Monmouthshire stretch of
Offa’s Dyke is now stile-free
Visitors can now walk the first (or last) stretch
of the Offa’s Dyke Path from Chepstow
(map ref D6) to Llanthony (map ref A3) without
going over a single stile. Monmouthshire
County Council has replaced all the stiles on
this National Trail with gates, and is one of
only two counties in the UK to do so, through
working closely with farmers and landowners.
The trail is still a very demanding one but
walkers who tackle even a section of this
177-mile route are rewarded with fantastic
views across the Wales-England border.
nationaltrail.co.uk
Shire Hall holds Court once more Cwtch Cruises Newport Transporter Bridge
Following nearly two years of careful Llandegfedd Reservoir has long been a
to re-open
restoration, Monmouth’s Georgian Shire Hall, favourite spot for watersports. Now visitors
This Grade I listed structure across the
will once again open its doors to the public. who’d like to take to the water without
River Usk at Newport is due to re-open
The Grade I listed former courthouse, getting wet can enjoy a leisurely tour around
in the summer following a £1.2 million
dating from 1724, has undergone essential the Reservoir on a small cruise boat named
refurbishment. The largest of the eight
refurbishment and, when doors reopen in ‘Cwtch’. Its Welsh name (pronounced a bit like
remaining transporter bridges in the world,
July 2010, visitors will be able to visit the ‘coo-tch’) is a popular word even amongst
it was designed by Frenchman Ferdinand
original courtroom where, exactly 170 years English-speakers and has several meanings.
Arnodin and opened in 1906. Vehicles and
ago, the famous Chartists’ Trial was held. One is a ‘comforting hug’, another is a ‘small,
foot passengers are transported in a gondola
Audio visual guides will interpret this, and hidden, safe place’, much like Llandegfedd
suspended from a high level bridge.
other episodes in the court’s history. Reservoir. Operating daily between 1 March
This innovative design provided a route
(map ref D4) visitwyevalley.com and 31 October, the 50-minute cruises
across the Usk while maintaining access
include a commentary on the history of
for tall ships along a river that has a very
the Reservoir, wildlife and watersports.
high tidal range. A small Visitor Centre on
Old Station gets the Green Flag
(map ref B5/6) cwtchcruises.co.uk
the west bank of the River Usk provides
The Old Station in Tintern is officially one of
information about the bridge’s history
the country’s finest green spaces, having
and construction. (map ref B7)
received a coveted Green Flag. The judges Welsh Waterways Festival
newport.gov.uk fontb.org.uk
were impressed with the environmental
comes to Newport
management, signage, amenities and
The Welsh Waterways Festival will take place
customer service at this tranquil spot on the
on, and around, the Monmouthshire and ‘The Walnut Tree’ in Top Three
banks of the River Wye. Read more about
Brecon Canal at Kimberley Park, Newport on According to the National Restaurant Awards,
what’s on offer at The Old Station on page 20.
29-31 May. Hosted by the Monmouthshire, Shaun Hill’s restaurant near Abergavenny
(map ref D5) greenflagaward.org.uk
Brecon & Abergavenny Canals Trust, the is No. 3 in the entire UK, beaten only by
monmouthshire.gov.uk/oldstationtintern
Festival will see dozens of colourful boats Heston Blumenthal’s ‘Fat Duck’, and ‘Hibiscus’
gather on a recently-restored 2½-mile in London. Inevitably, then, it also takes the
Rest your head at ‘The Hardwick’
stretch of the waterway. Admission is free accolade of Best Restaurant in Wales.

and there will be boat trips through the locks, (map ref B4) thewalnuttreeinn.com
The Hardwick, Stephen Terry’s restaurant
plus a variety of stalls and entertainment.
just outside Abergavenny, is already
(map ref A7) mon-brec-canal-trust.org.uk
The Good Pub Guide County Dining Pub
fourteenlocks.co.uk
of the Year 2010 for Wales. By June it will
offer even more, with the addition of
eight guestrooms and a larger dining area.
(map ref B4) thehardwick.co.uk
visitwyevalley.com 5
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