Located near the River Wye’s junction with the River Severn, Chepstow holds the title of the easternmost settlement in Wales. It formed part of the Welsh kingdom of Gwent until the Norman invasion in the 11th century and is home to one of the oldest surviving stone castles in the United Kingdom.
Things to do in Chepstow
Chepstow is located at one end of the Wye Valley Walk, a long-distance footpath that follows the course of the River Wye through both Wales and England. It takes in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the charming Monnow Bridge, as well as the famous literary town of Hay-on-Wye.
Perched above the River Wye are the remains of Chepstow Castle, the oldest remaining post-Roman stone fortification in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1067 by William FitzOsbern and was later held by the Anglo-Norman nobles William Marshal and Richard de Clare. Today, you can wander along the battlements and explore Marten’s Tower or coincide your visit with one of the regular cultural events.
To learn more about the town’s history, head to the nearby Chepstow Museum, which occupies an 18th-century townhouse built for Warren Jane. After being used as a girls’ high school and a hospital during World War I, it was transformed into a museum in 1982. Learn about Chepstow’s role as a trade port and a border town, as well as the poets and painters who were inspired by its surroundings.
Getting around Chepstow
Chepstow is around 40 minutes’ drive from the centre of Cardiff and an hour from Cardiff Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Bristol Airport is 45 minutes away. Regular trains connect to the Chepstow railway station and the town centre is compact enough to explore on foot.