Gwent Attractions

Gwent attractions - Children attractions and places to visit in Gwent

***Visitor attractions and information for Abergavenny***

	Raglan Castle, Raglan, Usk, Monmouthshire, NP15 2BT. Tel: 01291 690228. Remains of impressive fifteenth-century castle. Much of the hexagonal-shaped Great Tower and lavish suites of state apartments still survive. Protected by Cadw. About 7 miles east of Abergavenny.

	Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, Torfaen, NP4 9XP. Guided underground tours, Pithead baths canteen offering meals and snacks, Coffee shop open during peak season, Gift shop with souvenirs and books, Wheelchairs available on request, Baby changing facilities, Free coach and car parking. Tel: (01495) 790311. Big Pit stands on the edge of Blaenafon, about 5 miles from Abergavenny.

Bed and breakfast in Abergavenny

***Visitor attractions and information - Caerleon***

	National Roman Legion Museum, High Street, Caerleon, Newport, NP18 1AE. Tel: 01633 423 134. Almost 2,000 years ago, the Roman Empire dominated the civilised world. A fortress was founded at Caerleon that would guard this part of Wales, for over 200 years. The Museum displays a remarkable collection of finds Roman times. Location: In the centre of Caerleon.

	Newport Castle. Newport Castle, standing on the banks of the River Usk, was built in the early 14th, and all that remain are substantial ruins in the centre of Newport. The site is owned by Cadw and is freely accessible in daylight hours. Nearby car parks. About 2 miles south of Caerleon.

	Streets, The Old Chapel, Alexandra Rd, Pill, Newport. Tel: 01633 244893. Streets is a resource for education and learning, situated in the dockland area of Newport. The Way in which we used to live. Local History. The War Years; (The Home Front, The Coming of War, The Wartime House, The Wartime Family, Air Raids, Evacuation, Empathy). The Victorians. Cafe Bar & Restaurant. www.streets-newport.com. About 2 miles south of Caerleon.

	Fourteen Locks Canal Centre, High Cross, Newport, South Wales. NP10 9GN. Tel: 01633 894 802. Situated alongside the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Outside the Visitor Centre, the flight of locks rises 160 feet in just half a mile. The Visitor Centre is open Easter to late September, closed Tuesday & Wednesday. Free admission. About 4 miles west of Caerleon.

	Caerleon hotels

***Visitor attractions and information - Chepstow***

	Chepstow Racecourse, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 6BE. Tel. 01291 622260. Situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the picturesque Wye Valley provides a breathtaking backdrop to the impressive racing calendar at Chepstow Racecourse. Ideally located between Bristol and Cardiff, the racecourse is easily accessible being just a few minutes from the Severn Bridge. www.chepstow-racecourse.co.uk. About 1 mile north of Chepstow.

	Chepstow Castle. The ruins of Chepstow Castle have a spectacular setting on cliffs over the River Wye. CADW, who act as custodians, have produced a guide book for the Castle which is available at the Castle gift shop. Location: In the centre of Chepstow.

	Chepstow Museum, Bridge Street, Chepstow. Tel: 01291 625981. Chepstow Museum is housed in an elegant late 18th Century town house opposite the Castle car park. History of Chepstow. There is always something new to see at the museum with regularly changing exhibitions. Location: In the centre of Chepstow.

	Caldicot Castle, Church Road, Caldicot, Monmouthshire. NP26 4HU. Tel: 01291 420241. The castle offers the chance to explore medieval walls and towers, set in fifty five acres of beautiful Country Park. Castle Gift Shop. Castle Tea Room. Towers have spiral staircases and some doorways are narrow. www.caldicotcastle.co.uk. About 4 miles south west of Chepstow.

	Tintern Abbey, a Cistercian abbey founded in 1131, is beautifully situated on to the River Wye about 4 miles north of Chepstow along the A466. Parking, toilets, guidebook available, on-site giftshop, site exhibition, audio tour. CADW is responsible for the upkeep. Charges apply. About 4 miles north of Chepstow.

	Better Tours, Milbank, Presteigne, Powys. Tel: 01544260493. Castles of Wales Tour. BETTER TRAVEL is pleased to offer you, the discerning traveller, the opportunity to visit in four days a few of the classical Castles of South, Mid, West and North Wales. With names as famous as Carreg Cennen and Caerphilly, Chepstow, Caernafon, Beaumaris, Conwy or Lamphey Bishops Palace and Carew, these treasured ruins of the dark and middle ages are familiar to both residents and visitors alike. www.better-travel.co.uk. Location: Tour of the Castles of Wales.

	Chepstow hotels

***Visitor attractions and information - Cwmbran***

	National Roman Legion Museum, High Street, Caerleon, Newport, NP18 1AE. Tel: 01633 423 134. Almost 2,000 years ago, the Roman Empire dominated the civilised world. A fortress was founded at Caerleon that would guard this part of Wales, for over 200 years. The Museum displays a remarkable collection of finds Roman times. Location: About 3 miles south of Cwmbran.

	Newport Castle. Newport Castle, standing on the banks of the River Usk, was built in the early 14th, and all that remain are substantial ruins in the centre of Newport. The site is owned by Cadw and is freely accessible in daylight hours. Nearby car parks. Location: About 5 miles south of Cwmbran.

	Streets, The Old Chapel, Alexandra Rd, Pill, Newport. Tel: 01633 244893. Streets is a resource for education and learning, situated in the dockland area of Newport. The Way in which we used to live. Local History. The War Years; (The Home Front, The Coming of War, The Wartime House, The Wartime Family, Air Raids, Evacuation, Empathy). The Victorians. Cafe Bar & Restaurant. www.streets-newport.com. Location: About 5 miles south of Cwmbran.

	Fourteen Locks Canal Centre, High Cross, Newport, South Wales. NP10 9GN. Tel: 01633 894 802. Situated alongside the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Outside the Visitor Centre, the flight of locks rises 160 feet in just half a mile. The Visitor Centre is open Easter to late September, closed Tuesday & Wednesday. Free admission. Location: About 5 miles south of Cwmbran.

	Griffithstown Railway Museum, Station Road, Griffithstown, Pontypool, Torfaen, NP4 5JH. Tel. (01495) 762908. A fine collection of railway memorabilia and model railway. Model Shop. Steam Train rides through the grounds of the museum. Refreshments also available. www.griffithstownrailwaymuseum.co.uk. About 2 miles north of Cwmbran.

	Llanyrafon Farm and Mill, Llanfrecha Way, Llanyrafon, Cwmbran, NP44 8HT. Tel: 01633 861 810. There is evidence that there was a mill here in 1632. Collection details - Science and Technology, Social History. Location: In the centre of Cwmbran.

	Cwmbran hotels

***Visitor attractions and information - Forest of Dean***

	Clearwell Caves, Near Coleford, Royal Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, GL16 8JR. Tel: 01594 832535. Voted Gloucestershire's Family Attraction of the Year 2003. Nine impressive caverns to explore. Cafe. Shop. Picnic area. www.clearwellcaves.com.

	Dean Forest Railway, Norchard, Forest Road, Lydney, Gloucestershire GL15 4ET. Tel: 01594 845840. Shop. Museum. 2006 saw the official opening of the line through to Parkend by HRH Princess Royal and the station is now open to visitors. www.deanforestrailway.co.uk. Parkend station in the forest and Lydney station on the river Severn.

	The Dean Heritage Museum, Camp Mill, Soudley, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, GL14 2UB. Tel: 01594 822 170. The story of the Forest of Dean. The Foresters Cottage is an accurately reconstructed Victorian home. The charcoal burners hut. Adventure Playground.www.deanheritagemuseum.com.

	Hopewell Colliery Museum, Cannop Hill, Coleford (on the B4226). Tel: 01594 810706. Hopewell Colliery is a real mine - If you are going underground you should wear practical shoes and warm clothing and you will be fitted with a miner's safety helmet and lamp for your trip undergound. The mine has a daily safety inspection.

	Forest of Dean Hotels

***Visitor attractions and information - Monmouth***

	Skenfrith Castle, Skenfrith, nr Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. Tel: 01874 625515. Remains of an early 13th-century fortress. Includes a keep and towers. National Trust. Admission free. About 5 miles north of Monmouth.

	All that is left of Monmouth Castle, which was started about 1068, is the ruined Great Tower and Hall. Tel: 01600 772175. Location: In the centre of Monmouth.

	The Castle and Regimental Museum is housed in a 19th century barrack wing attached to Great Castle House, within the precincts of Monmouth Castle. It tells the story of the Royal Monmouthshire Engineers. Tel: 01600 772175. Location: In the centre of Monmouth.

	Raglan Castle, Raglan, Usk, Monmouthshire, NP15 2BT. Tel: 01291 690228. Remains of impressive fifteenth-century castle. Much of the hexagonal-shaped Great Tower and lavish suites of state apartments still survive. Protected by Cadw. About 6 miles west of Monmouth.

	Tintern Abbey, a Cistercian abbey founded in 1131, is beautifully situated on to the River Wye about 4 miles north of Chepstow along the A466. Parking, toilets, guidebook available, on-site giftshop, site exhibition, audio tour. CADW is responsible for the upkeep. Charges apply. About 8 miles south of Monmouth.

	Clearwell Caves, Near Coleford, Royal Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, GL16 8JR. Tel: 01594 832535. Voted Gloucestershire's Family Attraction of the Year 2003. Nine impressive caverns to explore. Cafe. Shop. Picnic area www.clearwellcaves.com. About 5 miles east of Monmouth.

	Hopewell Colliery Museum, Cannop Hill, Coleford (on the B4226). Tel: 01594 810706. Hopewell Colliery is a real mine - If you are going underground you should wear practical shoes and warm clothing and you will be fitted with a miner's safety helmet and lamp for your trip undergound. The mine has a daily safety inspection. About 6 miles east of Monmouth.

	Monmouth hotels

***Visitor attractions and information - Newport***

	National Roman Legion Museum, High Street, Caerleon, Newport, NP18 1AE. Tel: 01633 423 134. Almost 2,000 years ago, the Roman Empire dominated the civilised world. A fortress was founded at Caerleon that would guard this part of Wales, for over 200 years. The Museum displays a remarkable collection of finds Roman times. Location: About 2 miles north of Newport.

	Newport Castle. Newport Castle, standing on the banks of the River Usk, was built in the early 14th, and all that remain are substantial ruins in the centre of Newport. The site is owned by Cadw and is freely accessible in daylight hours. Nearby car parks. Location: In the centre of Newport.

	Streets, The Old Chapel, Alexandra Rd, Pill, Newport. Tel: 01633 244893. Streets is a resource for education and learning, situated in the dockland area of Newport. The Way in which we used to live. Local History. The War Years; (The Home Front, The Coming of War, The Wartime House, The Wartime Family, Air Raids, Evacuation, Empathy). The Victorians. Cafe Bar & Restaurant. www.streets-newport.com. Location: In the centre of Newport.

	Fourteen Locks Canal Centre, High Cross, Newport, South Wales. NP10 9GN. Tel: 01633 894 802. Situated alongside the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Outside the Visitor Centre, the flight of locks rises 160 feet in just half a mile. The Visitor Centre is open Easter to late September, closed Tuesday & Wednesday. Free admission. About 2 miles west of Newport.

	Newport hotels

***Visitor attractions and information - Pontypool***

	Big Pit National Mining Museum, Blaenavon, Torfaen, NP4 9XP. Tel: 01495 790311. Big Pit as part of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales make no charge for entry. Visitors must be 5 years of age or at least 1 metre tall to go underground. Catering including taste of Wales in the original miners' canteen. Gift shop. Refreshments. Souvenirs. About 6 miles north of Pontypool.

	Griffithstown Railway Museum, Station Road, Griffithstown, Pontypool, Torfaen, NP4 5JH. Tel. (01495) 762908. A fine collection of railway memorabilia and model railway. Model Shop. Steam Train rides through the grounds of the museum. Refreshments also available. www.griffithstownrailwaymuseum.co.uk. Location: On the outskirts of Pontypool.

	Llanyrafon Farm and Mill, Llanfrecha Way, Llanyrafon, Cwmbran, NP44 8HT. Tel: 01633 861 810. There is evidence that there was a mill here in 1632. Collection details Science and Technology, Social History. Location: About 3 miles south of Pontypool.

	The Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway Co., 'The Railway Shop', 13a Broad Street, Blaenavon, Torfaen, NP4 9ND. Tel: 01495 792 263. The Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway was started in 1980, and is operated exclusively by volunteers who form the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway Company (1983) Ltd. and its support group the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway Society. www.pontypool-and-blaenavon.co.uk. About 5 miles north of Pontypool.

	Pontypool hotels

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