Inn & Hotel

Short Breaks

CYCLISTS

Room Rate: Single £50-£60

Double £65-£85

Short Breaks

Old Chepstow Road, Usk, NP15 1EN T: 01291 672047 E: info@olwayinn.co.uk W: www.olwayinn.co.uk Open: All Year Rooms: 9 En-suite: 9 Set in the magnificent Usk Valley in the village of Usk, the Olway Inn offers comfortable and quality accommodation. Nine fully equipped en-suite bedrooms. Delicious home-cooked freshly prepared food available. Enjoy the stunning views. Excellent for walking and fishing. Free wireless broadband.

Small family run hotel, offering excellent home cooked food and CAMRA recommended ales. All bedrooms are en-suite with TV, telephone with internet access points. An ideal base for walking or touring by car.

38

Room Rate: Single £58-£62

Double £80-£84

Usk B5

Tintern D5

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CYCLISTS

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Room Rate: Single from £59

Double £69.95-£79.95

Self Catering Accommodation to

Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages

Abergavenny B4

Werngochlyn Farm

Llantilio Pertholey, Abergavenny, NP7 8BH T: 01873 857357 E: werngochlyn@hotmail.com Open: All Year Units: 4 Sleeps: 4-6 + cot Cottages converted from 18th Century barns 2½ miles from the market town of Abergavenny. Situated under the Skirrid mountain. Revealed beams, stone walls, centrally heated, well-equipped. Heated indoor pool, BHS approved riding centre, games room. Many friendly farm animals.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £250-£500

3 nights £150-£180

Chepstow C6

Brynoyre, Talybont-on-Usk, Brecon, Powys, LD3 7YS T: 01874 676446 F: 01874 676416 E: enquiries@breconcottages.com W: www.breconcottages.com Open: All Year Units: 300 Sleeps: 2-40

Coach House Holiday Lets

Penhow Rectory Gardens, Penhow, Caldicot, NP26 3AD T: 01633 400353 E: delwyn@penhow.fsnet.co.uk W: www.coach-householidaylets.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 2 Sleeps: 4+1

Wide selection of interesting properties sleeping between 2 and 40, throughout the Wye Valley, Brecon Beacons, Black Mountains and the Golden Valley. Riverside cottages with fishing, isolated mountain farmhouses and cottages on working farms. Ideal for groups and family reunions.

Breathtaking scenery. Perfect situations for walking, trekking, rough and clay-pigeon shooting, mountain-biking and climbing, bird-watching and touring. Superb mountains, rivers, valleys and waterfalls. Excellent pubs with real ales and open fires. Trout and salmon fishing tuition available. Short breaks available.

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CYCLISTS

Unit Rate: Weekly £186-£1,800

3 nights £161-£1,090

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The Pant, Cross Ash, Abergavenny, NP7 8PU T: 01873 821222 E: annathepant@btinternet.com W: www.ciderhousecottage.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 2 Former cider house situated in the mature gardens of 17th Century farmhouse. Combines traditional and contemporary design.

Beautifully furnished with wood burner (logs provided). Fully equipped kitchen. Attractive outdoor seating area. Great location for walking, cycling, pubs, restaurants, peace and serenity.

Cwrt-y-Gaer

Unit Rate: Weekly £300-£360

3 nights £150-£180

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Abergavenny A4

The Hill

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Pen-y-Pound, Abergavenny, NP7 7RP T: 01495 333770 F: 01495 333778 E: hill@coleggwent.ac.uk W: www.thehillabergavenny.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 5

Little Coed Lliffos

Unit Rate: Weekly £220-£355

3 nights £185-£210

Unit Rate: Weekly £420-£500

3 nights £200-£300

Little Coed Lliffos Farm, Usk Road, Chepstow, NP16 6SA T: 01291 641215 E: jonesfarm01@googlemail.com Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 4 Warm friendly welcome awaits at this farm cottage set in a tranquil valley, perfect holiday base to explore surrounding towns and villages. Cheltenham, Gloucester and Cotswolds also accessible for day’s outing, country pubs. 2 miles into village.

Brochure available.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £230-£290

3 nights £100-£140

Chepstow D5 Main Farm Farmhouse, Tredilion Market Garden, Abergavenny, NP7 8BG T: 01873 852528 Open: All Year Units: 5 Sleeps: 2 each

Oakgrove Cottage

Unit Rate: Weekly £122-£182

3 nights £79-£118

Brockweir Common, Chepstow, NP16 7NT T: 01291 689241 F: 01291 689737 E: info@oakgrovecottage.co.uk W: www.oakgrovecottage.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 2 Idyllic rural cottage bordering Wye Valley and Forest of Dean, boasting spectacular views with access to Offa’s Dyke and wonderful walks. Badgers and birds in abundance.

Oakgrove is a peaceful retreat. Tintern 1 mile, Chepstow 7 miles. Cardiff, Cheltenham and Bristol within an hour.

Cosy south facing cottages on an arable and fruit farm 2 miles east of Abergavenny.

Beautiful views of all mountains and valleys.

Excellent base for walking Brecon Beacons, Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, plus many other walks and castles.

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CYCLISTS

Chepstow D6

Abergavenny B4

Tredilion Holiday Cottages

Wolvesnewton, Chepstow, NP16 6PR T: 01291 650700 E: john.llewellyn11@btinternet.com W: www.cwrt-y-gaer.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 3 Sleeps: 2/4 Set amidst 20 acres of unspoilt beauty of the Usk Vale on the site of an ancient hill-top fort, Cwrt-y-Gaer offers the chance of a quiet holiday with spectacular views.

Attractively converted stone buildings.

One unit designed for wheelchair users.

Set in 5 acres of beautiful grounds including Victorian walled garden. The only self-catering lodge in the centre of Abergavenny.

Sleeps up to a maximum of 5 guests in 3 rooms, all en-suite.

Fully licensed bar.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £295-£475

3 nights £195-£270 (excluding Xmas/New Year)

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Abergavenny C4

Cider House Cottage

Overlooking unspoilt countryside, two delightful well-equipped cottages within the grounds of a 16th Century coach house.

French doors onto patio. Excellent access for touring Wye Valley and Vale of Usk. Private garden and parking. Excellent golf and walking.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £260-£350

3 nights £170-£190

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Self Catering Accommodation Chepstow C6

Pant-y-Cosyn Cottages

Pant-y-Cosyn Farm, Usk Road, Shirenewton, Chepstow, NP16 6RZ T: 01291 641256 E: shelly.whittington@shirenewton.org W: www.pant-y-cosyn.com Open: All Year Units: 2 Sleeps: up to 10 Set in 120 acres of farmland. Peace and tranquillity amidst beautiful scenery. Children’s play area. Well-equipped open-plan kitchen/ lounge with wood burner. Ideal central location for sightseeing. Many local attractions.

Country pubs 2 miles. Historic Chepstow 4 miles.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £230-£500

3 nights £150-£220

Chepstow D6

Pen-y-Parc Cottage

Pen-y-Parc House, St. Arvans, Chepstow, NP16 6EZ T: 01291 625517 E: cottage@pen-y-parc.freeserve.co.uk W: www.visitpenyparc.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 5 Area of Natural Beauty setting near Chepstow, Tintern, and Monmouth. Spectacular views across Wye Valley and Severn. Spacious single floor layout. Lounge/diner. Digital TV/DVD. Kitchen/ Breakfast bar. Full size bath/shower. Two twin bedrooms one single. Heated throughout.

Private garden/patio/barbecue. Own parking.

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Bed & Breakfast and

Farm Holiday Cottages

Abergavenny Farm Holiday Group

Unit Rate: Weekly £300-£400

3 nights £150-£180

Chepstow E4

The General Stores

Mill End, Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, GL17 0HP T: 07971 249726 E: postmaster@millendmitcheldean.co.uk W: www.millendmitcheldean.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 20 The General Stores is a medieval property sleeping 14-20. Situated on the edge of a village with off-street parking, private garden and hot tub. Families, pets, walkers, cyclists welcome. Shops, pubs, restaurants, walks locally, fantastic facilities. Includes selfcontained apartment.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £2,500-£3,500

3 nights from £1,500

Chepstow C6

The Hay Barn & The Bull Pen

Tor-y-Mynydd Farm, Devauden, Chepstow, NP16 6NU T: 01600 860887 F: 01600 860869 E: brian.tor-y-mynydd@virgin.net W: www.tor-y-mynydd.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 2 Sleeps: 4 & 6 Stone barn conversion in 20 acres high on hillside. Truly outstanding views. Peace, relaxation. Equipped high standard, all bedrooms en-suite. Bull Pen GF double, FF twin. Hay Barn GF double, FF living area, FF double, FF twin. Central heating, electricity, linen included. Pets welcome free.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £330-£655

3 nights £175-£315

Chepstow C6

The Studio at The Old Rectory

The Old Rectory, Shirenewton, Chepstow, NP16 6RQ T: 01291 641503 E: patricia@milling.demon.co.uk W: www.cottageguide.co.uk/shirenewton Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 2 Outstanding conversion of former village hall (1874). Light and spacious accommodation with unusual gallery bedroom. Equipped to highest standards and offering a warm welcome. Explore Wye and Usk valleys or walk from village and eat in nearby pubs.

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CYCLISTS

Unit Rate: Weekly £195-£295

3 nights £125-£195

Stay on our farms in the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons National Park

www.afhg.co.uk

Telephone 01873 890359

Self Catering Accommodation Monmouth D5

Chepstow C6

Viburnum Cottage

The Smithy, Devauden, Chepstow, NP16 6QA T: 01291 650675 E: philip.arkell@viburnumcottage.co.uk W: www.viburnumcottage.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 2

Awaiting Grading

Highlands Cottage

Highlands, New Mills, Whitebrook, Monmouthshire, NP25 4TY T/F: 01600 860226 E: doug_watkins@hotmail.co.uk W: www.highlandsholidaysmonmouth.com Open: Apr-Dec Units: 1 Sleeps: 2/4 Charming converted stone stables on high land with stunning views. Peaceful setting in centre of Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 5 miles south of Monmouth. Disabled access throughout. Wet room. Patio. One bedroom – double plus bunk-beds. B&B and campsite available.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £220-£340

3 nights £140-£220

Beautifully furnished, well-equipped, modern, centrally-heated cottage. One bedroom with two single beds. Situated in the peaceful village of Devauden, an ideal base for walking/ touring the Wye and Usk valleys and the Forest of Dean. Brochure available.

Unit Rate: Weekly £236-£315

3 nights £126

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Monmouth C4

and

Camelia & Swallow Cottages

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Monmouth D5

Lower Pen-y-clawdd Farm, Dingestow, Monmouth, NP25 4BG T: 01600 740223 M: 07729 417144 E: averil@clawdd.plus.com W: www.lowerpenyclawddfarm.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 2 Sleeps: 7 Two attractive converted coach houses set in mature gardens of medieval farmhouse.

A working beef and sheep farm, cottages superbly furnished for maximum comfort.

Fully fitted kitchens, cosy bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms, relaxing living rooms, private and secluded coarse fishing on farm.

Robin’s Barn

Robin’s Nest Farm, Tregagle, Penallt, Monmouth, NP25 4RY T: 01600 860058 E: jane@robinsbarn.co.uk W: www.robinsbarn.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 3 Attractive converted stone barn set amidst 12 acres of beautiful, unspoilt countryside with spectacular views over the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean. Close to Offa’s Dyke and Wye Valley Walk. Spiral staircase, woodburner, tennis court, pretty patio, pub nearby.

Dogs welcome. Brochure.

Unit Rate: Weekly £295-£415

3 nights P.O.A.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £240-£410

3 nights £170-£200

Monmouth D5

and

Capel Pentwyn & Old School

Monmouth C4

The Garden Annex

Glenview, Dingestow, Monmouth, NP25 4DZ T: 01600 740650 E: margaret@thegardenannex.co.uk W: www.thegardenannex.co.uk Open: Mar-Oct Units: 1 Sleeps: 2 Bungalow annex, superbly furnished and comprehensively equipped. Quiet countryside location. Ideal base for visiting local castles, Wye Valley, Forest of Dean, Brecon Beacons, Offa’s Dyke. Excellent walking, cycling, golfing, fishing nearby. Monmouth 6 miles, Raglan 2 miles. Full colour brochure.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £200-£300

3 nights £120-£150

Monmouth D4

The Old Bakery

Redbrook, Monmouth, NP25 4LZ T: 01600 713675 E: enquiries@the-old-bakery.com W: www.the-old-bakery.com Open: Feb-Nov Units: 1 Sleeps: 2

Ty’r Wennol, Croes Faen, Penallt, Monmouth, NP25 4SB T/F: 01600 715781 E: qwest@btconnect.com W: www.oldschoolpenallt.co.uk/www.capelpentwyn.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 2 Sleeps: Old School 6, Capel Pentwyn 5

Comfortable self-contained flat. Fully equipped kitchen, lounge/dining room, bath and shower, separate W.C., gas central heating. Village location overlooking River Wye, pubs and shop, ideal walking/touring centre, two long distance footpaths. Ideal for that green car-free holiday.

Capel Pentwyn is a luxury converted chapel in the Arts & Crafts style, situated in the peaceful village of Penallt in the heart of the Wye Valley. It is spacious, stylish, superbly furnished, fully equipped accommodation for 5. Adjacent is the very attractive converted stone schoolhouse which sleeps 6 in similar luxury. Both properties have en-suite facilities, disabled access, a bedroom on the ground floor, woodburners, large gardens with terrace, and superb views over woodland. Ideal for golfers and walkers.

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CYCLISTS

Unit Rate: Weekly £525-£750

3 nights £310-£425

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Unit Rate: Weekly from £320

3 nights from £165

Monmouth C4

Monmouth C4

Cider House Cottage

Penylan Farm, Hendre, Monmouth, NP25 5NL T: 01600 716435 F: 01600 719391 E: penylanfarm@gmail.com W: www.penylanfarm.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 6 Well equipped converted barn on farm originally part of Rolls Estate. Exposed beams, slate floors, underfloor heating, give an atmosphere of comfort and relaxation. Three bedrooms – double/family with wet room ensuite, two twins and additional bathroom. B&B available also. Monmouth 10 mins.

Whitehill Farm Cottage

Whitehill Farm, Wonastow, Monmouth, NP25 4DW T: 01600 740253 E: beryl-yeomans@tiscali.co.uk W: www.whitehillfarmuk.com Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 6 Spacious five-star luxury accommodation with magnificent panoramic views. Three bedrooms, three bath/shower rooms, one on the ground floor. Oak beams cut from our own tree. Large private south terrace, garden and car parking. Visitors can explore our working farm, woodland walks and see wild deer.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £295-£650

3 nights £225-£450

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Unit Rate: Weekly £390-£770

3 nights £285-£550

CYCLISTS

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Self Catering Accommodation Monmouth C4

Woodside Stables

Woodside House, Maypole, Monmouth, NP25 5QH T: 01600 716986 M: 07917 757455 E: austin_elias@yahoo.co.uk W: www.selfcateringmonmouth.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 4 Located in the picturesque Monnow Valley, The Stables have been converted to a very high standard and can comfortably accommodate four people. With fully equipped kitchen/breakfast room, one double or one twin bedroom, living room, shower room, small patio.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £285-£585

3 nights £195-£250

Monmouth D5

Vale of Usk, plus the Beacons Abergavenny, the ideal holiday base - in the lovely Vale of Usk and with the splendid Brecon Beacons providing a wonderful backdrop to the historic townscape.

Magnificent scenery and heritage - pre-historic man, the Romans, the Normans and the Tudors have all left their mark in the area, while the Blaenafon Ironworks World Heritage Site is close by.

Wide range of activities and adventure - lots going on: not only adventure activities (paragliding, sailing, climbing, cycling, etc) but also quieter pursuits like walking and bird-watching, as well as superb cultural opportunities - music, art, etc.

Excellent food, accommodation and communications - superb range of restaurants and quality food shops, as well as accommodation ranging from the finest of Country House Hotels to comfortable B&B’s and well-equipped caravan and camping sites.

For more details - see the following website, www.visitabergavenny.co.uk or contact the Tourist Information Centre (01873 853254, abergavennyic@breconbeacons.org).

Awaiting Grading

Wye Valley Holiday Lets

Lone House Farm, Lone Lane, Penallt, Monmouth, NP25 4AJ T: 01600 712058 E: beds@wyevalleyholidaylets.com W: www.wyevalleyholidaylets.com Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 4+2 Character barn in 14 acres of beautiful countryside. Outskirts of peaceful village.

Country cottage feel, exposed beams, wooden floors. Private gardens with Wye Valley views. Walking distance to Offa’s Dyke, River Wye and village pubs. Local organic food available to order.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £260-£395

3 nights £190-£260

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Raglan C5

Berllanderi Coach House

Usk Road, Raglan, Monmouthshire, NP15 2HR T/F: 01291 690268 E: harvey@berllanderi.freeserve.co.uk W: www.berllanderi.freeserve.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 6 Luxury 17th Century coach house conversion by artist and architect. Set in the Vale of Usk; incorporating traditional and contemporary design. Complete comfort with under-floor heating, slate and oak floor, two en-suite bedrooms, large oak-beamed living room.

Spacious grounds with scenic views.

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CYCLISTS

Ross On Wye D3

Unit Rate: Weekly £380-£750

3 nights £240-£370 to

Ashe Holiday Cottages

Abergavenny & District Tourist Association

Bridstow, Ross on Wye, HR9 6QA T: 01989 563336 E: info@ashe-holiday-cottages.com W: www.ashe-holiday-cottages.com Open: All Year Units: 4 Sleeps: 2-18 Central position for exploring the Wye Valley, Herefordshire, Forest of Dean and Monmouthshire. The Granary, The Mill, Stable and Orchard Cottages are 18th Century converted barns. On-site 18-hole par-3 golf course, fishing lakes and hard tennis court.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £160-£650

3 nights £100-£350

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Tintern D5

Craigo Barn

Botany Bay, Tintern, Wye Valley, NP16 6SN T: 01291 689757 E: holidays@craigohouse.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 5 In the heart of the beautiful Wye Valley.

Comfortable well-equipped detached stone cottage. Peacefully nestling on smallholding in forests above Tintern Abbey, amidst 1000s of acres of picturesque woodland walks. Idyllic location throughout all seasons.

Brilliant walking, dogs welcome.

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42

CYCLISTS

Unit Rate: Weekly £240-£425

3 nights £210-£240

Self Catering Accommodation Tintern D5

Foxes Reach

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Catbrook, Nr Tintern, NP16 6ND T: 01600 860341 E: fionawilton@btopenworld.com W: www.foxesreach.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 6 Whitewashed stone character, blissful hot tub, charming garden. Tradition + modern comfort.

Comprehensively equipped. Flatscreen Satellite TV. WiFi.Ipod dock. Flagged floors. Two sparkling bathrooms. Romantic bedsteads, lavendered linens, towels. CH, woodburner. Pet welcome.

Walking from doorstep. Virtual tour on website. Convenient. Idyllic. Immaculate.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £320-£890

3 nights £329-£499

CYCLISTS

Tintern D5

Underwood Bungalow

Chapel Hill, Tintern, Chepstow, NP16 6TH T: 01291 630089 F: 01291 630553 E: select-properties@btconnect.com W: www.underwoodholidays.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 6 Tastefully furnished 3 bedroom bungalow, set in the historic village of Tintern. Nearby facilities include golf, horse racing, fishing, walking, bird-watching. Award-winning pubs and restaurants. Close to Cardiff, Bristol and Gloucester. Accommodation is maintained to the highest standard.

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Unit Rate: Weekly £300-£550

3 nights £200-£400

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Usk B5

Brynderi

Wainfield Lane, Gwehelog, Usk, NP15 1RG T: 01291 672976 E: mail@brynderi.co.uk W: www.brynderi.co.uk Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 2 Beautifully furnished self-contained wing of country home in a two acre garden (NGS) described as ‘outstanding’ by WTB. Tranquil, rural setting yet easy access to main roads, M4, M50. Single storey, spacious, light and airy, comprehensively equipped for luxury stays.

Fine bed linen, bathrobes, fluffy towels, toiletries. Welcome pack of organic milk, orange juice, teas, coffees, cakes, flowers. Freeview TV. French doors to private patio, suntrap garden areas.

Excellent pub food ¼ mile. Celtic Manor spa/golf 15 minutes.

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CYCLISTS

Unit Rate: Weekly £240-£360

3 nights £180-£210

Usk B5

Vanilla Cottage

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Kemeys Commander, Nr Usk, NP15 1JU T: 01600 860341 E: fionawilton@btopenworld.com W: www.vanillacottage.com Open: All Year Units: 1 Sleeps: 3 Warmly romantic year round comfort. Fourposter, lavendered linens, whirlpool bath, towels, robes. Comprehensive equipment, Satellite TVs, internet access. Woodburner/CH. Adjoining golf, riverbank walk, fishing. Rural, tranquil, yet easy M4/M50/M5. Fenced delightful cottage garden, suntrap terrace, Pets welcome. Immaculate.

Convenient. Virtual tour on website. Short breaks.

Unit Rate: Weekly £250-£599

3 nights £199-£350

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reservations 44

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Caravan & Camping æ æ æ æ

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Abergavenny A4

Pyscodlyn Farm

Caravan & Camping Site

Llanwenarth Citra, Abergavenny, NP7 7ER T: 01873 853271 E: pyscodlyn.farm@virgin.net W: www.pyscodlyncaravanpark.com Open: Apr-Oct Touring/Tent: 60 Static 1 Sleeps: 6 In picturesque Usk Valley. Ideally situated for touring Black Mountains and BBNP. Excellent walking area. River Usk fishing permits available.

Golf and pony trekking nearby. A wealth of castles to explore in area. Level pitches.

Fully serviced caravan for hire.

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Touring £12-£14/night Tent £10-£14/night Static £250-£350/week £120-£150/3 nights

Monmouth C4

Bridge Caravan & Camping Site

Dingestow, Monmouth, NP25 4DY T: 01600 740241 E: info@bridgecaravanpark.co.uk Open: Easter-Oct Touring 100 Tent 20 Static 3 Sleeps: 4-6 This riverside site offers facilities of a high standard and is ideally positioned for touring the whole of the Vale of Usk and Wye Valley.

Hot water at all times, launderette, Calor gas and fishing on site.

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Touring £12-£15/night Tent £12-£15/night Static £140-£225/week £90-£105/3 nights

Monmouth D5

Highlands Camping & Caravan Site

Awaiting Grading

Highlands, New Mills, Whitebrook, Monmouthshire, NP25 4TY T/F: 01600 860226 E: doug_watkins@hotmail.co.uk W: www.highlandsholidaysmonmouth.com Open: Feb-Dec Touring: 5 Tent: 10 Perfect hideaway yet with stunning views across the valley. Peaceful setting in centre of Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 5 miles south of Monmouth. 1 shower. 1 toilet.

Explore a wealth of walks. Self-catering cottage and B&B also available.

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Touring Tent

£15/night from £10/night

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Usk B5

Pont Kemys Caravan Park

Chainbridge, Abergavenny, NP7 9DS T: 01873 880688 F: 01873 880270 E: info@pontkemys.com W: www.pontkemys.com Open: Mar-Oct Touring: 66 Tent: 12 Peaceful rural park between Usk and Abergavenny on the B4598. Immaculate facilities, some fully serviced pitches. Easily accessible from the M4 and Cardiff. Ideal location for the Usk Valley Walk, Cycle Route 42, Brecon Beacons, Big Pit and Raglan Castle.

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Touring Tent

£14-£18/night £9-£16/night

Visit www.wyedeantourism.co.uk for more information or pick up a leaflet.

Telephone - 0845 053 1173 Email - info@wyedeantourism.co.uk 45

Attractions & Activities Abergavenny A2

Grange Trekking

The Grange, Capel-y-Ffin, Abergavenny, NP7 7NP T: 01873 890215 F: 01873 890157 W: www.grangetrekking.co.uk Open: Mar-Nov Pony-trekking, day/half-day. En-suite accommodation and camping facilities available. Exhilarating views of the Welsh countryside with cheerful, experienced, qualified leaders. Everyone welcome. Horses and ponies to suit all abilities. Situated high in the beautiful Black Mountains. Don’t delay, try a day.

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Opening Times: Daily, 10am-5pm

Abergavenny B4

Abergavenny Museum

Castle Street, Abergavenny, NP7 5EE T: 01873 854282 F: 01873 736004 E: abergavennymuseum@monmouthshire.gov.uk W: www.abergavennymuseum.co.uk Open: All Year Free Admission

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Find out about this historic market town from Prehistory to the present. Displays include a Victorian kitchen, saddler’s workshop and 1950’s grocery shop. Housed in a hunting lodge within the ruins of the Norman Castle.

Regular Special Exhibitions.

Children’s activities. Shop.

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Opening Times: Mar-Oct, Mon-Sat 11am1pm & 2pm-5pm, Sun 2pm-5pm; Nov-Feb, Mon-Sat 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm.

Abergavenny B5

Goytre Wharf

Llanover, Abergavenny, NP7 9EW T: 01606 723800 F: 01606 871471 W: www.waterscape.com Open: All Year Free Admission Alongside the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, Goytre Wharf comprises a visitor centre, sculpture trail, interactive interpretation, aqueduct, limekilns, picnic area, restaurant (01873 881355), marina and boat hire (01873 880516). Leave A4042 at Llanover, south of Abergavenny; head west for 1½ miles.

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Opening Times: Daily, 10am-Dusk

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Caerleon B6

Roman Legion Fortress Town

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Caerleon Tourist Information Centre, 5 High Street, Caerleon, NP18 1AE T/F: 01633 422656 E: caerleon.tic@newport.gov.uk W: www.caerleon.net One of the most important military sites in Roman Britain, today brought to life at the Fortress Baths, once a giant ‘leisure centre’, the National Roman Legion Museum, which portrays the life of the garrison, and the Amphitheatre, designed to hold 5,000 spectators. Caerleon is an attractive town with pubs, places to stay, restaurants, tearooms, and the Ffwrwm Arts & Craft Centre. A fascinating sculpture trail is the legacy of the International Sculpture & Arts Festival held every summer, details to be found on www.caerleon-arts.org

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Chepstow E5

Forest of Dean Model Village & Gardens

Lydney Park, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 6BU T/F: 01594 845244 Open: Mar-Dec Admission Charge Group Rates Recently refurbished Model Village and gardens launched August 2008. Visitors can see a miniature Symonds Yat plus many more local landmarks. Café, picnic area.

Gift shop open for Easter. Open for kids’ parties, corporate events, product launches and kids shows.

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Opening Times: 6 days per week,10am-6pm

Coleford D5

Clearwell Caves

Caldicot C7

Caldicot Castle & Country Park

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Church Road, Caldicot, NP26 4HU T: 01291 420241 F: 01291 435094 E: caldicotcastle@monmouthshire.gov.uk W: www.caldicotcastle.co.uk Open: Apr-Oct. Active winter events programme.

Admission Charge Group Rates

Nr Coleford, Glos, GL16 8JR T: 01594 832535 E: jw@clearwellcaves.com W: www.clearwellcaves.com Open: All Year Admission Charge Group Rates

Visit Caldicot’s magnificent medieval castle set in fifty-five acres of beautiful parkland.

Discover its colourful history with an audio tour. Relax and enjoy the grounds and explore hands-on activities. Gift shop. Tea room. Events.

Free parking. Picnic tables. Barbecue hearths.

An atmospheric and mysterious natural cave that has been mined for iron ore and ochre pigments for over 4,500 years. Nine impressive caverns for visitors to explore, descending 100ft underground. Mining and geological displays throughout, educational and fun.

Adventure caving and guided tours for pre-booked groups. Gift shop, café, free parking.

In December the caves are transformed into the ‘Christmas Fantasy’ spectacular.

See website for other events through the year.

Opening Times: Daily, 11am-5pm

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Caldicot C7

Caldicot Castle Medieval Banquets

Coleford D4 Church Road, Caldicot, NP26 4HU T: 01291 424447 F: 01291 423761 E: caldicotcastle@jamesonsevents.co.uk W: www.jamesonsevents.co.uk Open: All Year Round

Puzzlewood

Come and make merry at Caldicot Castle’s famous Medieval Banquet in the style of our noble ancestors. Join the Baron and Baroness in the romantic candlelit splendour of the Great Hall. Enjoy traditional entertainment of Wales presented by accomplished performers.

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Opening Times: events 7pm-12am

Explore a mile of meandering pathways through beautiful ancient woodland. The paths wind through gullies and moss covered rocks, over bridges and through fantastic tree and rock formations. Also farm animals and wildfowl, tea room and children’s play area.

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Gwy House, Bridge Street, Chepstow, NP16 5EZ T: 01291 625981 F: 01291 635005 E: chepstowmuseum@monmouthshire.gov.uk Open: All Year Free Admission

aMazing Hedge Puzzle

Opening Times: Daily, Easter-end Sep 10am5.30pm; Oct & Feb half-term 11am-4.30pm

Opening Times: Daily inc B/H, Mon-Sat 11am-5pm, Sun 2pm-5pm; Jul-Sep 10.30am5.30pm (Sun 2pm-5.30pm); Nov-Feb close 4pm

Symonds Yat West, Ross on Wye, HR9 6DA T: 01600 890360 E: havefun@mazes.co.uk W: www.mazes.co.uk Open: All Year Admission Charge Group Rates Meet the Maze Makers Lindsay and Edward Heyes. Our aMazing Hedge Puzzle is just right for games with your friends and family – hide and seek, tag or even kiss-chase.

Find your way then play! Also Museum of Mazes and Puzzle Shop.

Discover the history of this ancient town, once an important port and market centre. Situated in an elegant 18th Century house, atmospheric displays on wine trade, shipbuilding, salmon fishing. Paintings/prints of Wye Valley.

Children’s activities, special exhibitions, shop.

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Coleford, Gloucestershire, GL16 8QB T: 01594 833187 E: info@puzzlewood.net W: www.puzzlewood.net Open: Easter-end Oct & Feb half-term Admission Charge Group Rates

Monmouth D4

Chepstow D6

Chepstow Museum

Opening Times: Mar-Oct, daily 10am-5pm; Dec-Feb, daily Dec, w/ends Jan-Feb, 10am-5pm

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Opening Times: Daily from 11am

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Attractions & Activities Monmouth D4

Monmouth Canoe & Activity Centre

Monmouth D4 Old Dixton Road, Monmouth, NP25 5FG T/F: 01600 713461/716083 E: monmouthcanoehire@hotmail.com W: www.monmouthcanoe.co.uk Open: Mar-Nov

Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo

Canoeing on the River Wye for families, youth and adult groups in Canadian canoes and single kayaks by the half-day or longer.

Overnight canoe camping or B&B trips planned for up to a week’s canoeing. Transportation service; instructors available.

Monmouth D4 & E4

Pedalabikeaway Cycle Centres

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Opening Times: Daily, 9am-6pm

Symonds Yat West, Ross on Wye, HR9 6DA T: 01600 890360 E: seeus@butterflyzoo.co.uk W: www.butterflyzoo.co.uk Open: All Year Admission Charge Group Rates Walk with Butterflies, the world’s most beautiful and delicate creatures as they fly around you.

Watch them emerge from their chrysalides, display their colours, lay eggs and sup nectar from the fragrant and spectacular tropical plants.

It’s a safari, where you explore to find answers which baffled people for centuries: Why don’t butterflies grow? How long do they live? How do they survive? Be at home with the butterflies and find out how to attract native butterflies to your garden.

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Opening Times: Daily from 10am

Monmouth D4

E: info@pedalabikeaway.co.uk W: www.pedalabikeaway.co.uk Bike Hire – Comprehensive range of bikes – hourly rated. Special needs bikes/equipment.

School and Youth groups welcome.

Cannop Valley, Forest of Dean Hadnock Road, Monmouth Traffic free marked trail & trails for mountain Follow the marked Peregrine Path along the bikers, café, toilets/showers, bike wash, cycle River Wye to Symonds Yat – ideal for families. spares shop/repairs workshop – cytech Good starting place to explore the Wye trained mechanics Valley. Toilet and free parking for all cyclists.

Open: All Year – 6 days (closed Mondays) Open: Apr-Oct weekends and all school and all school holidays holidays (Nov-Mar: bookings only) T: 01594 860065, F: 01594 860026 T: 01600 772821/07789 356813

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Open: All Year

Symonds Yat West, Ross on Wye, HR9 6DA T: 01600 890360 E: havefun@mazes.co.uk W: www.mazes.co.uk/golf.htm Open: All Year Admission Charge Group Rates Play this twelve hole miniature course, set amongst the fantasy ruins of a picturesque Roman villa. Clubs and balls provided. Original design, excellent all-weather playing-surface.

Special offer: half price rounds for customers of the Hedge Puzzle or Butterfly Zoo.

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Opening Times: Daily from 10am

Newport B7

Monmouth D3

Pedalaway

Wye Valley Miniature Golf

Trereece Barn, Llangarron, Ross on Wye, HR9 6NH T: 01989 770357 F: 01989 770352 E: info@pedalaway.co.uk W: www.pedalaway.co.uk Open: All Year Group Rates

Newport Museum & Art Gallery

Mountain bikers – varied trails in Forest of Dean, Wye Valley & Brecon Beacons. Casual cyclists – country lanes, towpaths, old railway lanes, National Cycle Routes. Cycle Hire – quality MTBs, tourers, tandems, junior MTBs, child trailers and trailerbikes/kiddy seats.

Facilities: Services: delivery/back-up.

Other Centre: Abergavenny T: 01873 830219

Opening Times: Daily, 10am-6pm

Monmouth D4

The Nelson Museum & Local History Centre

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Priory Street, Monmouth, NP25 3XA T: 01600 710630 F: 01600 710631 E: nelsonmuseum@monmouthshire.gov.uk Open: All Year Free Admission

John Frost Square, Newport, NP20 1PA T: 01633 656656 F: 01633 222615 W: www.newport.gov.uk/museum; www.newport.gov.uk/artgallery

Horatio Nelson was born in Norfolk, died at sea and is buried in London, yet Monmouth has one of the world’s best collections of Nelson material. Learn about the life, loves, death and commemoration of the famous Admiral, the origins of the collection, and Monmouth’s history.

The Museum houses fascinating displays depicting Local History, the Natural Sciences and Archaeology. The collections from the Roman town of Caerwent are particularly rich, and the important story of the Chartist Uprising of 1839 is well illustrated with relics and documents. The Art Gallery presents a stimulating programme of exhibitions and educational activities; houses collections and contemporary British paintings, sculptures and ceramics. Of particular note is the John Wait Teapot display, and the Fox Collection of decorative art.

Opening Times: Mar-Oct, Mon-Sat 11am-1pm & 2pm-5pm, Sun 2pm-5pm; Nov-Feb, Mon-Sat 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm, Sun 2pm-4pm

Open: All Year

Attractions & Activities Newport B7

Tintern D5

Newport Tourism

Abbey Mill

Newport Tourist Information Centre, John Frost Square, Newport, NP20 1PA T: 01633 842962 F: 01633 222615 E: newport.tic@newport.gov.uk W: www.newport.gov.uk/tourism The City of Newport and environs are surprisingly rich in culture, from the magnificent historic Tredegar House, to the Roman fortress town of Caerleon. Newport Wetlands Reserve is renowned as a wildlife and bird sanctuary and opened a new visitor centre in 2008. The recently-discovered Mediaeval Ship is the finest of its type ever found in the UK, and another new attraction is the Heritage and Canal Centre at Fourteen Locks. Newport, host city for The 2010 Ryder Cup, has over thirty-five golfing venues in the surrounding area.

Wye Valley Centre, Tintern, Monmouthshire, NP16 6SE T: 01291 689228 F: 01291 689220 E: info@abbeymill.com W: www.abbeymill.com Open: All Year Free Admission Award winning Abbey Mill, original Mill site of Tintern Abbey, is set amidst breathtaking scenery on the banks of the River Wye. Offering riverside shopping and dining in a relaxed setting for you to enjoy. Large selection of hand carved Lovespoons. 10% discount on production of this advert.

• • • • • •

Arts, Craft & Gift Centre Licensed Coffee Shop & Restaurant Coaches Welcome Events Unique Shopping Experience Group Bookings Welcome

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Newport A7

Tintern D5

Tredegar House & Park

The Old Station

• • • • • •

Wye Valley Craft Association Historic Old Mill Buildings 5 Distinctively Different Shops Function Room Demonstrations Trout Pond

Opening Times: Daily, Summer 10.30am5.30pm, Winter 10.30am-5pm

Newport, NP10 8YW T: 01633 815880 F: 01633 815890 E: tredegarhouse@newport.gov.uk W: www.newport.gov.uk/tredegarhouse Open: Apr-Sep

Tintern, Monmouthshire, NP16 7NX T: 01291 689566 F: 01291 689566 E: johnsterry@monmouthshire.gov.uk W: www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/countryside/access Open: Apr-Nov Free Admission

Admission Charge (House) Free Admission (Park) Group Tours by arrangement throughout the year Set in ninety acres of gardens and parkland, and one of the finest examples of Restoration Architecture in Wales, Tredegar House was the ancestral home of the Morgans for over 500 years.

Visitors today can discover what life was like for those who lived ‘above and below’ stairs.

A stunning sequence of Staterooms, elaborately decorated with carvings, gilding, and fine paintings contrast with the fascinating and extensive domestic quarters. Lakeside walks, beautiful walled gardens, orangery and spectacular stable block complete the ‘Country House’ picture.

Built as a Victorian country railway station, situated in the beautiful Wye Valley (AONB) the station is a quiet haven from the hustle and bustle of daily life. An ideal starting point for walks in the Wye Valley. The tea room serves breakfasts from 9.30am, light snacks and home-baked cakes, toilets, including disabled, local tourist information, play area, children’s activities always available, wooden sculptures of local historical characters, gift shop, signal box exhibitions.

Nominal parking charge. Coaches by appointment.

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Opening Times: House: Wed-Sun & B/H 11am-last admission 4pm Park: Daily, dawn-dusk

Ross On Wye E4

Dick Whittington Farm Park

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Opening Times: Daily, 10.30am-5.30pm

Usk B5 Little London, Longhope, West Gloucestershire, GL17 0PH T: 01452 831000 F: 01452 831731 W: www.dickwhittington.org Open: All Year Admission Charge Group Rates Outside activities – pedal kart course, play zones, giant sandpit. Meet the farm animals and deer. Indoor play barn covers 12,000 sq.ft. Dick Whittington Exhibition, Aquarium, pet and reptile rooms, shop and restaurant.

Excellent for families with toddlers to 10-yearolds. National Farm Park Runners-Up 2007.

Opening Times: Daily, 10am-5pm

Usk Rural Life Museum

The Malt Barn, New Market Street, Usk, NP15 1AU T: 01291 673777 E: uskrurallife.museum@virgin.net W: www.uskmuseum.org.uk Open: Apr-Oct Admission Charge Group Rates An independent museum crammed with reminders of Monmouthshire’s rural heritage.

See the farmhouse kitchen, laundry and dairy.

Follow the countryman’s year and admire the displays of village craftsmanship. See local wagons and tractors. Special attractions for children. Tourist information available.

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Opening Times: Daily, Weekdays 10am-5pm, Weekends 2pm-5pm

49

Wye Valley & Vale of Usk

take your pick...

Introducing Wales’s Holiday Areas The Wye Valley and Vale of Usk is one of the Holiday Areas within Wales.

Each area has its own distinct character.

The Isle of Anglesey A place like no other, Anglesey offers unparalleled beauty, amazing adventures, serious solitude and warm welcome. Easily accessible; this unique Island, with its coastline, varied beaches and historical towns make it a superb base for all the family. Those that have visited need not be told. They just return…

Tel +44 (0)1248 713177 or (0)1407 762622 Email: tourism@anglesey.gov.uk www.visitanglesey.co.uk Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Vibrant Llandudno, the Victorian seaside gem. World Heritage Conwy. Waterfront adventure at Colwyn Bay. Year round breaks, filled with fun, good food, great walking and world-class theatre. All within easy reach of Snowdonia.

Tel: +44 (0)1492 577577 Email: llandudnotic@conwy.gov.uk www.visitllandudno.org.uk Rhyl and Prestatyn Among the best recognised British seaside resorts. Fabulous award-winning beaches with a range of family friendly attractions, events and activities. Walk the Offa’s Dyke path in Prestatyn. An hour’s drive from Merseyside and the West Midlands.

Tel +44 (0)1745 344515/355068 Email: rhyl.tic@denbighshire.gov.uk www.rhyl-prestatyn.co.uk The North Wales Borderlands Short journey: very different place. At less than 20 minutes from Chester. We’re just a hop and a skip from the North West and the West Midlands. From the bustling shops and nightlife of Wrexham to the culinary delights of the Mold food and drink festival to the world-famous Llangollen International Eisteddfod. 100% Wales on your doorstep!

Tel +44 (0)1352 759331 Email: borderlands@mail.com www.northwalesborderlands.co.uk

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Snowdonia Mountains and Coast/ Eryri Mynyddoedd a Môr An exciting destination that includes the Snowdonia National Park, Llŷn Peninsula and Cambrian Coastline. A wide choice of quality accommodation, attractions and activities – castles, narrow-gauge railways, golf, cycling, walking, World Heritage Site, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Heritage Coast. Open all year….

Tel +44 (0)1341 281485 (24hr) Email: tourism@gwynedd.gov.uk www.visitsnowdonia.info Mid Wales and the Brecon Beacons The green, peaceful heartlands of Wales have something for everyone – outstanding scenery, activities, outdoor adventure, culture and history. Stay at charming country towns and villages; enjoy good food and a warm welcome from an inviting range of accommodation.

Tel +44 (0)1686 610065 Email: tourism@powys.gov.uk www.exploremidwales.com Ceredigion – Cardigan Bay Some of the UK’s finest coast and countryside.

Holiday areas include Aberporth, Tresaith, Llangrannog, New Quay, Aberaeron, Aberystwyth, Borth, Cardigan, the Teifi Estuary and Valley, Devil’s Bridge and Cambrian Mountains. Popular pursuits include mountain biking, cycling, walking, sailing and angling.

Tel +44 (0)1970 612125 Email: brochure@ceredigion.gov.uk www.tourism.ceredigion.gov.uk Pembrokeshire Choose between lively Tenby and Saundersfoot or peaceful St Davids and Newport. No other county in the UK has more Blue Flag Award beaches, all set in the magnificent Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Perfect for outdoor activities or just relaxing.

Tel +44 (0)8705 103103 Email: tourism@pembrokeshire.gov.uk www.visitpembrokeshire.com

Carmarthenshire – the Garden of Wales Find out what inspired Dylan Thomas at his Boathouse. Visit our traditional market towns, some dating back to Roman times. Cycle or walk the 12½-mile (20km) Millennium Coast Park, or sample many other outdoor activities, including pony trekking, golf and watersports.

Tel +44 (0)1267 231557 Email: tourism@carmarthenshire.gov.uk www.visitcarmarthenshire.co.uk Swansea Bay, Mumbles, Gower, Afan and the Vale of Neath Unwind in the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, relax on award-winning beaches, and explore unspoilt countryside.

Some of the UK’s best locations for walking, cycling, watersports and golf, together with Swansea, Wales’ Waterfront City.

Tel +44 (0) 1792 468321 Email: tourism@swansea.gov.uk www.visitswanseabay.com Wisdom and Walks in the Valleys of South Wales A stunning landscape perfect for walking, cycling and other activities in a region steeped in heritage and history. A World Heritage Site, Wales’ largest castle, Britain’s most haunted manor plus Jazz and Blues Festivals for your enjoyment.

Tel +44 (0)29 2088 0011 Email: tourism@caerphilly.gov.uk www.wisdomandwalks.co.uk Cardiff The capital of Wales has unique attractions, top-class entertainment – and quality shopping with a difference. Cardiff Castle, the Millennium Stadium, National Museum Cardiff and Wales Millennium Centre combined with Cardiff Bay offer indoor and outdoor entertainment for everyone.

Tel +44 (0)8701 211258 Email: visitor@cardiff.gov.uk www.visitcardiff.com

visitwyevalley.com

The Glamorgan Heritage Coast and Countryside The dramatic Heritage Coast and popular resorts of Barry Island and Porthcawl are fringed by lovely Vale countryside and green hills. Discover the special character of an area steeped in history – and it’s close to Cardiff, Wales’ cosmopolitan capital.

Tel +44 (0)1446 709328 or +44 (0)1656 672928 Emails: tourism@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk tourism@bridgend.gov.uk www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk www.visitbridgend.com

Activities for all

For FREE copies of any THREE Holiday Area brochures please tick the appropriate boxes and send to: Visit Wales, Dept E19, PO Box 1, Cardiff CF24 2XN

The Isle of Anglesey Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Rhyl & Prestatyn The North Wales Borderlands Snowdonia Mountains & Coast/Eryri Mynyddoedd a Môr Mid Wales & the Brecon Beacons Ceredigion – Cardigan Bay Pembrokeshire Carmarthenshire – the Garden of Wales Swansea Bay, Mumbles, Gower, Afan & the Vale of Neath Wisdom & Walks in the Valleys of South Wales Cardiff The Glamorgan Heritage Coast & Countryside

Wales is the UK’s activity capital.

Find out more with the help of these FREE action-packed guides and take a look at the websites.

Name (please print):

Wales Active

Address (please print):

We’ve crammed in as much as we can, with sections covering Wales on foot, wheels and water. As well as maps, web links, phone numbers and a directory of over 170 activity businesses. www.visitwales.com/active

Fishing Wales’s 750-mile coastline and countless rivers and lakes all add up to a paradise for sea, game and coarse fishing. www.fishing.visitwales.com

Golf Wales The secret’s out! More and more players are discovering and thoroughly enjoying ‘Golf as it should be’ in Wales. www.golfasitshouldbe.com

Post Code:

For FREE copies of any TWO of the activity guides please tick the appropriate boxes and send to: Visit Wales, Dept F19, PO Box 1, Cardiff CF24 2XN

Wales Active Fishing Wales Golf Wales

Name (please print): Address (please print):

Post Code:

51

so accessible The Wye Valley & Vale of Usk area is remarkably accessible however you decide to travel.

By Road The Wye Valley & Vale of Usk is served by excellent trunk roads which provide fast, easy access. The M4 and M48 skirt the southern edge while the A40 runs through the middle of the area. From London and the south of England use the M4 and the Second Severn Crossing or for Chepstow, Tintern & the Wye Valley branch off just past Bristol onto the M48 and cross the original Severn Bridge.

From south west England use the M5, then M4/M48. From the Midlands and northern England use the M6, M5, M50 and A40.

For the latest traffic information on trunk roads and motorways in Wales, visit www.traffic-wales.com A toll is payable when travelling west-bound across either the Severn Bridge (M48) or the Second Severn Crossing (M4). Charges for 2009: Cars and Motor Caravans £5.50, Small Goods Vehicles & Buses £11.10, HGVs & Coaches £16.60, Motorcyclists Free.

Interestingly, there is a path specifically for cyclists and pedestrians on the Severn Bridge (but not the Second Severn Crossing).

Severn River Crossing plc Tel: +44 (0)1454 635000 www.severnbridge.co.uk

By Coach & Bus National Express operate a nationwide network of coach services to Newport, Tel: +44 (0)8705 808080 (0800 –2000 hours daily, national call rates apply) www.nationalexpress.com Local and national information is available from Travel Line (All Wales Public Transport Information) Tel: +44 (0)871 200 2233 (0700 –2200 hours daily, national call rates apply) www.traveline.org.uk The Monmouthshire Bus Guide is a free publication, produced twice-yearly, that lists local bus services. Contact the Tourist Information Centres for your copy.

By Rail There are railway stations at Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicot, Chepstow and Abergavenny with main line services coming into the area from London (in under 2 hours), Bristol, Birmingham and Crewe. For travel information contact National Rail Enquiries Tel: +44 (0)8457 484950 (24 hours, local call rates apply). If phoning from overseas Tel: 44 207278 5240 (International rates apply) www.nationalrail.co.uk. To book train tickets visit www.thetrainline.com.

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For visitors with specific needs or cyclists wishing to use the trains please contact the train operating companies: First Great Western Tel: +44 (0)845 700 0125 www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk Cross Country Trains Tel: +44(0)844 811 0124 www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk Arriva Trains Wales Tel: +44 (0)845 6061 660 www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk The Freedom of Wales Flexi Pass This pass offers four days train and eight days bus travel on all mainline rail services and most scheduled bus services in Wales, plus discounted rates at many of Wales’ largest tourist attractions and Youth Hostels (terms & conditions apply). For further information visit www.walesflexipass.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)845 6061 660 to buy tickets.

Via the Channel Tunnel Eurotunnel carrying vehicles and passengers Tel: +44 (0)8705 353535 www.eurotunnel.com Eurostar passenger train service Tel: +44 (0)8705 186186 www.eurostar.com

By Air Cardiff International Airport, Bristol International Airport and Birmingham International Airport handle flights into the region from UK, Europe and USA. For flight information: Cardiff International Airport Tel: +44 (0)1446 711111 www.cwlfly.com Bristol International Airport Tel: +44 (0)871 3344444 www.bristolairport.co.uk Birmingham International Airport Tel: +44 (0)870 733 5511 www.bhx.co.uk London Heathrow and London Gatwick are less than three hours away via Flightlink, luxury coach travel.

Tel: +44 (0)8717 818181 (0800 – 2200 daily, national call rates apply) www.nationalexpress.com

By Sea There are ferry connections from mainland Europe to the UK’s south and east coasts and from Ireland to ports in Wales.

Brittany Ferries Tel: +44 (0)871 244 1400 www.brittany-ferries.com Irish Ferries Tel: +44 (0)8705 171717 www.irishferries.com P&O Tel: +44 (0)8716 646464 www.poferries.com DFDS Seaways Tel: +44 (0)8705 333000 www.dfds.co.uk Stena Line Tel: +44 (0)8705 707070 www.stenaline.co.uk

Car Hire Abergavenny Whittal Williams Tel: +44 (0)1873 855916 Birmingham (Airport) Europcar Tel: +44 (0)121 782 6507 Hertz Tel: +44 (0)870 846 0008 Bristol (Airport) Europcar Tel: +44 (0)1275 474623 Hertz Tel: +44 (0)870 850 7193 Cardiff (Airport) Europcar Tel: +44 (0)870 607 5000 Hertz Tel: +44 (0)1446 711722 Chepstow WK Vehicle Rentals Tel: +44 (0)1291 621122 Monmouth Singleton Fleet Hire Tel: +44 (0)1600 712200 Newport Days Tel: +44 (0)1633 244666

Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) This scheme enables pet cats and dogs to be brought into the UK without quarantine as long as they meet certain conditions.

Preparations for travelling with your pet must be made well in advance. For further information contact Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Tel: +44 (0)870 241 1710 (0800 –1800 Mon-Fri, national call rates apply). www.defra.gov.uk

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If you want to find out more about something that interests you, please complete and return this request form or visit www.visitwyevalley.com 1. Please send me FREE information on the following, as it becomes available (tick MAXIMUM of 2 boxes.)

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(Please provide an email address if you wish to receive information by email on short breaks and offers in the Wye Valley & Vale of Usk.) 3. We are eager to listen to our visitors and improve our service to them. Please help us by completing the following questions. a) What type of holiday are you considering taking in the Wye Valley & Vale of Usk? Main holiday Short break Activity/Special Interest Holiday Visiting Friends/Relatives None b) In which season would you plan to visit?

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Send completed form to: Wye Valley & Vale of Usk, FREEPOST SWC4673, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 5ZZ. Please allow up to 28 days for delivery. Tel +44 (0)1291 623772. Fax +44 (0)1291 628004. Email chepstow.tic@monmouthshire.gov.uk 53

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Cover image Matt Tebbutt, author of Matt Tebbutt Cooks Country, at home in the Usk Valley, with the Skirrid mountain in the background, just up the road from The Foxhunter Restaurant thefoxhunter.com Photographer Keith Davies keith-davies.co.uk

Acknowledgements This guide has been produced by Monmouthshire County Council with support from Newport City Council.

Details of accommodation and other businesses included in this guide are based on information received from the relevant advertisers at the time of going to press. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in this guide, Monmouthshire County Council can accept no liability whatsoever for any errors, inaccuracies or omissions or for any matter in any way connected with, or arising out of, the publication of this information.

Monmouthshire County Council gratefully acknowledges photography by/from: Abergavenny Food Festival, adventa, Toril Brancher, Britishcycling.org.uk, CADW – Crown Copyright, © Chepstow Museum, Chepstow Racecourse, Fiona Cran, Edwina Currie, Keith Davies, Nanette Hepburn, Stephen Kind, (Woodland Trust Picture Library), Ross Leadbeater, Gareth DavidLloyd, Mike Longridge, © Nelson Museum & Local History Centre, Monmouth, Newport City Council, Fay Mansell, Melanie C., Jeremy Moore, National Diving & Activity Centre, Newport Gwent Dragons, Photo Library Wales, Mari Roberts, Owen Sheers, South Wales Argus, St David’s Foundation, St Mary’s Priory Development Trust, Tate Britain, Laura Tenison, Chris Terry, The Crown at Whitebrook, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, The Walnut Tree, © Crown copyright (2008) Visit Wales, Harry Williams, Jay Williams, and all other organisations and individuals who contributed to this guide.

Published by Monmouthshire County Council Tel: +44 (0)1633 644 847 www.monmouthshire.gov.uk Copywriting, management of photography and guide development – Deborah Haylock, Haylock Consultancy Tel: +44 (0)1873 858 187 Golf illustration by Brian Duggan Tel: +44 (0)7970 950 703 Designed and produced by Sweet www.sweetcreative.co.uk Printed by the Westdale Press Ltd Tel: +44 (0)29 2066 2600 www.westdale.co.uk

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