Historic Buildings, Ruins and Castles
Nearby you'll find many ancient ruins and sacred remains. Local castles tell the story of the Norman conquests, and ruined abbeys are testament to the destruction of the 16th-century dissolution.
Longtown Castle
HR2 0LE / 30 mins walk / 5 mins drive / www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/longtown-castle/
Ruins of a thick-walled round keep dating from around 1200, characteristic of the Welsh Borders, with magnificent views of the Black Mountains, and with grassy areas for children to play in. Head to Longtown, bearing left at the first junction and up hill on the left.
Llantony Priory
NP7 7NN / 25 mins drive signed from Pandy or good walk up over Hatterrall Hill and down into the Ewyas valley / www.breconbeacons.org/llanthony-priory / www.cadw.gov.wales/daysout/llanthonypriory/
Evocative remains of Priory founded early in the twelfth century in the beautiful Ewyas valley. Free admission. There is a bar in the grounds serving lunch and evening meals, plus good local beers - www.llanthonyprioryhotel.co.uk.
Arthur's Stone
HR3 6AX / 30 mins drive / www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/arthurs-stone/
Atmospheric Neolithic burial chamber made of great stone slabs, with views over the Golden Valley towards the Black Mountains. C S Lewis visited the area often, and Arthur’s Stone is purported to be the inspiration for the Stone Table in the Narnia stories.
Skenfrith Castle
NP7 8UH / 30 mins drive / www.cadw.gov.wales/daysout/skenfrithcastle/
Riverside ruins of a circular keep with a round tower at each corner – with lovely river swimming and paddling spots, good pub over the road, The Bell (www.skenfrith.co.uk), which serves food and provides info for six circular walks and detective trail loved by families with young children.
Grosmont Castle
NP7 8EP / 20 mins drive
Substantial remains of thirteenth-century castle in village setting, and pub nearby, Angel Inn (www.grosmont.wales/the-angel-inn/).
Lanvihangel Court
NP7 8DH / 15 mins drive off main road towards Abergavenny / www.llanvihangelcourt.com
Tudor manor house and gardens open days in summer months, and atmospheric Christmas Fair in December with lots of stalls of local crafts, food producers and Christmas activities.
Dore Abbey
HR2 0AA / 20 mins drive via Ewyas Harold / www.doreabbey.org.uk
Founded in 1147, Dore Abbey is the only medieval Cistercian Abbey surviving in England. Today it is a church and community resource for the arts with regular theatre productions and choral concerts.