This area of the Wye and Usk Valleys has been the battleground of tribes and nations over the centuries. The Romans made their conquest of the Seluri from their base at Caerleon; you can visit the remains of their amphitheatre and explore the excavated barracks and baths. The Normans built many castles, one of the most spectacular being at Chepstow, at the mouth of the Wye, so if it’s history you want there is plenty to keep you interested.

The area was also very much part of the Industrial Revolution, with iron and steel works in the Royal Forest of Dean and further west into the Welsh Valleys. Blaenavon, now a World Heritage Site, will give you a good idea of early industrialisation, and you can explore further by going down an actual disused coal mine at Big Pit, guided by an ex-miner.

If outdoor pursuits are what you want, you can walk - Offa’s Dyke, Wye Valley Walk, Usk Valley Walk, Gloucester Way, Brecon Beacons, etc. for the serious walker or a gentle stroll around our fifteen acres or across our brook to Wentwood Forest – or cycle the many cycle routes, one of which passes half a mile from our driveway. You can also canoe on the Wye, sail, hanglide, glide, balloon, fish, play golf, ride horses or quadbikes within easy reach.

The thing we don’t do is sandy beaches - you have your own heated pool – but if you must spend a day at the seaside there are some superb beaches the other side of Cardiff, about ninety minutes drive away.

If all this seems a bit exhausting, and you are in need of some retail therapy, then Cardiff, Wales’ exciting capital city, is forty-five minutes away and offers a wide range of shops as well as Techniquest, fascinating museums, including the Museum of Welsh Life, the Millenium Stadium and the magnificent Cardiff Castle. Cribbs Causeway Shopping Centre, in the other direction just over the Old Severn Bridge, is the biggest shopping centre in the area.