Melissa's Guidebook
Food Scene
The Hardwick
Seriously delicious and the service is brilliant.
The Walnut Tree
Michelin Star - Yum!
The Beaufort, Raglan
High StreetIts only a mile away and does Spanish food.
Abergavenny Food Festival
63 Frogmore StIts famous for a reason!
Fab Sunday lunches. This is a proper pub not a chain, beer garden, dart board and good homemade food.
12 locals recommend
The Clytha Arms
Fab Sunday lunches. This is a proper pub not a chain, beer garden, dart board and good homemade food.
The Angel Hotel
15 Cross StGreat food in a relaxed atmosphere.
The Angel Bakery
50 Lower Castle StThe best sourdough on the planet!
Great pub and you can swim in the river opposite. Also Skenfrith castle is just down the road.
34 locals recommend
The Bell at Skenfrith
Great pub and you can swim in the river opposite. Also Skenfrith castle is just down the road.
Great little farm shop with a wide range of fruit and veg, their own sausages and meats and great sourdough.
Square Farm Shop
Great little farm shop with a wide range of fruit and veg, their own sausages and meats and great sourdough.
N S James Butchers
Usk RoadThis is the best butchers shop for miles around. I go there all the time.
A proper pub with fabulous food on the edge of the Skirrid Mountain. I recommend the salt and pepper squid and the pie. Yum!
13 locals recommend
The Hunters Moon Inn
A proper pub with fabulous food on the edge of the Skirrid Mountain. I recommend the salt and pepper squid and the pie. Yum!
Sightseeing
Tintern Abbey / Abaty Tyndryn
Raglan Castle
Castle RoadWorth a visit and sometimes there are events there too.
Less well known and therefore less busy than Raglan Castle and entry is free.
31 locals recommend
White Castle
Less well known and therefore less busy than Raglan Castle and entry is free.
Just getting to Llanthony is an experience in itself. A stunning drive down a single track lane with a little river running alongside it and pretty bridges. You'll need decent reversing skills if you meet someone coming in the opposite direction.
30 locals recommend
Llanthony
Just getting to Llanthony is an experience in itself. A stunning drive down a single track lane with a little river running alongside it and pretty bridges. You'll need decent reversing skills if you meet someone coming in the opposite direction.
One of the castles on the three castles walk and you can also swim in the river next to it.
31 locals recommend
Skenfrith Castle
One of the castles on the three castles walk and you can also swim in the river next to it.
This is an absolutely brilliant museum. The tour is amazing and there are several buildings above ground to explore. A great day out.
174 locals recommend
Big Pit National Coal Museum
This is an absolutely brilliant museum. The tour is amazing and there are several buildings above ground to explore. A great day out.
Shopping
Monmouth
Pretty market town with good shops, a museum and a castle.
Two butchers, three pubs, a chemist and a post office/practically John Lewis. I'm not kidding - there is almost nothing you can't buy in Raglan Post Office!
7 locals recommend
Raglan
Two butchers, three pubs, a chemist and a post office/practically John Lewis. I'm not kidding - there is almost nothing you can't buy in Raglan Post Office!
The Waitrose in Abergavenny is slightly bigger than the one in Monmouth and there is a Morrisons and an Aldi too.
145 locals recommend
Abergavenny
The Waitrose in Abergavenny is slightly bigger than the one in Monmouth and there is a Morrisons and an Aldi too.
Arts & Culture
Welsh National Opera
Bute PlaceThe Nelson Museum & Local History Centre
Priory StreetA proper theatre that shows films as well as plays and comedy nights.
24 locals recommend
Savoy Theatre, Monmouth
Church StreetA proper theatre that shows films as well as plays and comedy nights.
Parks & Nature
Wentwood Forest Picnic Area
Brecon Beacons
Beacons ParkRight on the Severn Estuary, as well as all the wildfowl this is a great place to watch Starling murmurations.
30 locals recommend
RSPB Newport Wetlands
West Nash RoadRight on the Severn Estuary, as well as all the wildfowl this is a great place to watch Starling murmurations.
Giant art in the middle of the forest. Its fabulous!
90 locals recommend
Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail
Speech House RoadGiant art in the middle of the forest. Its fabulous!
There is a brilliant walk from Monmouth to Symonds Yat. Approx four miles each way and a pub to have lunch in when you get there.
35 locals recommend
River Wye
There is a brilliant walk from Monmouth to Symonds Yat. Approx four miles each way and a pub to have lunch in when you get there.
Grwyne Fawr Reservoir
An absolutely stunning walk up to a reservoir.
Worth the walk because you can see for miles and miles when you get to the top. Should not be attempted in bad weather or heavy mists.
225 locals recommend
Pen-y-Fan
Worth the walk because you can see for miles and miles when you get to the top. Should not be attempted in bad weather or heavy mists.
There is a National Trust car park and walk along the River Usk at Clytha which is approx 5 miles away from Waterloo Too.
River Usk
There is a National Trust car park and walk along the River Usk at Clytha which is approx 5 miles away from Waterloo Too.
A popular walk. You can park half way up. From the top you can see most of South Wales and quite a lot of Herefordshire.
Sugarloaf Mountain | Mynydd Pen-y-fâl
A popular walk. You can park half way up. From the top you can see most of South Wales and quite a lot of Herefordshire.
Sgwd Gwladys
Worth the trip
Entertainment & Activities
Symonds Yat
Kayaking!
The home of Welsh rugby. Like every man, woman and child in Wales your host is a passionate Wales supporter and hasn't missed a game in years.
324 locals recommend
Principality Stadium
Westgate StreetThe home of Welsh rugby. Like every man, woman and child in Wales your host is a passionate Wales supporter and hasn't missed a game in years.
Wild Swimming
This place is a natural infinity pool on top of a mountain and wild swimming is allowed :) Don't tell anyone!
23 locals recommend
Keeper's Pond
This place is a natural infinity pool on top of a mountain and wild swimming is allowed :) Don't tell anyone!
Lower Lydbrook
Skenfrith
You can swim in the river by the bridge.