Places to visit! Southern Wales Attractions

Chepstow Castle is the ideal place to start a visit to this lively Wye Valley town. There is plenty to see in the area- the cliffs just across the water from the town centre, the museum, and of course, the broad expanse of the lower Wye itself.

The castle is large, well-preserved, and one of the oldest in Britain- at least, one of the oldest still standing tall. It was begun in 11th Century just one short year after the Norman landings and the subsequent battle at Hastings. It's sheer size and imposing bulk are testament to the stormy history of the town. It played an important role for the Normans as they took control of Wales, and that was just the beginning of the story.

Both the Wye Valley Walk and Offa's Dyke Path pass through Chepstow, as does the Welsh Coast Path. All are very much long-distance footpaths rather than day walks, but a short amble up the Offa's Dyke Path takes visitors into beautiful woods and provides a spectacular view across to Chepstow Castle.

For those who prefer to get right up close, the castle provides fascinating insights into the way fortifications changed over the centuries. Chepstow was strategically important for hundreds of years, and was still a major stronghold at the time of the civil war.

The largest of the nearby cliffs are named 'Wintour's Leap' after the Royalist Sir John Wintour, who allegedly escaped capture by Parliamentary forces by jumping his horse down the rocks, swimming the River Wye, and finding safety inside the sheltering walls of Chepstow Castle. The legend may be true, although the cliffs have been extensively quarried over the last century and trying to repeat the leap is not recommended today!

Googlemap

View events in this area

View events for this venue