Wales Guide  |
|---|
|
| | Welsh Counties |
|---|
|
| | National Parks |
|---|
|
| | Europe Guide |
|---|
|
| | Travel Tools |
|---|
|
| | UK & Ireland Guide |
|---|
|
|
|
|
 Caerphilly Castle, Gwent.
Attractions
Monmouthshire
| Blaenavon Ironworks ※ |
|---|
 Established in 1789, Blaenavon Ironworks stands as the best-preserved blast furnace from the early Industrial Revolution and was one of the world's most important iron producers in the early 19th century. The site pioneered steam-powered blast furnaces and later became the birthplace of Sidney Gilchrist Thomas's revolutionary method for removing phosphorus from iron ore. Visitors can explore the 18th-century blast furnaces with audio posts bringing the site to life, alongside a recreated company truck shop and restored ironworkers' cottages, which gained fame as filming locations for the BBC series Coal House. The adjacent Big Pit National Coal Museum, a former working mine that once employed 1,400 miners, offers free entry and features a 90-metre descent into underground tunnels, plus surface attractions including preserved pit buildings and pithead machinery. The nearby Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, once crucial for transporting coal, iron, and limestone, now serves as a picturesque route for pleasure boats and wildlife spotting. A remarkable transformation can be witnessed at Garn Lakes, a nature reserve that has evolved from an industrial wasteland of tips and colliery workings into a thriving wetland ecosystem in just two decades. |
| Caerleon |
|---|
Caerleon is one of only three Roman fortress settlements in Britain that were built for legionary troops, alongside York and Chester. Known as the 'fortress of the Legion', it was home to the 2nd Augustan Legion, housing 6,000 soldiers and horsemen. Today, visitors can explore the remains of the immense natatio (open-air swimming pool) that once held more than 80,000 gallons of water, complete with film projections of Roman soldiers diving. The town houses the Wales National Roman Legion Museum and Roman Baths Museum, whilst hosting an annual Arts Festival in July featuring tree sculptors from around the world, with many sculptures displayed throughout the town and Roman military re-enactments at the amphitheatre. The site features heavily in Arthurian legend, with the Black Book of Carmarthen mentioning Caerleon as Arthur's stronghold, and interestingly, the Roman amphitheatre was known as the 'Round Table' until its excavation in 1926. The local restaurants showcase Welsh produce, particularly renowned for superb lamb and beef. |
| Caerphilly Castle |
|---|
 Caerphilly Castle dominates an impressive 30-acre site and stands as Britain's second-largest castle after Windsor. Built between 1268 and 1271 by Gilbert de Clare, nicknamed 'The Red' due to his Norman-heritage red hair, the castle was constructed to control Glamorgan and counter Welsh Prince Llewellyn ap Gruffudd's southern ambitions. The fortress features extensive artificial lakes, considered Britain's most elaborate water defences, and notably introduced concentric castle defences to Britain, revolutionising military architecture. One of its most distinctive features is the famous leaning tower, which has tilted 3 metres out of perpendicular since 1648. Today, the castle hosts various evening events including open-air cinema and ghost tours, whilst the surrounding town offers fine dining establishments serving traditional Welsh cuisine. The town is also home to The Big Cheese Festival, a celebrated event featuring tastings, cooking demonstrations, and market stalls showcasing local produce. |
| Caldicot Castle |
|---|
This magnificent castle has stood guard over the Levels for over 800 years, originally built as an earth and timber motte-and-bailey structure after the Norman invasion to control the River Nedern, which was once navigable several miles inland. Construction of the stone castle began in 1221 by Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, and remained in the de Bohun family for 150 years before passing to Thomas Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, who added the enormous gatehouse and Woodstock Tower. The formidable keep features nine-foot-thick walls made of local gritstone, with spiral staircases, hooded fireplaces, and window seats for comfort, plus a vaulted dungeon accessible only through a trapdoor. Today, visitors can explore the castle and its 55-acre country park for free, featuring large areas of woodland, the River Nedern, and pleasant open parkland. The site offers bike hire services at £10 for two hours or £30 for a family of four6, and includes a tea room serving a full range of refreshments including wines and beers. |
| Chepstow (Cas Gwent) |
|---|
Chepstow boasts Britain's oldest post-Roman stone castle, first built in 1067, and remarkably, despite its formidable defensive features and impregnable position, the castle was never attacked during medieval times. The town centre, whose name actually means 'marketplace' in Old English, features independent boutiques housed in Georgian and Victorian buildings, with award-winning pedestrianised areas adorned with sculptures inspired by local legends. Nature enthusiasts can explore the Wye Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with wooded gorges and riverside walks, which is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest where visitors might spot otters and red squirrels. For the adventurous, the town features one of Europe's best inland diving locations in a flooded quarry, complete with submerged attractions including a BAE Aircraft, helicopters, and a 700m-long zip wire. Local cuisine includes traditional dishes such as Monmouth Stew (Stiw Mynwy), a lamb stew prepared with leeks, pearl barley, and seasoned with parsley, thyme, and bay leaf. |
| Monmouth |
|---|
Monmouth, which holds the distinction of being the UK's first Bee Town, sits in the lower reaches of the Wye Valley and has been attracting tourists since 1780. The elegant town is uniquely positioned at the meeting point of three rivers - the Trothy, Monnow and Wye2. Its 13th-century gateway on the Monnow Bridge, unique in Britain, leads to a town centre featuring Tudor buildings and splendid Georgian architecture, including the Shire Hall in Agincourt Square, surrounded by high street shops and courtyard eateries. The town's rich history includes being the birthplace of Henry V at Monmouth Castle in 1386, and its musical heritage features Rockfield Studios, where Queen, Oasis, and Simple Minds have recorded, whilst the town hosts an annual free music festival. Notable residents include philosopher Bertrand Russell, born at Cleddon Hall, and Charles Rolls, who grew up at The Hendre before co-founding Rolls-Royce Limited. The area is renowned for its culinary excellence, boasting Michelin-starred dining at The Walnut Tree, which has held its star for 13 consecutive years, and The Whitebrook. The local viniculture industry includes Ancre Hill Estates, producing wines in the countryside north of the town. |
| Tintern Abbey |
|---|
 The iconic Tintern Abbey stands in roofless splendour on the banks of the River Wye, featuring masterful British Gothic architecture with its impressive seven-lancet window and soaring nave arches. Founded in 1131 as Britain's second Cistercian abbey, the site later became an industrial centre, with the River Wye providing power for manufacturing iron wire by 1556. The area was historically significant for industry, with numerous forges along the river, and notably produced Britain's first brass and the first transatlantic cable. The abbey experienced a renaissance as a major tourist destination in the 18th century, beginning with a popular engraving by the Buck brothers in 1732, followed by the young J.M.W. Turner's visit in 1792, whose sketches led to magnificent watercolours exhibited at the Royal Academy. Today, visitors can enjoy the Abbey Mill Craft Centre with its working water wheel, and sample award-winning wines from the replanted ancient vineyard at Parva Farm. |
| Wye Valley |
|---|
 The Wye Valley holds the distinction of being both the birthplace of British tourism and the industrial revolution. The River Wye, the fifth-longest river in the UK at 134 miles, traverses the border of England and Wales. Notable viewpoints include Symonds Yat Rock, offering views of the river's dramatic meander, and The Prospect in Ross-on-Wye, which overlooks a horseshoe bend with views extending to the Welsh mountains. The area boasts impressive limestone gorges, native woodlands, and houses 25% of Britain's population of lesser horseshoe bats. The valley's beauty inspired William Wordsworth, who wrote several poems including 'We Are Seven' and 'Tintern' following his walks in the area. Visitors can explore the region's industrial heritage along the Angidy Trail, a 5-mile circular walk showcasing historical brass and wire-making sites, complete with remnants of furnaces, forges, workers' cottages, and beautiful waterwheels. For refreshments, The Boat Inn offers local ciders and craft ales alongside waterfall views from its beer garden. |
Other attractions
 Abergavenny (Y Fenni)
Caerwent Roman Town (ruins)
Newport (Trefdraeth)
Raglan Castle (ruins)
|
England Guide
Ireland Guide
Scotland Guide
Established in 1789, Blaenavon Ironworks stands as the best-preserved blast furnace from the early Industrial Revolution and was one of the world's most important iron producers in the early 19th century. The site pioneered steam-powered blast furnaces and later became the birthplace of Sidney Gilchrist Thomas's revolutionary method for removing phosphorus from iron ore. Visitors can explore the 18th-century blast furnaces with audio posts bringing the site to life, alongside a recreated company truck shop and restored ironworkers' cottages, which gained fame as filming locations for the BBC series Coal House. The adjacent Big Pit National Coal Museum, a former working mine that once employed 1,400 miners, offers free entry and features a 90-metre descent into underground tunnels, plus surface attractions including preserved pit buildings and pithead machinery. The nearby Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, once crucial for transporting coal, iron, and limestone, now serves as a picturesque route for pleasure boats and wildlife spotting. A remarkable transformation can be witnessed at Garn Lakes, a nature reserve that has evolved from an industrial wasteland of tips and colliery workings into a thriving wetland ecosystem in just two decades.
Caerphilly Castle dominates an impressive 30-acre site and stands as Britain's second-largest castle after Windsor. Built between 1268 and 1271 by Gilbert de Clare, nicknamed 'The Red' due to his Norman-heritage red hair, the castle was constructed to control Glamorgan and counter Welsh Prince Llewellyn ap Gruffudd's southern ambitions. The fortress features extensive artificial lakes, considered Britain's most elaborate water defences, and notably introduced concentric castle defences to Britain, revolutionising military architecture. One of its most distinctive features is the famous leaning tower, which has tilted 3 metres out of perpendicular since 1648. Today, the castle hosts various evening events including open-air cinema and ghost tours, whilst the surrounding town offers fine dining establishments serving traditional Welsh cuisine. The town is also home to The Big Cheese Festival, a celebrated event featuring tastings, cooking demonstrations, and market stalls showcasing local produce.
The iconic Tintern Abbey stands in roofless splendour on the banks of the River Wye, featuring masterful British Gothic architecture with its impressive seven-lancet window and soaring nave arches. Founded in 1131 as Britain's second Cistercian abbey, the site later became an industrial centre, with the River Wye providing power for manufacturing iron wire by 1556. The area was historically significant for industry, with numerous forges along the river, and notably produced Britain's first brass and the first transatlantic cable. The abbey experienced a renaissance as a major tourist destination in the 18th century, beginning with a popular engraving by the Buck brothers in 1732, followed by the young J.M.W. Turner's visit in 1792, whose sketches led to magnificent watercolours exhibited at the Royal Academy. Today, visitors can enjoy the Abbey Mill Craft Centre with its working water wheel, and sample award-winning wines from the replanted ancient vineyard at Parva Farm.
The Wye Valley holds the distinction of being both the birthplace of British tourism and the industrial revolution. The River Wye, the fifth-longest river in the UK at 134 miles, traverses the border of England and Wales. Notable viewpoints include Symonds Yat Rock, offering views of the river's dramatic meander, and The Prospect in Ross-on-Wye, which overlooks a horseshoe bend with views extending to the Welsh mountains. The area boasts impressive limestone gorges, native woodlands, and houses 25% of Britain's population of lesser horseshoe bats. The valley's beauty inspired William Wordsworth, who wrote several poems including 'We Are Seven' and 'Tintern' following his walks in the area. Visitors can explore the region's industrial heritage along the Angidy Trail, a 5-mile circular walk showcasing historical brass and wire-making sites, complete with remnants of furnaces, forges, workers' cottages, and beautiful waterwheels. For refreshments, The Boat Inn offers local ciders and craft ales alongside waterfall views from its beer garden.
Abergavenny (Y Fenni)
: Outstanding place
: Must-see in the country
: Top cities in Europe