Things To Do: Outings & Day Trips

Abergavenny area is renowned for great food, history, landscape and much more

Local Provenance & Food Shopping

Chester's Wine Merchants. Abergavenny's only independent wine merchants, boasting a huge selection of wine, beer and spirits. Book a table inside or in their lovely garden for a civilized night out and a taxi home.
White Castle Vineyard. This family-owned vineyard just few minutes’ drive, or about 1 hour's walk from the farm, offers vineyard tours, wine tasting and light lunches. White Castle is the first Welsh vineyard to win a Gold Award at Decanter with their Pinot Noir Reserve made from Pinot Noir Précoce vintage 2018.
Sugarloaf Vineyard. Situated on the south facing slopes of the Sugar Loaf Mountain just the other side of Abergavenny, they produce white, rose, red and sparkling wines. Enjoy a self-guided stroll around the Vineyard for a fascinating insight into growing vines in our cool climate. Follow up with some wine tasting or lunch in the popular café.
Local Beef. Our neighbour Hugh at Three Pools, Llanvetherine has the most gorgeous Belted Galloway cattle, and will sell you delicious meat off the farm.

Madame Fromage. This lovely little cheese shop, deli and café is a good place to stop for lunch on a trip to Abergavenny to see the castle, museum and tithe barn. They will also make up platters pre-ordered to away for a feast at home.
Black Mountain Smokery. If you are planning a trip to Crickhowel on a weekday, popping into the shop is a great way to pick up some incredible smoked fish, cheeses or other delicious foods. Alternatively order in advance and have your hamper or side of smoked salmon waiting in the fridge on your arrival, see our Farm Kitchen pages for details.
Abergavenny Market. If you are looking for a good source of locally produced food, the market on Friday or Saturday is ideal. With veg, fish, meat, bread and cheese stalls, alongside bric-a-brac, and even cheep sweets, there is something for everyone.
Local Lamb. Our neighbours Sarah & Nick at Black Welsh Lamb, Pen-y-Wyrlod, Llanvetherine will sell you their award winning meat straight off their organic farm where the sheep live like royalty with the best life possible.

Restaurants & Pubs

A small selection of our favourite local restaurants

The Walnut Tree (extraordinary chef Shaun Hill and a Michelin Star), Llanddewi Skirrid - possible to walk down the Bridal Way to get there for lunch a 3 min drive (£££)
The Gaf, Abergavenny - small plates of gastro food in a pretty courtyard setting in the centre of Abergavenny (£££)
The Angel, Abergavenny town centre - our local smart hotel with a cosy bar, great cocktails and a good restaurant (££)
The Bear, Crickhowell - Well worth a day out with great walks, local shopping and this cosy pub with good food (£)
The Bell, Skenfrith - more a restaurant than a pub as they don't allow drinks only but a good place to eat for a special meal booked in advance or a river walk followed by lunch (££)
Kilpeck Inn, Kilpeck - great pub food and drinks next to the Castle and Church (££)
Anatolian Restaurant, Abergavenny - simple good food and a friendly place (£)
Plus many of the pubs listed on the right, some with great food. You should book in advance for all meals.

Some of the amazing pubs nearby, many with food (always book if eating)

The Hunter’s Moon (our favourite), Llangattock Lingoed - check the House Guides for a walking map of how to get there on foot, and book a taxi home. They offer excellent food with local ingredients and the best Sunday Lunch. With notice and a pre-order, they will do their best to cater for bigger parties
The Clytha Arms, Clytha - great coupled with a walk along the river from the National Trust Car Park
The Crown, Pantygelli - a slightly longer walk around the back of the Skirrid, see the Guest Guide for details
The Angel, Grosmont - a lovely local if you fancy a good pint and some live music from time to time
The Bridge Inn, Michaelchurch - right by the river and a good stopping place if taking a long bike ride
The Goose & Cuckoo Inn, Upper Llanover - lovely on a Summer Day with views over the valley from the garden
The Carpenters Arms, Walterstone - very quaint and quirky local in the hills
The Temple Bar Inn, Ewyas Harold - tiny and even more quaint and quirky!

Culture & History

Big Pit Mining Museum. Experience descending deep into the ground to witness life as a coal miner with your ex-miner guide. Fascinating for children and adults.
Blaenavon UNESCO World Heritage Site. South Wales was the world's major producer of iron and coal in the 19th century. See all the elements with coal and ore mines, quarries, a primitive railway system, furnaces, workers' homes, and the social infrastructure of their community.
White Castle. Just across the valley and visible from the farm, this Norman castle is the perfect setting for a picnic, or game of knights and princesses.

Skenfrith Castle. Another great castle sitting on the edge of the river which makes a lovely picnic and wild swimming/padding spot or book a table at the Bell for a luxury meal out.
Raglan Castle. The most impressive of our local castles, you will get lost in history and be inspired by the extraordinary size and grandeur.
Llanthony Priory. Steeped in mystery and history at the end of a dramatic valley in the vale of Ewyas, this is one of our favourite places in the world.
Tintern Abbey. A favourite of the English Romantics, painted by Turner, and an icon of British architecture as it stands on the banks of the river Wye.

Family Friendly Fun

Raglan Farm Park. Ideal in all weathers with their huge indoor soft play areas suitable for toddlers to 11 year olds. Outside there are zip wires, swings, slides, roundabouts, trampolines, tractor rides and go-carts, not to mention the sheep, donkeys, and Llamas amongst other farm animals.
Pony Trekking. Grange Trekking Centre in The Black Mountains is wonderfully situated in stunning scenery for a memorable day out in the Welsh hills. Suitable for children and adults with all levels of riding capability.
Canal Boat Hire. Check out Goytre Wharf for options to book a day's hire for a cruise down the canal.

Water Sports. Llandeggfedd Reservoir offers a Water Sport Centre with paddle and sail sports for all ages and abilities, plus organised open water swimming. It is also a great location to fish, walk, picnic and watch wildlife. The café offers simple lunches and hot drinks.
Soft play.
Bring your princely princes and playful princesses and watch them have the time of their lives in the Kingdom's Castle play frames!
With several separate structures and a dedicated toddler zone they certainly won't run out of things to do.

Active Fun

Cycling. Wern-y-Cwm Farm is the ideal location for a challenging cycling holiday being within reach of the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) National Park, Black Mountains, Usk Valley and much of Herefordshire. Many routes are on quiet country lanes with very little traffic. Click here to download a PDF of our favourite local routes for all abilities directly from the farm.
Rent our E-bike. Please ask for details about renting our Scott Mountain E-bike. Details of the model can be found here. Routes from the farm maybe be followed via our Strava Account. (We only have one bike, but can recommend standard E-bike hire from Gateway Cycles, Abergavenny 01873 858519 or Mountain E-bike hire from Coombes Cycles, Hereford 01432 354373 .)
Forest Bathing. Create your own agenda whilst sitting in the bottom dell under the Mother Oak Tree, or in the den in the Deep Dark Wood.
Sporting Centres:
- Bike Park Wales, mountain & E-biking centre
- Dirt Farm, mountain biking & rental centre
- Llangorse Rock Climbing Centre
- Indoor pool with slides, Ebbw Vale
- Dry Ski Slope & indoor pool with sides, Pontypool
- Symonds Yat Adventure Centre, canoeing on the River Wye
- Grange Trekking Centre, pony trekking
- Llandeggfedd Reservoir, water sports centre

Rambling, Hiking & Walking: There are plenty of walks around and from the farm, please click here for our recommended routes. Other great destinations include:

Walk to the top of the Skirrid following our route across the farm.
- Walk down to White Castle and along Offa's Dyke, from the farm
- Walk to The Hunter's Moon Pub for lunch (leave a car to drive home)
- Walk to The Walnut Tree Restaurant
- Walk to the Crown, Pantygelli from the farm (leave a car to drive home)
- The Sugarloaf Mountain, Abergavenny
- The Blorenge Mountain, Abergavenny
- Walk along the Brecon to Newport Canal
- Climb Pen y Fan (further afield, but the highest mountain in South Wales)
- Walk up to the various Waterfalls near Abergavenny
- Walk up the Clydach Gorge from Brynmawr and through the disused tunnels
One Way Walks: If you would like to walk to a destination, such as a pub for lunch (pre-booked for a bigger group), we can recommend Celtic Mini Buses 01873 821640 to collect you.
Deer Spotting: Head to the bottom dell and sit quietly under the Mother Oak Tree, the local Roe Deer family is generally spotted early evening if you are super quiet.