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Self-guided tours & group itineraries

Here are four suggestions for one day itineraries.

The Picturesque Wye Tour

It’s more than 250 years since William Gilpin took a boat tour down the River Wye in 1770, an event that heralded the birth of British tourism. This tour explores what inspired Gilpin (and Turner and Wordsworth amongst many others) as you retrace his journey down the Wye Valley.

Download the Wye Tour visitor guide

Glorious Gardens of Monmouthshire

Monmouthshire is known as a 'Gardener's County' with both contemporary and historic gardens, large and small, to view and explore. Start in the south at the rediscovered Dewstow Gardens and Grottoes, the largest and most important Pulham site in Wales.

Then head up the Wye Valley to the contemporary romantic Veddw House Garden with its geometric yew-hedged secret rooms. Next on the itinerary is the Wye Valley Sculpture Garden nestled in its tranquil and secluded setting on a gentle sunny slope in Tintern.

From there head north to the 12 acres of pristine arts and crafts gardens at High Glanau, designed by H. Avery Tipping in 1922.

End with a visit to Llanover Garden, a stunning 15 acre historic garden with unusual herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees, and a circular walled garden, surrounded by parkland. This garden features in the November edition of RHS Garden Magazine and is particularly stunning in autumn.

Food & History

Discover the very best of our history and food with our Explore Monmouthshire itinerary, taking you from the middle ages to modern vineyards.

Start at the Norman Caldicot Castle and its idyllic country park; travel onto the Victorian Old Station Tintern; visit the Georgian Shire Hall in Monmouth; follow up with wine tasting at White Castle Vineyard; and finally, settle in for a sumptuous Afternoon Tea at The Angel Hotel in Abergavenny.

The Agincourt Wales Trail

Explore the landscape into which Henry V was born, where he tested his military tactics, and from where he drew vital support for his campaign in France.

The Battle of Agincourt, on 25 October 1415, is one of the best-known events in British history. The Agincourt Wales Trail links eight locations across the region, telling the stories of the people and places that played a role in the famous battle.

The story of Henry V’s forces epic defeat of a much larger French army has been immortalised in tales, plays and poetry familiar to all. What is less well known is the role played by Wales in Henry’s stirring victory. Five hundred Welsh archers and 23 men-at-arms travelled to fight in France – many of them from the Breconshire and Monmouthshire region – along with a contingent of archers and miners from the Forest of Dean. Discover how that loyalty was rewarded as Welsh nobles grew in wealth and status and we move towards the birth of the Tudor dynasty.

Building on the success of the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt in 2015, a new interpretation trail has been developed to commemorate Wales’ Agincourt connections.

The Agincourt 600 Commemorative Fund has worked with the Woodland Trust to plant trees at many of the locations to provide a permanent memorial which will grow and develop as the years go by. Following the Trail will allow visitors to learn more about the Agincourt story as they explore the region.

Download the Agincourt Wales Trail guide

During the Battle of Agincourt, King Henry V kept the crown jewels in a tower at St Pierre, near Chepstow. Today this is the Marriott St Pierre, a hotel and golf club set around the medieval manor house.

Tour Guides

Make the most of your visit to the region by hiring the services of a professional tour guide. Members of the Wales Official Tour Guide Association are the only guides officially recognised to be able to guide in Wales. They provide highly trained, professional and experienced Blue Badge Guides, who will help bring your journey to life.

There are dozens of guides, each with their own specialisms, interests and language skills. Blue Badge Guides can take you all over the region, whilst Green Badge Guides offer a more specialist and localised expertise.

To find a guide to suit your needs, visit www.walesbestguides.com

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Skenfrith Castle (Cadw)

Type

Type:

Castle

Address

Skenfrith, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 8UH

Telephone
0300 025 6000

cadw@gov.wales

Abergavenny

One of the 'Three Castles' held in common ownership, with Grosmont and White Castle.
Old Station Tintern

Type

Type:

Heritage Centre

Address

Old Station Tintern, Tintern, Monmouthshire, NP16 7NX

Telephone
01291 689566

oldstationtintern@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Tintern

The Old Station nestles beside the River Wye in the heart of the Wye Valley in Tintern. This idyllic 10 – acre site boasts the best of what Monmouthshire has to offer.
White Castle Vineyard

Type

Type:

Vineyard

Address

White Castle Vineyard, Llanvetherine, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 8RA

Telephone
01873 821443

info@whitecastlevineyard.com

Abergavenny

White Castle Vineyard is owned by Robb & Nicola Merchant, it is situated in the beautiful rolling countryside of Monmouthshire in the village of Llanvetherine close to the towns of Abergavenny and Monmouth.
Woodhaven

Type

Type:

Garden

Address

Woodhaven, Itton, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 6BX

Telephone
01291 641219

lesley@classics.co.uk

Chepstow

A modern house built on the site of a former sawmills for the Itton Court Estate. Garden of ⅔ of an acre developed over the last 20 years for year-round colour and interest.
Castle Meadows

Type

Type:

Park

Address

Castle Street, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5DL

Telephone
01633 644850

countryside@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Abergavenny

In the centre of Abergavenny, easily accessible from the town centre. Some 20 hectares of riverside meadow, next to the River Usk, with bordering trees, small copses, streams and ponds.
Chepstow Castle (Cadw)

Type

Type:

Castle

Address

Chepstow Castle, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 5EY

Telephone
03000 252239

ChepstowCastle@gov.wales

Chepstow

Beautifully preserved Chepstow Castle is a history lesson in stone. A massive and mighty medieval fortress. Spectacular River Wye setting. Impressive exhibition with life-size models.
Tintern Abbey (Cadw)

Type

Type:

Historic Site

Address

Tintern, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 6SE

Telephone
03000 252239

TinternAbbey@gov.wales

Chepstow

Cistercian abbey, founded in 1131 in the beautiful Wye valley village of Tintern. Remarkably complete abbey church rebuilt in the later thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, with extensive remains of cloister and associated monastic buildings.
High Glanau Manor

Type

Type:

Garden

Address

High Glanau Manor, Lydart, Monmouth, Monmouthshire, NP25 4AD

Telephone
01600 860005

Monmouth

High Glanau Manor is set in twelve acres of fine gardens, designed by H. Avery Tipping in 1922. Original features include impressive stone terraces with far reaching views.
Wenallt Isaf

Type

Type:

Garden

Address

Wenallt Isaf, Twyn Wenallt, Gilwern, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 0HP

Telephone
01873 832753

wenalltisaf@gmail.com

Gilwern, Abergavenny

An everchanging garden of nearly 3 acres designed in sympathy with its surroundings and the challenges of being 650ft up on a North facing hillside.
Black Rock Lave Net Heritage Fishery

Type

Type:

Heritage Centre

Address

Black Rock Picnic Site, Black Rock Road, Monmouthshire, NP26 5TP

Telephone
01633 880494

lavenets4wales@msn.com

Black Rock Road

The lave net fishermen of Black Rock promote the fishery as a heritage site and invite all to enjoy this last remaining welsh severn estuary salmon fishery which can be watched quite safely from the picnic site.
The Alma

Type

Type:

Garden

Address

Bully Hole Bottom, Usk Road, Shirenewton, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 6SA

Telephone
01291 641902

pmruth@hotmail.co.uk

Shirenewton , Chepstow

Large sheltered south west facing garden, uncommon trees, wisteria, roses and acid loving shrubs.
St. Mary's Church

Type

Type:

Religious Site

Address

Tintern, Tintern, Monmouthshire, NP16 6SF

Tintern

The ruins of St. Mary's Church are on the hill above the Abbey Hotel and originally served the Parish of Chapel Hill at the southern end of Tintern.
St Mary the Virgin, Llanfair Kilgeddin

Type

Type:

Church

Address

Llanfair Kilgeddin, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 9BG

Telephone
0204 520 4458

office@friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk

Abergavenny

Grade I listed medieval church which was rebuilt in the 1800s, carefully reusing some of the earlier fabric – such as the 15th-century rood-screen, stained glass and tracery.
Wyndcliffe Court House & Garden School

Type

Type:

Garden

Address

Wyndcliffe Court House & Garden School, Wyndcliffe Court, St. Arvan's, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 6EY

Telephone
01291 630027

sarah@wyndcliffecourt.com

St. Arvan's, Chepstow

Anthony and Sarah Clay are thrilled to welcome garden visitors.
Wyndcliffe Court House and Garden School is held in the Edwardian Motor House recently converted into a lecture hall for informative talks and demonstrations.
Glebe House Garden

Type

Type:

Garden

Address

Glebe House Garden, Llanvair Kilgeddin, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 9BE

Telephone
01873 840422

joanna@amknet.com

Abergavenny

Visit Glebe House garden.
Veddw House Garden

Type

Type:

Garden

Address

Veddw House, The Fedw, Devauden, Monmouthshire, NP16 6PH

Telephone
01291 650836

anne@veddw.co.uk

Devauden

Located deep in the heart of Monmouthshire, Veddw House Garden has been created through more than 20 years of patient work by Anne Wareham and Charles Hawes.
Rogiet Countryside Park

Type

Type:

Park

Address

Rogiet, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, NP26 3WF

Telephone
01633 644850

countryside@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Caldicot

A free entry countryside park on the Gwent Levels, managed by Monmouthshire Countryside Service.
Highfield Farm Garden

Type

Type:

Garden

Address

Highfield Farm, Penperlleni, Goytre, Usk, Monmouthshire, NP4 0AA

Telephone
01873 880030

jenny.plants@btinternet.com

Goytre, Usk

This is a garden defined by its plants. There are over 1200 cultivars, with many rarities, densely planted over 3 acres to generate an exuberant display across the seasons. It provides an intimate, immersive experience with this diverse array of…
St. Mary's Priory

Type

Type:

Church

Address

St. Mary's Priory, St Mary's Priory Centre, Monk Street, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5ND

Telephone
01873 858787

manager@stmarys-priory.org

Abergavenny

St Mary's Priory Church is the parish church for the town and community of Abergavenny and is one of the largest and finest parish churches in Wales.
Raglan Country Estate

Type

Type:

Group Travel Visits

Address

Raglan Country Estate, Parc Lodge,, Station Rd,, Raglan, Monmouthshire, NP15 2ER

Telephone
01291 691719

Info@raglancountry.estate

Station Rd,, Raglan

An oasis of beauty and calm in the centre of Monmouthshire offering golf, food, walks, a children's playground and more.