Monmouthshire Highlights
Sightseeing
Hidden iron aged fort within walking distance of the campsite and farmhouse. The walk is less strenuous when teamed up with a meal at the Black Bear Inn and a dip in the Usk River.
Coed y Bwnydd
Hidden iron aged fort within walking distance of the campsite and farmhouse. The walk is less strenuous when teamed up with a meal at the Black Bear Inn and a dip in the Usk River.
Epic castle that can be seen from the farm. Rivals Warwick and Windsor as far as we're concerned.
134 locals recommend
Raglan Castle
Castle RoadEpic castle that can be seen from the farm. Rivals Warwick and Windsor as far as we're concerned.
Can be combined with Grosmont and Skenfrith castles for an ambitious day's walk.
31 locals recommend
White Castle
Can be combined with Grosmont and Skenfrith castles for an ambitious day's walk.
Can be combined with White Castle and Grosmont for an ambitious day's walk. Also has a charming river for paddling and the excellent pub, The Bell.
31 locals recommend
Skenfrith Castle
Can be combined with White Castle and Grosmont for an ambitious day's walk. Also has a charming river for paddling and the excellent pub, The Bell.
Llandegfedd Reservoir
Paddleboarding, sailing, cafe, walking. It's a lovely spot.
Flat walks or boat hire for a pootle down the canal.
67 locals recommend
Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal
Flat walks or boat hire for a pootle down the canal.
If you're growing tired of ruins, try this indulgent folly. The rooms are rented out, but you can park at the Clytha Arms and do a circular walk around the folly. The pub has lots of outdoor seating and room for kids to run around.
Clytha Castle
If you're growing tired of ruins, try this indulgent folly. The rooms are rented out, but you can park at the Clytha Arms and do a circular walk around the folly. The pub has lots of outdoor seating and room for kids to run around.
Abbey ruins tucked into a gorgeous valley. Walk up to the ridge and spot the wild ponies, then head back down for a picnic in the ruins or lunch at the pub (also in the ruins). It's the neighbouring valley to the Olcon which was the setting for Owen Sheers' book Resistance.
37 locals recommend
Llanthony Abbey
Llanvihangel CrucorneyAbbey ruins tucked into a gorgeous valley. Walk up to the ridge and spot the wild ponies, then head back down for a picnic in the ruins or lunch at the pub (also in the ruins). It's the neighbouring valley to the Olcon which was the setting for Owen Sheers' book Resistance.
National Trust property near Newport. House and gardens are worth a visit. They often have kids activities during the holidays, and there is a cafe.
7 locals recommend
Tredegar Park
National Trust property near Newport. House and gardens are worth a visit. They often have kids activities during the holidays, and there is a cafe.
Food scene
Pocket-sized pub committed to local producers and excellent food.
7 locals recommend
The Black Bear Inn
Clytha RoadPocket-sized pub committed to local producers and excellent food.
White Hare Distillery
1 Bridge StLocal distillery - do you need more of a reason to go?
Walk around the castle, dip your toes into the river, and work up an appetite for a cracking lunch. Worth booking in advance. Pre-covid, you could also look around their amazing kitchen garden.
34 locals recommend
The Bell at Skenfrith
Walk around the castle, dip your toes into the river, and work up an appetite for a cracking lunch. Worth booking in advance. Pre-covid, you could also look around their amazing kitchen garden.
The Art Shop & Chapel
Market StreetGreat place for lunch and art.
The owner, Miguel, has brought a touch of Spanish flare to the village. Essentially reasonably priced, good pub food, with a lot of fish choices.
9 locals recommend
The Beaufort, Raglan
High StreetThe owner, Miguel, has brought a touch of Spanish flare to the village. Essentially reasonably priced, good pub food, with a lot of fish choices.
The meat is all locally produced, and they also have veg, milk, yoghurt and other ethically produced produce for sale.
Square Farm Shop
The meat is all locally produced, and they also have veg, milk, yoghurt and other ethically produced produce for sale.
Within a mile or so walk from the farm, the pub is a farmer's favourite.
7 locals recommend
The Hall Inn Pub & Restaurant
Within a mile or so walk from the farm, the pub is a farmer's favourite.
Not open on Mondays, but excellent organic sourdough bread and coffee.
10 locals recommend
The Angel Bakery
50 Lower Castle StNot open on Mondays, but excellent organic sourdough bread and coffee.
This is our farm, with loads of info about how we take care of the land and what we have on sale.
Trefoil Meadows
This is our farm, with loads of info about how we take care of the land and what we have on sale.
Children's Entertainment
The kids love it because it has bouncy castles, death slides, cute animals and old tractors. I prefer a good walk, but then I'm a grown up.
33 locals recommend
Raglan Farm Park
Chepstow RoadThe kids love it because it has bouncy castles, death slides, cute animals and old tractors. I prefer a good walk, but then I'm a grown up.
Cannop Cycle Centre
New RoadFamily trails and off-roading, plus bike hire.
Particularly good if the weather is inclement, hot house with lots of butterflies. Maze next door and an ancient inn on the doorstep.
55 locals recommend
Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo
Particularly good if the weather is inclement, hot house with lots of butterflies. Maze next door and an ancient inn on the doorstep.
I mean it's only a rumour, but the kids don't need to know that.
11 locals recommend
King Arthur's Cave
I mean it's only a rumour, but the kids don't need to know that.
It has miniature ships, so my son loves it. It's at the top of Monmouth high street, close to the cobbled Church Street which is adorable.
13 locals recommend
The Nelson Museum & Local History Centre
Priory StreetIt has miniature ships, so my son loves it. It's at the top of Monmouth high street, close to the cobbled Church Street which is adorable.
Local towns
Lovely market town, with lots of shops and restaurants, Waitrose, M&S and a reclamation yard the other side of the Wyesham bridge.
152 locals recommend
Monmouth
Lovely market town, with lots of shops and restaurants, Waitrose, M&S and a reclamation yard the other side of the Wyesham bridge.
The Angel Hotel does a cracking afternoon tea, markets on Tuesdays, and lots of shops and pubs.
145 locals recommend
Abergavenny
The Angel Hotel does a cracking afternoon tea, markets on Tuesdays, and lots of shops and pubs.
A little further afield, but if you have young kids there is a gentle, flat walk by Tintern Old Station and an excellent cafe/playground/farm shop.
Brockweir
A little further afield, but if you have young kids there is a gentle, flat walk by Tintern Old Station and an excellent cafe/playground/farm shop.
Museums
The ruins of medieval castles are easy to spot, but under our feet are the remains of an early invader set on conquering the Welsh.
Roman remains and museums take over the town of Caerleon. It can be a little dry, but there is also a surreal projection of a Roman bath. Further Roman remains are in Caerwent and a few plaques in Usk highlight the extent of their reach.
21 locals recommend
Caerleon
The ruins of medieval castles are easy to spot, but under our feet are the remains of an early invader set on conquering the Welsh.
Roman remains and museums take over the town of Caerleon. It can be a little dry, but there is also a surreal projection of a Roman bath. Further Roman remains are in Caerwent and a few plaques in Usk highlight the extent of their reach.