Campsites in Monmouthshire

Monmouthshire's unspoilt countryside, historical buildings and quirky towns make for the perfect family getaway. Nature's gifted the area incredible green spaces - and it sits just at the gateway to the Brecon Beacons, while the wars and intrigues of old are remembered with fascinating castles and its 200 year old canals are full of peace and beauty.

Our favourite things to do

• Tintern Abbey
• Caldicot Castle
• Wye Valley

Adventures from the past

Once the old Welsh county of Gwent, this green and luscious area has been used like a chess piece by both England and Wales stretching back through the mist of time - and the gems of that struggle are still to be seen today.

Who could miss Tintern Abbey, which sits in roofless splendour on velvet green grass and was built by a reformed robber in the 1130s.

Monmouth Castle was built in the 11th century and is steeped in history - if only these ruins could talk! And if you love history, you need to vist Lost City of Trellech Project's archeological dig - which was home to one of the very first Roman garrisons in the area. Here you can become an archaeologist for a day, or have a good browse of the pottery, glass and armour from centuries ago, already found.

In fact it's a case of castles galore, from the falconry displays at Raglan Castle, to the imposing White Castle which is one of trio that Edward I used to defend the border.

If your youngsters can imagine the clinking of chains from the past, Monmouth Gaol is where you can find a medieval fortress, including a chapel and infirmary and it's where public hangings occurred until the mid-19th century - spooky! St Mary's Church is also worth a visit, as is Shire Hall which was erected in 1724. 

Take a stroll down Drybridge Street, also in Monmouth, which offers interesting architecture and houses decorated with large wooden wallpaper blocks, all once used for hand printing. There are Georgian buildings, old timey coaching inns and much more to draw your interest.

The Chepstow Museum is both interesting and informative, and the Monmouth Museum is also worth a peek. The Old Station at Tintern offers peace and tranquillity, and Tintern village itself has a charming and welcoming atmosphere.

If you're touring this historic area, you'll want to stop in Caerleon for its Roman Legionary Museum, set close to Newport with a full-sized barrack room and replica armour that will get a smile on your little soldiers' faces.

Magnificent outdoor spaces

This area takes in a delicious bite of the Wye Valley and even a sliver of the Brecon Beacons, with Abergavenny at its head. Both are unbeatable spots for outdoor adventure fans, with the River Wye very popular in water sport circles - kayaking, rafting and white water rapids sound good?

From climbing mountains to gentle bike rides and days out on horseback, the Brecon Beacons National Park deserves a big portion of your time too.

The Usk River winds through the region, bordered with beautiful flowers and offering the best spots to dangle your rod and fish for salmon. It's given its name to the town of Usk, where you can dawdle in pretty antique shops and find warm and welcoming pubs. All this was once the Roman fort of Roman fort of Burrium - and those ancient ruins have been found between its modern streets.

Walking up Kymin Hill provides excellent views over the surrounding landscape, while the Parva Farm Vineyard is the perfect place to taste the sweetness of the crop and toast to your adventures.

If it's gardens that take your fancy, Dewstow Gardens and Hidden Grottoes are far from run of the mill, where you'll explore through hidden tunnels, buried during the war and recently brought back to their former glory. Wyndcliffe Court Gardens are also worth visiting.

Monmouth's own 19th century pavilion in the pretty Nelson Garden was the setting for a famous tea party and is now a bit of a hidden gem in the heart of the town. 

A big hit with walkers is setting out after a visit to iconic Tintern Abbey along the bridge to its north, making the trip to along a section of the Offa's Dyke Path to an eerie outcrop known as Devil's Pulpit, which has to be seen.

Pick Abergavenny as your starting point and you can hunt for a bargain in its market hall and then take in the mouthwateringly named Sugar Loaf, Blorenge, and even Ysgyryd Fawr.

Attractions to travel for

Walks here have all the key ingredients - top views, great stop off points and even a spot of history and legend behind the trail to give you that extra oomph. Carve off a gorgeous section of the Wales Coast Path, cheered by the luxurious views of the mouth to the Severn. 

A walk along the Offa's Dyke Path's 170+ miles starts from Monmouthshire, taking you past Chepstow Castle and even close to iconic Tintern.

There's no need to ramble far, however, with a day trip to Clydach Gorge - thought to have given Shakespeare the setting for A Midsummer Night's Dream - now that's magical! Gorge scrambling, caving, rock climbing or just a stroll by the mysterious waterfalls - it's all here.

If a little fuel is in order, you'll find plenty to tempt you at Abergavenny Food Festival.

The roar and thrill of Wales' Grand National is yours at Chepstow Racecourse, the most prestigious race in the country.