Visiting Chepstow, Wales

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During our visit to England, my family stayed in Gloucestershire, which is merely a hop, skip and a jump from Wales. Having never been to the Welsh coast, we decided to take a short trip into Wales. As we crossed into Wales, we immediately arrived in Chepstow, which featured rocky cliffs and a castle...enough of interest for us to stop and walk around. We found paid public parking near the castle. There was also a visitor center next to the parking lot where we were able to obtain additional information about the area.

After stopping at the visitors center, we decided to walk around the steep, narrow streets of Chepstow. We made a brief visit to the Castle, which overlooks the parking lot, although we did not pay admission to go inside. We stopped at a free museum across the street called Gwy House, which was built in 1796. The museum does not have an extensive collection, but does offer an interesting array of paintings and other artifacts. Most of the history is tied to the local area and does not reach back as far as the medieval period like other aspects of this ancient town.

Chepstow Castle – While we did not go inside, I was still intrigued by the ancient history of this castle, which is believed to be the oldest in Britain. This castle dates back to the Norman invasion and has the “oldest doors in Europe” dated at around 800 years. This castle occupies an important location, overlooking the River Wye at the southernmost point where it may be crossed. The strategic location has led to constant building at the site which continued from 1067 until the eighteenth century.

Wales Coast Path – Chepstow sits along the riverbank overlooking the steep cliffs of the Wye. There is a walking trail that begins at this point that winds throughout the Welsh coast for hundreds of miles (870 to be exact). There is a marker on the path above the river indicating the starting point of this incredible path. From this vantage point, you can see the incredible, unusual moorings for boats on the river Wye, which experiences one of the greatest fluctuations of tidal levels of any place on earth at its confluence with the Severn River.

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Town Gate and Port Wall – While the name of this attraction might indicate it might be down along the water, it is actually found a ways uphill from the river. If you drive uphill from the river, you will come to a narrow stone gate, which traffic still navigates through to this day. This wall dates to the thirteenth century. At one time, this gate was the only other point of entry to Chepstow aside from the bridge adjacent to the castle. This gate served as a fortification as well as a tax collection point for visitors to Chepstow's markets during ancient times.

St. Mary's Church – While this church dates back to 1067, much of the church was renovated in the nineteenth century, destroying many of the ancient features. The church sits atop one of the steep roads that take you to the waterfront. The doorway to the church, however, remains intact dating back to the eleventh century.

Aside from the ancient structures, Cheptsow is host to numerous buildings from the eighteenth century that have historic value. The large structures once housed the wealthy residents of Chepstow, although many have been converted to commercial use.

If you are looking for a meal, there is a closed walking street in the heart of Chepstow that is lined with shops and restaurants. We did not eat during our visit to Chepstow, opting to push on to Tintern Abbey and Monmouth, where we took dinner. But the shopping, dining district in Chepstow is worth a visit even if you are not eating. It is a quaint closed street that is bustling with foot traffic and seemingly something for every taste.

There are numerous hotels in Chepstow. Because this was a day trip from our “home base” in Gloucestershire, we did not require lodging. But there was plenty to be found, and some of it appeared to be very charming. Among the choices for hotels are: Marriott St. Pierre Hotel and Country Club, Castle View Hotel, Beaufort Hotel and The First Hurdle (an allusion to the racecourse nearby). There are at least a dozen other hotels minutes from Chepstow.

If Chepstow is your destination, there are plenty of other attractions a short distance away. Tintern Abbey and Monmouth are just a short drive north from Chepstow, while Cardiff (the Welsh capital) is just a short drive south. Chepstow was an interesting day trip that also allowed my son to add another “country” to his list of places he's visited. The charming waterfront town has historic appeal as well as it's own old-fashioned charm. The combination of centuries of architecture within a very small walking area is intriguing, if nothing else. It is well worth a visit.

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