Afternoon trips and activities

The school offers a wide range of interesting trips and activities. Listed below is a selection of what is available. In addition, we are always ready to help and advise students when planning their own excursions to places of interest.

Tintern Abbey and Chepstow Castle

Tintern Abbey is one of the best preserved medieval abbeys in Wales. It lies beside the river Wye in a beautiful wooded valley. It was founded in 1131 by Cistercian monks but it was largely rebuilt in the late 13th century.

Cheptstow Castle (See also www.cadw.wales.gov.uk) was one of the first stone-built castles in Britain and was begun shortly after the Normal invasion in 1066 as a stronghold to preserve the newly conquered territories in the Welsh borders. It was successively modified and rebuilt and visitors can observe the evolution of medieval military architecture in its towers, walls and gatehouses. It stands on cliffs high above the river Wye.

Symmonds Yat East and river Wye boat trip

Symonds Yat is famous for its outstanding scenery. The river Wye forms a great loop around Symonds Yat Rock, from where visitors can view Peregrine falcons, the fastest flying birds in nature. There is a guided walk through woodland down to beautiful green meadows beside the river. Also included is a boat trip on the river Wye.

Hereford Cathedral and the Cider Museum

Hereford Cathedral is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in England. Its most famous treasure is the "Mappa Mundi", a map of the world dating back to the late 13th century.

Cider making is a traditional activity parts of Wales and the west of England. At the Hereford Cider Museum you can find out more about the history of cider production and how it became a central part of local people's lives. You can see how cider is made and of course get a chance to sample some.

Visit to Castle Combe

Castle Combe has been described as Britian's prettiest village. It lies in a secluded valley through which runs a crystal clear river. In Castle Combe you step back in time to a quieter, rural age. The village has an excellent pub which serves fine traditional ales.

Llanthony Priory and White Castle

Llanthony Priory is right in the Brecon Beacons national park, set among the Black Mountains. There are footpaths and bridleways leading up the mountains where you can get spectacular views.

White Castle is one of the many castles originally built to control the Welsh borders. At first it was simply an earthwork stronghold, but in the 12th century it was rebuilt in stone and covered in white plaster (hence the name), traces of which can still be seen.

For more information visit www.cadw.wales.gov.uk.

Raglan Castle and the Usk Rural Life Museum

Raglan Castle was built more to show off the owner's wealth and power than for military strength and it is in fact one of the last castles to be built in Wales. It was begun in 1435 and was modified and added to until the mid-16th century. It is said to be one of the finest late medieval fortress-palaces in the British isles.

The Usk Rural Life Museum offers a fascinating insight into the crafts and daily lives of people living in the area from the 1850s to the end of the Second World War.

The Blaenavon World Heritage Site

The Blaenavon World Heritage Site includes Blaenavon Ironworks and Big Pit (National Mining Museum of Wales). Here you can discover more about the origins of the industrial revolution and how it affected the area. At the mining museum, there are guided tours through the underground tunnels where coal was mined

The National Bird of Prey Centre

The National Birds of Prey Centre at Newent in Gloucestershire. It has one of the best birds of prey collections in the entire UK with over 110 aviaries. The site also has wonderful gardens and meadows which are ideal for picnics. There are daily flying demonstations.

Visit to Clearwell Caves

At Clearwell Caves, where iron ore has been mined for over 4,000 years, you have the chance to explore nine impressive caverns. The site was voted Gloucestershire's Family Attraction of the Year 2003.

Visit to the Brecon Beacons National Park

We visit a particularly accessible and beautiful part of the Brecon Beacons National Park known as the "Land of the Sleeping Giant", an area rich in beautiful waterfalls. Starting at Pontneddfechan in the Neath Valley you can take the Waterfalls Walk. Not far away are Henryyd Falls, which with a drop of 27 metres are the highest falls in the National Park.

Canoeing on the river Wye

You can enjoy and afternoon of fun canoeing on the River Wye in a guided trip organized by the Monmouth Canoe Activity Centre. You can choose to take a three-hour trip that takes you through the rapids at Symonds Yat, or go downstream to Redbrook. If you prefer, you can simply stay paddling around Monmouth itself.

Horse riding in the Brecon Beacons

At the Cantref Riding Centre and Activity Farm you can enjoy a ride that takes you over some of the best scenery of Wales. The riding centre caters for very young children and people without any riding experience whatsoever. The Activity Farm has a range of attractions that are especially suitable for young children.

Bike riding in the Royal Forest of Dean

From the Peddleaway Cycle Centre in the Royal Forest of Dean you can choose a variety of cycle paths to follow through one of Britains most ancient forests. There are cycles and routes to suit all tastes and levels of experience.