Chepstow Castle, with it’s spectacular setting atop tall cliffs above the Wye, is an interesting place to visit. Touring the castle, you can clearly see how it evolved from it’s Norman fortification of over 1000 years ago to a residence for Dukes and Earls in the seventeenth century. The Castle frequently hosts outdoor events in the summer.
If you are hungry for more castles, we would recommend the Norman Caldicot Castle, about 5 miles from Chepstow, Raglan Castle built in the Middle Ages and situated about 5 miles south of Monmouth, or Goodrich Castle on the English side of the river Wye, 5 miles north of Monmouth.
Chepstow is also home to Wales’ national racecourse, Chepstow Race Course. Chepstow Racecourse stages racing all year round on the flat and over jumps and is home to the Welsh Grand National. The racecourse also hosts music events in the summer with Tom Jones and Madness having played there over the past few years.
Monmouth sits at the confluence of the Rivers Wye, Monnow, and Trothy. It has a recently renovated centrepiece – Shire Hall, adorned with statues celebrating famous historical figures closely linked to the town – Henry V (born there) and Charles Rolls of Rolls-Royce whose ancestral home is just outside the town. The town has plenty of shopping and other useful amenities available including a large number of independent shops selling everything from food, antiques, clothes, children’s toys, art and crafts and garden supplies. For food shopping, as well as two butchers and a green grocers, the town also has a Waitrose, M&S Food, and Lidl.
For the agricultural aficionados, the Monmouthshire Show and Usk Show held on the first Saturday in July and second Saturday in September respectively are major events for the area and well worth visiting.