Wider Area
UNDULATING TREE-LINE on the BROW
of THE HILLS BEYOND
CRADLED BETWEEN the RIVER WYE and the BRECON BEACONS
Monmouthshire is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The market towns of Usk, Monmouth and Abergavenny are all within easy reach, as are Hay-on-Wye, the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons. Bath is little more than an hour’s drive.
Usk, Monmouth and Abergavenny each have their own character with farmers’ markets, independent shops and some of the finest restaurants in Wales. Hay-on-Wye, celebrated for its bookshops and literary festival, is a short drive into the hills. And Abergavenny is well known for its food festival, which reflects a long-standing culture of good cooking and local produce.
The Sugarloaf, Tintern and the Devil’s Pulpit, the rivers Usk and Monnow, the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons. The walking here is as varied as the landscape. Walking guidebooks, Ordnance Survey maps and an estate map are provided at each property.
The Welsh Marches are scattered with castles set in extraordinary landscapes. Iron Age hill forts, Tintern Abbey, Raglan Castle, Llanthony Priory and Puzzlewood are among the places that make this one of the most historically layered corners of Wales.
QUIETLY
CAPTIVATING LAND
NOTABLE GARDENS & HOUSES
High Glanau Manor
15 mins drive
An exceptional Arts and Crafts garden designed by the architectural historian H. Avray Tipping.
Llanover Garden
15 mins drive
A historic, beautiful 15-acre private garden near Abergavenny, famous for its rare trees, shrubs, and the tranquil stream running through it.
Tredegar House
30 mins drive
Monmouthshire is renowned for being one of the UK’s most beautiful areas to visit, with it’s fantastic scenery, perfect for long walks and cycle rides, riding, gliding and grass skiing, along with all the usual facilities very close at hand.
Nantybedd Garden
45 mins drive
A spectacular, wild, and naturalistic garden nestled deep in the Black Mountains forest, blending art with nature.
LOCAL TOWNS to EXPLORE
Usk
10 mins drive
Famous for spectacular floral displays, charming antique shops, and the independent boutiques clustered around Twyn Square.
Monmouth
20 mins drive
A picturesque Georgian market town where the rivers Wye and Monnow meet, featuring the iconic Monnow Bridge and excellent independent shopping.
Abergavenny
25 mins drive
The foodie capital of Wales, surrounded by three mountains and featuring a brilliant bustling market hall and castle ruins right in the center.
Crickhowell
A picturesque, independent high-street town nestled in the Usk Valley, famous for its 13th-century castle ruins and brilliant local shops.
HISTORIC & CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS
Raglan Castle
10 mins
One of the grandest and latest castles built in Wales, with striking hexagonal towers that make it incredibly photogenic.
Coed Y Bwnydd Hill Fort & Woodlands
10 mins
The largest and perhaps best-preserved Iron Age hill fort in Monmouthshire, wrapped in beautiful ancient woodland offering spectacular views over the Sugar Loaf and Black Mountains.
Tintern Abbey
25 mins
The spectacular, soaring ruins of this Cistercian abbey sit perfectly on the banks of the River Wye, inspiring poets and artists for centuries.
Llanthony Priory
40 mins
Located in the dramatic Black Mountains, these remote, romantic ruins offer a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere alongside a brilliant little pub built into the stonework.
WALKS and RAMBLES:
WANDER THROUGH the SILENT HILLS
1. Usk River Walk (1-2 hrs)
A gentle, flat, and highly scenic circular stroll along the River Usk and through the surrounding meadows. Perfect before a pub lunch.
2. The Blorenge & Keeper’s Pond (1.5–2.5hrs)
A beautiful, high-level walk starting from a picturesque mountain pond, offering relatively flat terrain with vast, sweeping views across the Usk Valley and the Black Mountains.
3. Devil’s Pulpit (2–2.5)
Follows the Offa’s Dyke Path through ancient woodland up to a limestone rock overlooking Tintern Abbey. A steep ascent, but highly rewarding.
4. Skirrid Fawr (1.5–2hrs)
A short, sharp climb through woodland that opens onto a spectacular, sweeping ridge. The drop-off is dramatic; great for early risers.
5. The Sugar Loaf (2.5–3hrs)
An iconic, conical peak. A moderate climb that gets steep towards the summit, rewarding walkers with panoramic views of the Black Mountains. This parking location provides access to a little known route away from crowds.
6. Symonds Yat to River Wye (2–3hrs)
Starting at the iconic viewpoint overlooking the winding River Wye, this walk drops down through ancient forest to the riverbank. Tip: Stop for a drink at the Saracens Head Inn before the climb back up.
