Days out

Make a Day of It

Castles, abbeys, forests, a river valley and a few famous filming locations – Monmouth is right in the middle of it all. Here are a few of our favourite days out, each with a stop at ours for coffee, lunch or a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

Pick a day out Coming by coach?

Coming up around town

What’s On Nearby

Markets, festivals, shows and events coming up around Monmouth. Make a day of it and stop in with us for coffee or lunch.

Nothing listed just now. For local events see What’s on at Visit Monmouthshire, or ask us when you pop in.

Ready-made days out

Where Shall We Go Today?

We’re open Monday 10am–2:30pm and Tuesday to Saturday 9am–2:30pm, so plan us in for breakfast, coffee or lunch. Times are rough driving or walking times from our door.

Monmouth on Foot
Down the Wye Valley
A Day of Castles
Symonds Yat and the Forest of Dean
A Rainy Day Out
A Screen Trail

Monmouth on Foot

Half a dayNo car neededEasy walking

Leave the car and see the town. Everything here is a few minutes from our door – and the Kymin is there if you fancy a climb.

Morning
Coffee and breakfast with us
Start the day in the courtyard – a proper coffee and a bacon brioche bap.
See the menu
Late morning
Agincourt Square and the Shire Hall
1 min walk from us
The grand old Shire Hall stands right outside our archway, on the square at the top of Monnow Street.
Shire Hall (opens in a new tab)
Monmouth Castle and the Regimental Museum
2 min walk from us
The castle ruins, up the lane off the square, and the Castle and Regimental Museum beside them.
Monmouth Castle (Cadw) (opens in a new tab)
Monnow Bridge
7 min walk from us
Stroll down Monnow Street to the medieval bridge with its gate tower still standing on it.
Lunch
Lunch back with us
Toasties, soup and jacket potatoes – and the cake counter. Last orders before we close at 2:30pm.
See the menu
Afternoon
The Kymin
about 3.3 km – a steep walk, or a short drive from us
The National Trust’s hilltop Round House and Naval Temple, with big views back over the town.
The Kymin (National Trust) (opens in a new tab)

Open the route in Google Maps

Down the Wye Valley

A full dayBy carAbbey & castle

Follow the river south through the valley, then come back up to us for lunch.

Morning
Chepstow Castle
about 35 min drive from us
A great stone castle high on the cliffs above the River Wye.
Chepstow Castle (Cadw) (opens in a new tab)
Tintern Abbey
about 30 min drive from us
The famous ruined abbey on the banks of the Wye, on the way back up the valley.
Tintern Abbey (Cadw) (opens in a new tab)
Old Station Tintern
about 25 min drive from us
The old riverside railway station just up the road from the abbey – a lovely spot for a wander.
Old Station Tintern (MonLife) (opens in a new tab)
Lunch
Lunch with us in Monmouth
Get here before 2:30pm for a toastie, soup or something from the cake counter.
See the menu
Afternoon
Monnow Bridge and the town
7 min walk from us
Walk it off along Monnow Street to the medieval gated bridge.

Open the route in Google Maps

A Day of Castles

A full dayBy carHistory

Monmouthshire is castle country. Start at Raglan, stop with us for lunch, then find two of the “Three Castles”.

Morning
Raglan Castle
about 20 min drive from us
A grand late-medieval castle with a moated great tower.
Seen on screen: Merlin
Raglan Castle (Cadw) (opens in a new tab)
Lunch
Lunch with us
Park up, wander through the archway off Agincourt Square and refuel. Monmouth Castle is a two-minute walk from our door.
Find us & parking
Afternoon
Skenfrith Castle
about 20 min drive from us
A round-towered castle by the River Monnow – one of the Three Castles.
Skenfrith Castle (Cadw) (opens in a new tab)
White Castle
about 30 min drive from us
Another of the Three Castles, with its moat and gatehouse out in the countryside.
White Castle (Cadw) (opens in a new tab)

Open the route in Google Maps

Symonds Yat and the Forest of Dean

A full dayBy carWoods & views

Just over the border into the Forest of Dean – big views in the morning, a magical wood in the afternoon, and us in the middle.

Morning
Symonds Yat Rock
about 20 min drive from us
The famous viewpoint high above a loop of the River Wye.
Seen on screen: Sex Education
Symonds Yat Rock (Forestry England) (opens in a new tab)
Lunch
Lunch with us
Back into Monmouth for lunch and cake in the courtyard (before 2:30pm).
See the menu
Afternoon
Puzzlewood
about 20 min drive from us
An ancient, mossy wood of twisting paths and odd little bridges – properly Wonderland.
Seen on screen: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Merlin, Doctor Who
Puzzlewood (opens in a new tab)
Or instead
Clearwell Caves
about 20 min drive from us
Old iron mines to explore underground, just down the road from Puzzlewood.
Seen on screen: Merlin – the caverns beneath Camelot
Clearwell Caves (opens in a new tab)

Open the route in Google Maps

A Rainy Day Out

IndoorsGood for families

Wet weather? Head underground, then come and warm up with us.

Morning
Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon
about 40 min drive from us
A real coal mine with an underground tour.
Big Pit (Amgueddfa Cymru) (opens in a new tab)
Or instead
Clearwell Caves
about 20 min drive from us
Closer to us – old iron mines in the Forest of Dean.
Seen on screen: Merlin – the caverns beneath Camelot
Clearwell Caves (opens in a new tab)
Lunch
The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party with us
Our sharing afternoon tea, served any time we’re open – book 48 hours ahead. Free Wi-Fi and our Wonderland games for the children.
Book the Tea Party
Afternoon
The Castle and Regimental Museum
2 min walk from us
Next to the castle ruins, a short walk from our door.
Monmouth Castle (Cadw) (opens in a new tab)

Open the route in Google Maps

A Screen Trail

A full dayBy carFilm & TV

Star Wars, Merlin, Doctor Who and Sex Education were all filmed around here – and so was our own courtyard.

Morning
Puzzlewood
about 20 min drive from us
The mossy, twisting wood used in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, in all five series of Merlin and in Doctor Who.
Puzzlewood (opens in a new tab)
Or instead
Symonds Yat
about 20 min drive from us
The River Wye at Symonds Yat makes a number of appearances in Netflix’s Sex Education.
Symonds Yat Rock (Forestry England) (opens in a new tab)
Lunch
Lunch in a Doctor Who courtyard
Our cobbled courtyard was the outside of Sneed & Company’s funeral parlour in Doctor Who’s The Unquiet Dead. Stand where the cameras stood, then come in for lunch (before 2:30pm).
Our courtyard on screen
Afternoon
Raglan Castle
about 20 min drive from us
Merlin’s Isle of the Blessed, in series 1 and 2.
Raglan Castle (Cadw) (opens in a new tab)
Or instead
Tintern and Llandogo
about 20–25 min drive from us
Sex Education country: the old railway bridge at Tintern leads to Maeve’s caravan site in the show, and the village shop in Llandogo plays Brown’s Supermarket.
Sex Education in Wales (Visit Wales) (opens in a new tab)

Open the route in Google Maps

Opening times and prices change, so please check each place’s own website before you set off. Travel times are rough estimates from OpenStreetMap routes. Looking for local events? See What’s on at Visit Monmouthshire, and our own events.

Filming locations from Visit Dean Wye’s Film & TV Trail and Visit Wales. Programme names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Eat Me Drink Me is an independent business and is not affiliated with the productions or rights holders mentioned.

Coach trips & tour groups

Coming by Coach?

Monmouth makes an easy stop on a coach tour – and the coach drop-off is right on our doorstep.

Drop-off: outside the Shire Hall, Agincourt Square (NP25 3EA). We’re just through the archway opposite – about a minute’s walk.
Coach parking: Blestium Street (NP25 3EQ), about an 8-minute walk from us. Visit Monmouthshire says coach parking is free at council-run car parks.
Let us know you’re coming: tell us the date, roughly what time and how many of you, and we’ll talk through what we can do for your group.
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party for groups: up to 8 can book online; for bigger groups we’ll arrange a time with you.

Coach information from Visit Monmouthshire – please check arrangements before you travel.

Make a Day of It

What’s On Nearby

Where Shall We Go Today?

Coffee and breakfast with us

Agincourt Square and the Shire Hall

Monmouth Castle and the Regimental Museum

Monnow Bridge

Lunch back with us

The Kymin

Chepstow Castle

Tintern Abbey

Old Station Tintern

Lunch with us in Monmouth

Monnow Bridge and the town

Raglan Castle

Lunch with us

Skenfrith Castle

White Castle

Symonds Yat Rock

Lunch with us

Puzzlewood

Clearwell Caves

Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon

Clearwell Caves

The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party with us

The Castle and Regimental Museum

Puzzlewood

Symonds Yat

Lunch in a Doctor Who courtyard

Raglan Castle

Tintern and Llandogo

Coming by Coach?

Tell us about your trip