Top 10 things to do in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is the gateway to Wales from England, with castles, abbey ruins, the River Wye and Abergavenny’s food scene. It is soft and green, and easy to reach.
- 1
Tintern Abbey
📍 TinternHistory, ruinsA roofless Cistercian abbey in the Wye Valley, a favourite of poets and painters.
- 2
Chepstow Castle
📍 ChepstowHistory, castleOne of the oldest stone castles in Britain, above the River Wye.
- 3
Raglan Castle
📍 RaglanHistory, castleA late-medieval castle with a moat and the Great Tower.
- 4
Wye Valley
📍 Tintern and MonmouthWalks, riverA wooded river valley, good for walking, canoeing and viewpoints.
- 5
Abergavenny Food Festival
📍 AbergavennyFood, eventsA town known for food, with a big annual food festival and markets.
- 6
Big Pit National Coal Museum
📍 BlaenavonHistory, freeA free underground tour of a real coal mine, in the Blaenavon World Heritage Site.
- 7
Skenfrith Castle
📍 SkenfrithHistoryA small 13th-century castle in a quiet village.
- 8
Monmouth
📍 MonmouthTown, historyA historic market town with a rare fortified bridge.
- 9
Usk Castle
📍 UskHistoryA ruined castle with grounds, run as a small private attraction.
- 10
Blaenavon Ironworks
📍 BlaenavonHistory, industrialAn 18th-century ironworks, part of a World Heritage landscape.
Where to base yourself
Last checked: October 2026.