Monmouth

The market

The ancient town of Monmouth is officially recognized as an Area of Outstanding Beauty, and rightly so. It lies in the heart of the Wye Valley at the point where the river Wye joins the Monnow, hence the name Monmouth. The town's origins date back to Roman times, where its strategic position helped control the rebellious Welsh. Through the Middle Ages the town prospered and by the 1600s it was a thriving market town. Visitors can see evidence of this today in the town's fascinating maze of narrow lanes, courtyards and squares and in its rich and varied architecture.

For general and up to date information about the region visit the following websites:

www.visitwales.com
www.visitwyevalley.com
www.newport.gov.uk
www.monmouthshire.gov.uk
www.southernwales.com
wyevalleytourism.co.uk
Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Office

Places to see, things to do

Heritage

There are lots of castles

In and around Monmouth there are numerous monuments and buildings of historic interest. It is an area particularly rich in castles, as during the Middle Ages this was a gateway into Wales and the territory was hotly disputed. In the immediate area you can visit Raglan Castle, White Castle, Tretower Court and Skenfrith Castle just to mention a few. Llanthony Priory is also worth a visit. And Tintern Abbey in the wooded Wye Valley is as enchanting now as it was when it inspired Wordsworth's famous poem.

Cider is a traditional alcoholic drink made from fermented apples. You can find out more about cider production at The Cider Museum in nearby Hereford.

In the surrounding countryside there are numerous pretty villages to explore. With their attractive timber frame buildings, villages such as such as Pembridge, Kington and especially Woebley seem lost in time.

Click on the links below for more information:

CADW Welsh Historic Monuments
Caldicot Castle
Monmouth Castle and Regimental Museum
Usk Castle
The Cider Museum

Nature and the outdoors

Explore the countryside

Monmouth is on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park, so it is perfect for nature lovers. The Brecon Beacons are accessible to everyone and walks range from very easy to very difficult and may be suitable only for the seasoned fell-walker. The scenery is outstandingly beautiful and there are plenty of opporunities to observe wildlife too. For bird lovers, a visit to the National birds of Prey Centre in Newent is a must. For the more adventurous, the Brecon Beacons offer excellent opportunities for pony trekking, cycling and mountain-biking, canoeing and sailing, caving, rock climbing and rafting. A different kind of wildlife experience can be had at the the Butterfly Zoo at Symonds Yat, which is home to a wide range of exotic butterflies.

It's great for cycling

Also near Monmouth is the Forest of Dean, one of the few truly ancient forests in Britain. It was here that the Royal Navy took its oaks to build the great wooden ships of the past. In times gone by, the Forest of Dean was also an important centre for iron and steel production. There are fabulous trails for you to explore on foot as well as cycle routes through the forest.

For golf enthusiasts Monmouth boasts two excellent golf courses which welcome visitors. As you are out on the course, you can enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK.

Click on the links below for more information:

Brecon Beacons National Park
Monmouth Cycle Hire
National Cycle Network
Monmouth Canoe and Activity Centre
Beacon Park Boats
Kingfisher Cruises
Monmouth Golf Club
The Rolls of Monmouth golf Club
Wisdom and Walks in the Valleys of South Wales
Attack Paintball
Mountain & Water
Big Black Mountain Challenge
Grange Trekking Centre (horse and pony treks)
Llanthony Riding and Trekking
National Bird of Prey Centre
Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo
The Forest of Dean visitors Site
The Forest of Dean District Council

Excursions further afield

Rhossili Bay, Gower Peninsula

Monmouth is within easy reach of places of outstanding interest: the Gower Pensinsula; The Pembrokeshire national park; the Roman city of Bath, with its fine Georgian architecture and of course the Roman baths; Stratford on Avon, birthplace of Shakespeare and home of the Royal Shakespeare Company; Oxford and its famous university; and even London can be reached in a few hours. For more information, click on the links below:

Swansea Bay and the Gower Peninsula
Pembrokshire Coast National Park
Wales Underground
Bristol zoo
The Costswolds Vistor information
World Heritage Site of Bath
The City of Bath
Oxford City Council: Visit Oxford
Welcome to Oxford City
Stratford upon Avon District Council
Stratford upon Avon - Shakespear's Country

On a rainy day
Sometimes it rains! Don't worry, there is no lack of things to do in the area. Monmouth has a fine leisure centre equipped with a swimming pool, Sauna Room, aerobics studio, dance studio, a multi-purpose sports hall, squash courts and a multi-purpose gymnasium. There is also a cinema. Further afield, there is a wide range of interesting towns and cities to visit. For example, Cardiff, the Welsh capital, has an excellent science centre and museums, shopping malls, cinemas, theatres and clubs / discos.

Click on the links below for more information:

Techniquest Science Centre, Cardiff
General information about Cardiff
Wales Millenium Centre

Food and drink

A Monmouth cafe

Monmouth offers a wide variety of places to eat and drink. You can taste fine beers in Monmouth's traditional pubs, many of which also offer good quality food at reasonable prices from full Sunday lunches to bar snacks and simple sandwiches. In the evenings, some pubs offer live music, satellite TV football, karaoke and discos. There are restaurants to suit all pockets and tastes: traditional English, Chinese, Indian, even Mexican, plus a range of takeaways, including the famous British fish and chips.

Monmouth is also full of delightful cafés and tea shops serving tea, coffee, cakes and light meals.

Shopping and events
If you like wandering round the shops looking for bargains, Monmouth has plenty to offer. There is a street market in the main square, plus antique shops, gift shops and book shops, as well as department stores. At the end of July and the beginning of August, there is the nine day Monmouth Festival in and around the town, with a multitude of events and activities. Later in August, on the second Sunday, the town holds its Carnival, a full day of entertainment. On the last Thursday in August, one of the largest one-day agricultural shows in Britain is held, attracting over 20,000 visitors.

Local transport and car rental
There are buses going to local towns and villages, connecting Monmouth to railway stations and long-distance coach stations.

To get around more independently, why not hire a car? Rented cars are locally available at very reasonable prices. The cheaper car hire firms are not on internet, so if you require help in renting a car, please feel free to contact us and we can arrange it for you at no extra charge. However, all payments for such services must be paid directly to the car rental company. Below are some useful links:

National Express Coaches
All Wales Public Transport Information
National Railway Information