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Visit Monmouthshire

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Visit Monmouthshire

Enjoy great food, fantastic sights & lots to do from the Brecon Beacons to the Wye Valley. Come and see why we are the Food Capital of Wales.

We promote Monmouthshire, from the Brecon Beacons to the Wye Valley, as a fantastic place to visit.
|www.visitmonmouthshire.com|

24/01/2025

What's your favourite Monmouthshire castle? There are a lot of contenders between the 'big two' Cadw sites (Raglan and Chepstow), the free to visit Caldicot Castle and Abergavenny Castle, the Three Castles of Skenfrith, Grosmont and White Castle plus the privately owned Usk Castle (and even more dotted about).

For us it's a bit like choosing your children, they all have their own unique charms. Raglan Castle does have a great claim though. Probably the grandest Monmouthshire castle, plus the views towards te Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons are stunning.

Thanks to for this lovely panning drone shot across the castle. Can you spot Ysgyryd Fawr / The Skirrid in the background?

23/01/2025

Who has visited the stunning Wye Valley Sculpture Garden, Tintern? It's the start of the beautiful snowdrop season here in Monmouthshire, which means the return this weekend of their annual Snowdrop Open Days.

This 3-acre garden will have over 80 varieties of snowdrops (with over 30 for sale) plus beautiful sculptures on display acoss the garden and warming homemade refreshments available.

Unfortunately the weather has meant tomorrows open day (24th January) has been cancelled but they are still planning to open on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th, then Friday - Saturday for the next two weekends. Make sure to check their socials before visiting.

22/01/2025

An early morning glow over a cloud covered Abergavenny, with the distinctive slopes of The Skirrid / Ysgyryd Fawr in the background.

Love this shot from , looking down the Abergavenny to Blaenavon Road. Look how inviting the lighting is from the old Cordell County Inn at the bottom of the slope.

This hill climb is known as 'The Tumble', a 10% gradient 6km climb up the slopes. Has anyone here tried that on a bike? It was ten years ago in 2014 that a Tour of Britain stage finished here, and even some of them looked like they were struggling!

20/01/2025

Who caught the Mari Lwyd and Widders event in Chepstow last weekend? It was fantastic to see a good turnout and all the Mari Lwyd's in the town. For anyone that doesn't know, the Mari Lwyd is a Welsh tradition celebrating the Christmas and New Year period (with the eponymous horse's head being the most prominent part of it).

Thanks to for this video of the Mari Lwyd's progressing through Chepstow Castle. An ancient tradition heading through a 1000 year old gateway. Only in Monmouthshire.

18/01/2025

Do you have favourite 'hidden gem' in Monmouthshire? A good contender for us are the many beautiful and historic churches dotted across the landscape, like St. Jerome's at Llangwm Uchaf near Usk.

Nestled in a beautiful part of the countryside, just off the old Usk to Chepstow road (which is a lovely drive), St. Jerome's was first mentioned back in 1128 and contains stunning decoration on the rood screen and loft. Thanks to on Instagram for these beautiful photos of the interior design.

St. Jerome's is open daily, and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches, who do fantastic work keeping old churches open and in good condition across the country (including 7 churches in Monmouthshire, which we think is the most for a single county in the UK!). Thank you to them and Alex Ramsey for the main photo of the exterior of the church.

17/01/2025

Is there a better sight than the valley floors covered in cloud? We're hearing that conditions are looking good for more Dragon's Breath (or cloud inversion to use the less magical term) in Monmouthshire this weekend so that's the perfect excuse to share this video from .

He's looking down over the Vale of Usk at Abergavenny, with the tops of the Black Mountains and Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons the only sights you can see.

16/01/2025

Did anyone else hear Clare Balding on BBC4 earlier today? She was celebrating 25 years of by heading up The Graig / Graig Syfyrddin from Grosmont in the Monnow Valley of north Monmouthshire.

The views from The Graig are stunning, as seen in this first image from Growing in the Border (who offer gardening courses from their base between Grosmont and Skenfrith).

Walking with local artist Richard Shimell Printmaker, they discuss the beautiful scenery around Grosmont in winter and the lovely village itself. As Richard says, "Grosmont is an extraordinary village...the friendliest, most sociable, welcoming place I've ever come across".

It's definitely a must visit. Thanks also to for the image of Grosmont and for the Dragon's Breath over the Monnow Valley at Grosmont.

15/01/2025

Who has tried a meal at the The Walnut Tree Inn near Abergavenny? They've held a Michelin Star for 14 consecutive years now, led by (to quote Michelin) "the quintessential chef's chef" Shaun Hill and his "great understanding of flavours and balance".

Found in the shadow of the Skirrid just outside Abergavenny, it's a lovely place to visit, with a cosy open-fired bar area and art hung on the walls. To quote the Michelin guide again, "it's hard not to love the Walnut Tree".

https://www.visitmonmouthshire.com/food-and-drink/the-walnut-tree-p1503601

14/01/2025

A frosty sunrise over Chepstow, shared by Allen Lloyd on the Welsh Landscapes and Seascapes group on Facebook. Love getting up early enough to see the peaceful Wye Valley at this time (and it's easier to do so in Winter!).

You can see the ruins of Piercefield House in the background (and an idea of how good the views must have been back in the day), and just how high the River Wye can get when the tide comes in.

13/01/2025

Are you looking to try something new for 2025? Monmouthshire has a wide array of fun activities and workshops to try your hand at. There's the serenity of Shinrin Yoku (Forest Bathing) deep in the Wye Valley at Forest Retreats. Creating your own bespoke fragrance in a beautiful Tudor garden at Wales Perfumery. Preparing your own Kimchi and Sauerkraut at Crafty Pickle Co. Fermented Foods. Or discovering the joy of baking with The Abergavenny Baker.

There's also renowned art history courses (both online and in person) with MonLife Heritage Museums, meadmaking and beekeeping courses with the award winning Hive Mind Mead & Brew Co, gardening classes at Nantybeddgarden Abergavenny and with Gwent NGS, plus many more ideas.

11/01/2025

Have you experienced the unique Welsh Mari Lwyd tradition? Returning next weekend to Chepstow (18th January) it's a fantastic event which historically celebrates the new year with morris dancing, music, parades and the eponymous Mari Lwyd horses (seen here in these great photos by Emma James/Shoelace Photography).

Hosted annually by the Widders Border Morris it's a free event to attend (with donatons gratefully received) and they'll be kicking off at Chepstow Town Centre at 12.30pm, before events throughout the afternoon as they parade down towards the English border at the Old Wye Bridge.

It's really great to see people keeping this uniquely Welsh and border tradition alive.

10/01/2025

Time to dive into the weekend! We hope everyone has a great one planned. We're busy adding all the fantastic 2025 events to the website, so have a look at visitmonmouthshire.com if you want to see what's coming up.

We still can't get over how stunning the Dragon's Breath has been around Abergavenny and the Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons recently. The low cloud has looked so inviting from above it's almost as if you can swim through it. Hope wild swimmer didn't actually try that though!

09/01/2025

An atmospheric early morning in the Wye Valley.

You can't beat the area for atmosphere this time of year, with low cloud and mist swirling around the ruins, treetops and mountains. This photo is looking south towards Tintern (just over the hill in the middle distance) from approximately the area of the Duchess Ride viewpoing above Llandogo. It's a great area for views and walks.

Thanks to for sharing.

04/01/2025

January means we're coming into snowdrop season here in Monmouthshire, and the annual stunning display at Wye Valley Sculpture Garden. There'll be over 80 varieties of snowdrops within 3 acres overlooking the River Wye at Tintern, plus the beautiful sculptures that give this garden its name.

The weekend open days start at the end of the month (24th Jan - 26th Jan) and then for the next two weekends after that.

Thanks to for this video of the snowdrops from last year.

https://www.visitmonmouthshire.com/whats-on/snowdrop-open-days-p1831061

03/01/2025

Wow, who else caught the amazing Dragon's Breath views over the Christmas period? If you ventured high above Abergavenny onto the hilltops of the Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons you'd have seen a carpet of cloud, with the Ysgyryd Fawr / The Skirrid, The Blorenge and Pen-y-fâl / The Sugarloaf rising like islands in the sea.

It's a great time of year to observe this fantastic phenomenon, with the views especially good in the Wye Valley and around Abergavenny.

Thanks to (view of the Skirrid), .northam (Sugarloaf and view from the Skirrid), and (view from the Tumble on the Blorenge) for these great photos.

30/12/2024

2024 has been a great year for Monmouthshire photos, so we thought we'd share some of your favourites again. Here's the four photos we posted this year that gained the most likes on Facebook.

Thank you as always to the talented amateur and professional photographers that share their images with us, and for all of you to continuing to visit and explore Monmouthshire.

1. - Severn Bridge in the Clouds.

Itay Kaplan is a regular photographer of Monmouthshire, and we've shared many of his photos before. But this heavenly photo of the Second Severn Crossing / Prince of Wales Bridge pillars poking out above the clouds might be our favourite.

2. - Helen Waters captured this evocative photo looking down from the slopes of the Blorenge towards Abergavenny and the Skirrid. It shows that even cloudy days can produce great photos.

3. - Matthew Perks caught a stunning photo here, with the Dragon's Breath low over the autumnal Wye Valley, and Tintern Abbey lost in the mist.

4. - The Northern Lights have been putting on a show recently, and none more so than earlier this year, when the Aurora Borealis could be seen as far south as Tintern Abbey. Luckily Sam Binding was there to catch the beautiful sky display above this iconic building.

28/12/2024

Did anyone catch the latest Visit Wales TV advert over Christmas? Eagle eyed watchers may have noticed a particularly iconic castle at the end!

It's great to see Raglan Castle and the beautiful Monmouthshire countryside showcased, and you can enjoy these views yourself from Virgin Balloon Flights, which takes off nearby.

Here's a photo from one such flight a couple of years ago by on Twitter. The views really are unmatched.

26/12/2024

Do you have a favourite post-Christmas walk? A regular go-to, or do you seek out something new each year?

If you're looking for a great post-Christmas walk or day out, then Chepstow fits the bill. It's the start / end point for the Llwybr Arfordir Cymru / Wales Coast Path, the Wye Valley Walk and the Offa's D**e Path, plus has great circular walks up the Wye Valley towards Tintern and along the beautiful Gwent Levels.

It also has the fantastic Chepstow Castle to enjoy with their Light Up Reindeer Trail running until New Year's Eve, and the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow Racecourse on the 27th.

Thanks to for this great photo of Chepstow Castle high on the cliffs above the River Wye.

Address

Monmouthshire Tourism, Monmouthshire County Council, County Hall, The Rhadyr
Usk
NP151GA

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5am
Tuesday	9am - 5am
Wednesday	9am - 5am
Thursday	9am - 5am
Friday	9am - 5am

Telephone

+441633644842

Website

https://www.visitmonmouthshire.com/

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Videos

Raglan Castle in Monmouthshire

What's your favourite Monmouthshire castle? There are a lot of contenders between the 'big two' Cadw sites (Raglan and Chepstow), the free to visit Caldicot Castle and Abergavenny Castle, the Three Castles of Skenfrith, Grosmont and White Castle plus the privately owned Usk Castle (and even more dotted about). For us it's a bit like choosing your children, they all have their own unique charms. Raglan Castle does have a great claim though. Probably the grandest Monmouthshire castle, plus the views towards te Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons are stunning. Thanks to @charbakerpix for this lovely panning drone shot across the castle. Can you spot Ysgyryd Fawr / The Skirrid in the background?

Mari Lwyd in Chepstow

Who caught the Mari Lwyd and Widders event in Chepstow last weekend? It was fantastic to see a good turnout and all the Mari Lwyd's in the town. For anyone that doesn't know, the Mari Lwyd is a Welsh tradition celebrating the Christmas and New Year period (with the eponymous horse's head being the most prominent part of it). Thanks to @marimarcher for this video of the Mari Lwyd's progressing through Chepstow Castle. An ancient tradition heading through a 1000 year old gateway. Only in Monmouthshire.

Dragon's Breath in the Usk Valley

Is there a better sight than the valley floors covered in cloud? We're hearing that conditions are looking good for more Dragon's Breath (or cloud inversion to use the less magical term) in Monmouthshire this weekend so that's the perfect excuse to share this video from @osmond_chris. He's looking down over the Vale of Usk at Abergavenny, with the tops of the Black Mountains and Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons the only sights you can see.

January means we're coming into snowdrop season here in Monmouthshire, and the annual stunning display at Wye Valley Sculpture Garden. There'll be over 80 varieties of snowdrops within 3 acres overlooking the River Wye at Tintern, plus the beautiful sculptures that give this garden its name. The weekend open days start at the end of the month (24th Jan - 26th Jan) and then for the next two weekends after that. Thanks to @dhgardening for this video of the snowdrops from last year. https://www.visitmonmouthshire.com/whats-on/snowdrop-open-days-p1831061

Did you visit a Monmouthshire vineyard this year? With such beautiful scenery around them, it's really a treat to walk amongst the vines and try award-winning wines after. Here's a lovely video from early this year in the growing season from White Castle Vineyard. Did you spot the Skirrid in the background? It's been an especially great year for White Castle, winning a Decanter World Wine Award for the fourth year in a row, and Best Overall Wine at the Welsh Wine Awards. Plus, they have just opened their new state-of-the-art winery, meaning they can harvest and process their grapes on site at the vineyard! White Castle Vineyard are open tomorrow (21st December) to celebrate their festive wine releases, so come and discover this wonderful Welsh vineyard (and maybe some last minute gift ideas!).

The historic Usk Castle recently won an award from Gwent NGS for their many years opening up their scenic gardens for the annual Usk Open Gardens. Unlike most of the castles of Monmouthshire, Usk is privately owned and operated, and has been a family home since 1908. Usk Castle was originally built in 1120 on the site of a Roman fortress (which predated Caerleon) and was often fought over between the Welsh and English during the middle ages. Nowadays it can be visted during the open season (April - October) or by appointment on Sundays the rest of the year. Let us know if you've been. It really is a hidden gem in the heart of Monmouthshire. And thanks to @welshweddingbagpiper for this video from a wedding he performed back in Summer 2023. https://www.visitmonmouthshire.com/things-to-do/usk-castle-p1502891

A lovely autumnal video of Grosmont Castle, in the picturesque Monnow Valley, by @flyinghighshots. One of the historical 'Three Castles' (with Skenfrith and White Castle), Grosmont has long had associations with the Welsh Marches borderlands, used to defend the region from Welsh attack. It played a prominent role during the middle ages, and was the birthplace of Henry of Grosmont, great-grandson of King Henry III and the second person inducted into the noble Order of the Garter by King Edward III. Nowadays the castle is free to visit throughout the year. https://www.visitmonmouthshire.com/things-to-do/grosmont-castle-cadw-p1503131

It was great to see Ruth Dodsworth at Abergavenny Castle & Museum and Castle Meadows on ITV Coast & Country. The MonLife Heritage Museums manager Rachael gave a great overview of the history of the castle and some of the star attractions in the museum, then Anthea Fairey from the Friends of Castle Meadows discussed the beautiful Castle Meadows that lie alongside the River Usk. Did anyone else catch it?

When we talk about 360 views, this is what we mean. Stunning views from the top of Ysgyryd Fawr / The Skirrid near Abergavenny, looking over the Monmouthshire countryside, the Black Mountains and Sugarloaf, then south over Abergavenny and all the way to the River Severn. Is there anywhere in Monmouthshire that can match these views? Thanks to @outdoorswithwillow for the video. https://www.visitmonmouthshire.com/things-to-do/the-skirrid-mountaintop-skirrid-fawr-p1505691

Scale the 365 steps to the breathtaking Eagle's Nest viewpoint

There's a great chance to explore the stunning Eagle's Nest viewpoint this Saturday as part of the latest free MonLife Countryside guided walk. Full details on the website, but it'll be a three hour walk taking in the 18th Century Picturesque trail through the Piercefield Estate near Chepstow, followed by the 365 steps up to Eagle's Nest (then a walk past an ancient church and hill fort). You can find more information and how to book your free ticket on our What's On page.

The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal in Autumn

The definition of peacefulness in autumn. A canal boat trip along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, with the towpath covered in a blanket of leaves. Who else has taken a trip along this beautiful canal? Thanks to @from.wales.with.love on Instagram for this video, filmed on the canal near Llanfoist last weekend. You can find plenty of walk, stay and canalboating ideas for the Mon & Brec on our website.

Northern Lights over Big Pit

This time last week we were inundated with fantastic photos of the Northern Lights, and we wanted to share one more great Timelapse video of the lights above Big Pit from itkapp. The colours are amazing! Just over the border in Blaenavon, Big Pit is part of the Blaenavon World Heritage Site which we share with Torfaen. The Blorenge, Keeper’s Pond, parts of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal and Clydach Gorge are all in our patch of the World Heritage Site. They’re all only a short trip for those staying in Abergavenny or Usk and a great area to explore. https://www.visitmonmouthshire.com/explore/brecon-beacons-national-park/blaenavon-world-heritage-site