The castle is lovely and grounds are absolutely stunning. Although the structure and landscaping…read moreare lovely, our tour guide felt the need to weave her strong political views into most topics. Examples would be regarding a pitcher/jug that is displayed in one of the glass cases. She said the pitcher "should not be here" and if she had her way "it would be returned" because it was "stolen from a masque." She also said when referring to Dr. Edward Jenner being the first to develop a successful vaccination for small pox that "it really is a question if he were the first." She said he barely beat Africa and Turkey in this world altering vaccine. To which doctors to whom was she referring to in Africa or Turkey? She made a comment of, " My grandfather always said, 'Whatever horrible acts done have been done have been done by the English first.' and I firmly believe this." She was also railing against the decisions of the monarchs before the addition of the parliament. Then she went on to say she wished she could get rid of the current government. A guide should concentrate on the facts and remove biases. It is quite distracting and unnecessary.

What can you say about one of the oldest inhabited castles in the world which is still owned by the…read moresame family from 900 years ago. You have to go. Its where Edward II was murdered with a red hot poker up his fundament .

Amazing castle! Perched above the River Wye with incredible views, Chepstow is packed with history…read moreand atmosphere. Lots to explore, well-kept grounds, and super friendly staff. Wear good shoes...there are a bunch of steep steps, but it's 100% worth it. One of the best castles in Wales! The castle itself is full of history. You can wander through towers, old chambers, and winding staircases, and every corner feels like stepping back in time. I had thoughts of "hmm, what happened here?" The information boards are really well done, giving just enough detail to bring the place to life without feeling overwhelming. It's a large castle, so give yourself a couple of hours to explore properly. Comfortable shoes are a must, as some areas are steep and uneven, but that's all part of the adventure. Definitely recommend

Chepstow Castle is a magnificent castle in southeast Wales perched high above the river Wye…read more Construction started almost 1,000 years ago in 1067AD and is (I believe) the oldest surviving stone castle in the UK. Yes it is largely a ruin but it is still a spectacular place to visit, incredibly photogenic and simply beautiful. It's strategic importance in British history is proven by how quickly William the Conqueror (1066 and all that!) started its construction! Two thumbs up - just visit when you can...

What a fantastic day out. This place offers a lot for family's…read more Great value for £8 per adult and £5 for children over two, under twos are free ! The grounds are fantastic lots of open space for the children to wonder and explore and also paths that follow through the trees and gardens. There's a big adventure playground full of lots to explore, zip wire, slide climbing frame etc. There were also blow up slides and a paddling pool. There was a separate area with Wendy houses, trampolines and a climbing frame for the smaller children which was in a really nice relaxing area. You can get up close with pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens in Pet's Corner. There is 66 acres of beautiful gardens and woodland walks, the views across the River Severn and Wales and spectacular ! There's also a cafe and shop. The cafe is really nice I had a caramel latte with a cheese and chutney sandwich came to £5.50 wich Is good value. Plenty of parking available. Overall a fantastic day out which was really enjoyed by all.

Old Down Country Park is not your typical stately home. It is a farm/zoo/park/house. Great for the…read morewhole family too. They have large lawn areas for picnics, a café for those who didn't pre-prepare food, and lots and ltos of animals. Expect to find your typical farm animals. Goats? Check. Pigs? Check. Sheep? Check. Ponies? Check. Wallabies????check!!! Entry is only a fiver and you can spend the whole day there (weather permitting) walking along the Victorian walls and cooing at all the cute animals.

'Y Garreg Siglo' in Welsh, a great place to visit, not far from Pontypridd Hospital and with a…read moremarvellous view over the town. The central stone is over 5 feet high and placed there in Neolithic times. It does indeed 'rock' slightly back and forth if you sit or stand on it and push a bit! The stone circle surrounding it is much more recent, having been arranged there only one or two hundred years ago (there appears to be some dispute about the exact date). There are various other stones dotted about the Common. There are several places to park nearby along the road side.

Ystradfellte is the Brecon Beacon's Waterfall country and its also were I grew up so its a place I…read moreknow well and love very much. Its a place that a lot of people in Wales know of just because of the fall and the caving complexes. The most famous of the waters is Sgwd Y Eira. If you have seen the advertising posters for Brecon Water this is the waterfall in the picture. Its a fairly easy walk apart from the steps as you get near and its one of very few waterfalls that you can actually walk underneath, though do expect to get sprayed a bit. I personally prefer some of the walks around the other falls which are much quieter in the summer and offer refreshing pools to swim in or picnic by. In all my years of living here I have never got bored of walking the area, its different all the time. Just a note to vistors the two main car parks charge a daily fee and a national parks ranger goes between them. If you want to avoid the fee park in the village itself and walk a bit further, tempting as it may be to pull up on the verges near the car parks I have seen so many break in's that you really are risking it a bit.

Bibury is a charming, typically Cotswold. It's easy to see why William Morris called Bibury 'The…read moremost beautiful village in England' - wonderful stone buildings strung out along the banks of the River Coln. Arlington Row, owned by the National Trust, is one of England's most iconic and photographed sites - it even appears on the inside cover of UK passports! Originally built in the 14th century as a monastic wool store, it was converted in the 17th century into a row of weavers' cottages. The River Coln flows through Bibury sandwiched between the main village street and an expanse of boggy water meadow known as Rack Isle, so called because wool was once hung out to dry there on racks after it had been washed in Arlington Row. You can even see some trout in the river, which the trout farm owners told us they are the escape artists! With Arlington Row as a backdrop, it makes one of the most picturesque scenes you will find in the Cotswolds. Other attractions in Bibury include: Bibury Trout Farm, (see my other review) one of the oldest and most attractive trout farms in the country covering almost 15 acres, where you can learn about trout or event catch your own dinner. This village is stunning, perfect photographers dream. Do come you will not be disappointed.

If traveling past Oxford don't miss out on this picturesque little town, offering a prime example…read moreof the Cotswold way of living. Houses are maintained in much the old fashion, offering not just wonderful photo opportunities but also a glimpse into housing of the past . You will find several small tea houses and shops here, as well as a trout farm and hotel. Well worth a visit or even a relaxing weekend.

This is a wonderful place for a walk! Not only is Richard Burton's childhood home here (a terraced…read morehouse on the main road) and one of the entrances to the massive Afan Argoed Forest Park, but there is an impressive, mile long circular walk you can do here which will take you over both a tall 19th century viaduct and a disused aqueduct! Start opposite the shop in Pontrhydyfen (there is only one!) and take the left hand fork facing you (Station Road) instead of going down the steep hill. Walk along here past the cemetery and a little further on turn right onto the aqueduct. After appreciating the marvellous views of the Afan Valley, cross to the other side, turn right into the village of Oakwood and walk to the end. Follow a grassy track which winds down some steps and then turn right onto the viaduct. This is another great place for views back over the village of Pontrhydyfen and the aqueduct, although the sides are high - you might need to stand on tiptoe! Keep going until a woodland 'crossroads' then turn right and follow the river back to the road, where you will turn left and left again up the steep hill to take you back to where you started. Not far from where we live and a walk we often enjoy at all times of year.

Coity Castle is a magical place full of distant battle cries and that incredible sense that…read moreimportant things have happened there. Built in 1100 and then rebuilt after a siege by Owain Glyndwr, this is a castle often overlooked by visitors to Wales, despite its extremely important part in Welsh history. Although other castles, such as Cardiff Castle, Caerphilly Castle and Castell Coch, are more visited, I would argue that it's the lesser known relics which are more interesting. This Medieval castle is built up on a hill, with clear evidence of moats, and looks almost like a half-rotten tooth sticking up into the sky. It has just as much grandeur and fairy-tale quality as a person could ask for in a castle. This historic site is well worth a visit; sunset will reward you will specular photographs and views.

This is another of South Wales's impressive Norman Castles, standing in ruins near the town of…read moreBridgend in South Wales, not far from Cardiff. It was built by Sir Payn "the Demon" de Turberville, one of the legendary Twelve Knights of Glamorgan who are supposed to have conquered the area under the leadership of Robert FitzHamon, Lord of Gloucester. Although it was originally built soon after 1100, a lot of the castle actually dates from the fourteenth century and later. Parts of it were rebuilt following the siege by Owain Glyn Dr in 1404-05. Despite being in ruins, there are still plenty of interesting features to see - including the remains of the central octagonal pillar for the vaults of the castle. If you have OS map 170 the reference is SS 923815. Nearby you can also visit Newcastle and Ogmore Castles in a day trip.

Lydney harbour, on the banks of the River Severn, is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, by virtue of…read morebeing a rare example of an unspolit 19th century harbour, built for sailing ships. It offers an attractive combination of industrial archaeology, excellent views and verdant wildlife. Lydney itself is a small town on the edge of the Forest of Dean. There has been a port here since Roman times, to ship out the iron ore and coal for which the Forest is famous. Until Elizabethan times, there was even a substantial ship-building industry here, although, as was so often the case, silting of the River Lyd gradually undermined the importance of the port. Industrialisation in the 19th century gave fresh impetus to Lydney, however, and a new port was developed where the Lyd flows into the Severn. Accessed by tramway and a canal, this flourished and between 1810 and 1823 the current harbour complex was built, as the highest point where sea-going ships could travel up the River Severn. A unique feature of the Severn is its extreme tidal range, of up to 15m (the second highest in the world). The lock gates are therefore suitably impressive in height. The last commercial traffic finished in the 1970's, but the harbour was saved by its designation in 1980 as a Scheduled Ancient Monument: as the last improvements were made in 1875, it is unique as a sailing harbour to remain in essentially its original condition. The harbour was fully restored in 2003-05. The harbour itself consists of a short stone pier, an outer dock, lock and inner harbour, with a long stretch of the canal to Lydney (currently unrestored, but offering a lovely stretch of water for wildlife). The swing bridge at the entrance to the canal is itself a listed historic structure. The banks on the side of the Severn are lined with the remains of Severn trows, beached to help prevent erosion. The trow is a unique design of flat-bottomed boat, peculiar to the Severn, and common on the river in the 19th century, designed to cope with the fierce currents and shallow waters. The harbour now is full of pleasure sailing craft, and is the HQ for Lydney Sailing Club. The Environment Agency has incorporated interpretation boards on the site showing its history and development, and there are wildlife reserves for plant, insect and bird life. A 1.5km long footpath on the western side of the canal provides a pleasant walk or cycle through hedgerows as an alternative to the road access, which is rather less scenic (it is still rather industrial) and has no footpath. The pier offers fine views of the River Severn across to Sharpness Docks, 2km away, and on a clear day both Severn Bridges (15km away) can be seen. NB The deep water and 15m sheer drops make it unsuitable for small children unless very closely supervised, although there is a safer fenced-in viewing platform on the down-stream side. The site is accessible by wheelchair - radar keys are required to open the pedestrian gates - but care should still be taken due to uneven and slippery surfaces, deep water and the unfenced quaysides.

Growing up, one of my favorite games to play was the Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time and this…read morecastle had me feeling like I was in the castle from my childhood. Though the site is now a ruin, thanks to the placards posted everywhere, you could easily picture what rooms and places around the castle keep looked like back in it's heyday. From the square where vendors would set up to sell goods, to the staircase where the royals would walk down in order of importance, it was a very fun set of ruins. Of the many castle ruins I've been to, this would easily be my favorite I've ever been to. The overall castle grounds were kept in excellent condition as well. Nothing was overgrown and my 80 year old grandma was able to easily traverse the entire ruin. The highlight was definitely climbing up to the highest point of the ruins, giving you a glimpse of the entire castle from atop a tower. If you're driving through or even by the castle, I would highly reccomend making your way over to spend an hour or two at these castle ruins. You'll feel like you're in a fairytale!

Raglan Castle on our UK itinerary is a prime reason for us booking time in nearby Cardiff. For us,…read morehaving a family lineage that traces back to William Herbert, a castle resident in the 1500s was a particular draw. GETTING THERE My pre-trip research identified at least 4 ways to get here, and I found the options confusing to say the least. Having made the trek from Cardiff, hopefully these directions will be helpful. Do take a train from Cardiff Central rail station. Select the Nottingham line, on which Newport is the first stop and where you will get off the train. I think we paid 5.40 pounds for round trip train fare. In Newport, you'll next need to navigate to the bus station to catch bus 60. From Newport train station, you'll walk to the city center to your left and walk down through a few streets towards the old city center. Within a few blocks is the bus station and there are some signs to point the way. Note that there are two stations. The local city bus station will NOT get you to Raglan. Walk down a block to find Newport Bus terminal as this is where you will catch bus 60. Here we paid 8.30 pounds for an all day bus fare and you need exact fare. The castle website said to get off at the Monmouth Road bus stop, which is technically correct, but our bus driver had no clue of that stop name nor the castle. Since this bus route has as its final stop a Monmouth proper stop, you do NOT want to go that far as that is another 18 minutes by bus past the small village of Raglan. Do get off in Raglan village (and yes, this is technically the Monmouth Road stop, though your bus driver might not refer to it as such). Catty corner from your stop, you should find a map on a placard across the street from the St. Cadoc's church. This should help you navigate to the castle. You'll walk up Castle Street, cross a highway, and then be on the driveway to the castle. The castle absolutely exceeded expectations. We spent nearly three hours strolling the grounds. Lots of placards that explained the various areas and history of the castle. There is a moat too. So many elements here even though the structure is in ruins: kitchens, cellars, dining quarters, chapel, tower, etc The ruins were beautiful and one can imagine how glamorous it was during its day. This is a self guided visit. Given you will be outdoors for the visit, I suspect visited on a non rainy day would be optimal. Our fortunes were such the day of our visit even though the forecast called for 40% chance of rain. There is a gift shop on premises which carries a number of books offering greater insight into this castle as well as general castle life.