Monmouthshire

Monmouthshire spans the Welsh borders, its market towns and villages set among rolling farmland and river valleys. Chepstow guards the mouth of the Wye with its castle and racecourse, making a lively base with good transport links, while Monmouth, where the Wye and Monnow meet, offers a gentler pace with independent shops and easy walking country nearby. Abergavenny, ringed by hills, is the county's food and outdoor town, well suited to those keen on markets and hiking.

Usk is a quieter riverside town, neat and pretty, good for a relaxed stay, while Raglan draws visitors chiefly for its ruined castle. Skenfrith is smaller still, its own castle set beside the Monnow in a peaceful spot for those wanting solitude. Llanvair Kilgeddin, Llanishen, Dingestow and Blaenau are modest villages scattered through the countryside, each offering a slower rhythm and a base for exploring the surrounding lanes and farmland rather than town life.

Monmouthshire's hotels and B&Bs spread across a compact but varied county, with Abergavenny and its surrounding hills drawing walkers, Chepstow offering easy access to the Wye Valley and the Severn crossing, and Monmouth and Usk providing a quieter, market-town base. Farmhouse stays like Hardwick Farm and Church Farm Guest House suit those wanting a rural pace, while town-centre options such as The Park Hotel and The Riverside Hotel keep restaurants and shops within walking distance.

Riverside settings feature strongly here, with places like The Newbridge on Usk and Wye Valley Retreat making the most of the county's rivers and valleys. Smaller guesthouses and B&Bs, including Dorlands, The Courtyard Guesthouse and Ryvington B&B, tend to offer a more personal welcome and are worth considering for shorter breaks, while The Huntsman Hotel gives a solid option for those touring the Abergavenny area.

Monmouthshire's history sits close to the surface, and its castles make the point well. Chepstow Castle overlooks the River Wye at one of the oldest border fortresses in Britain, Raglan Castle offers a grander, later stronghold near its village, and Caldicot Castle combines ruins with parkland that suits a slower visit. Monmouth and Abergavenny act as good bases for exploring further, each within easy reach of several sites.

Away from the castles, the county has a quieter side worth building into a day out. Tintern Old Station makes a pleasant stop along the Wye Valley, Usk Rural Life Museum covers the area's farming past, and Raglan Farm Park gives families a more hands-on outing. For something creative, Ladybird Craft Centre and Paint On Me Pottery Painting offer indoor activities, while Beacon Park Boats provides a different way to see the countryside, from the water.

Monmouthshire's dining scene runs from riverside pubs to market-town cafes, with Abergavenny leading the way as a genuine food destination thanks to its long-standing reputation for good eating. Chepstow and Monmouth both offer solid choices along their historic high streets, mixing traditional pubs with newer coffee shops and casual spots for fish and chips or a quick sandwich.

Away from the towns, the county's villages and countryside hide plenty of worthwhile stops too, from farm cafes to fishery-side snack bars. Whether you want a proper sit-down meal, a coffee break while exploring the Wye Valley, or a pub lunch after a walk in the Black Mountains, the spread across Caldicot and the wider county means somewhere is usually close at hand.

Monmouthshire's mix of river valleys, wooded hillsides and open farmland makes it well suited to camping and glamping alike, and its 52 sites reflect that variety. Around Abergavenny and Usk, farm-based pitches and yurt sites such as Hidden Valley Yurts sit close to the Brecon Beacons foothills, while the Wye Valley around Tintern and Monmouth draws campers keen on riverside walks and woodland cover, seen at spots like Crowfield Woodland and Troy Farm Camping.

Chepstow's sites make a good base for exploring the border country and Wye Gorge, with easy access to the coast path beyond. Elsewhere, quieter corners offer something more particular: Fairoak Lakes for those wanting water nearby, Western Sunfolk Naturist Club for a specific style of stay, and glamping options like Rockfield Glamping, Cwtch Glamping and Buckholt House Farm Glamping for those after fitted-out cabins or yurts rather than a tent.

Choosing between them often comes down to setting as much as facilities - wooded seclusion, farmland views or proximity to a market town - so it's worth deciding what kind of Monmouthshire you want on your doorstep before booking.

Monmouthshire's self-catering cottages tend to follow the shape of the land, tucked into the Wye Valley, along the old cider orchards, or up towards the Black Mountains where Sugarloaf Hut takes its name from the peak nearby. Converted barns and outbuildings feature strongly, from Cider Mill Lodge to The Haybarn, giving properties a rural, working-farm feel rather than anything twee.

Choice often comes down to setting: riverside spots near Monmouth and Tintern suit walkers and canoeists, while places like Dan Y Graig - The Chapel or Bryn Cosyn sit further into the hills for those after quiet and views. Smaller conversions such as Room 1 at The Cwtch or The Carriage House work well for couples, while larger cottages accommodate family groups wanting a base for exploring castles, market towns and the border country beyond.