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Located on a sweeping bend of the River Wye near Chepstow, bordered by steep limestone cliffs is the lost village of Lancaut. All that remains of this medieval village are the ruins of St James Church
It is built on the site of the earliest Celtic Christian monastery on the Wye, going back to Cewydd a 5th century Christian. It was originally called Llan Cewydd.
The one that is there today is said to have been built by the Lord of Chepstow Castle around 1067 and at which time it was given its dedication to St James.
Accessing it is a bit tricky if the ground is wet being situated on the river bank accessible only through a nature reserve following a steeply inclined path.
The part of the river it is situated next too is in the tidal stretch of the Wye – it would be worth checking before trekking down to the location that the tide is high as otherwise you’ll be right next to a very unsightly sea of mud (as I found when I flew there!)

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Co-ordinates: 51.6651, -2.670871 • what3words: ///workloads.smudges.denim

What this showcases is the continued decline of the once great Welsh mine 'empire'. The land itself is not accessible due to fencing but getting your drone over it is easy enough. There are signs that the area is being re-developed with some of the former buildings turned into offices, a pub, houses, etc so no idea how long this will still be around.

It closed in 1991 and despite obvious dereliction it is looking good. Much more detail here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penallta_Colliery

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Co-ordinates: 51.65469, -3.244781 • what3words: ///drizzly.churn.fizzy

Sultan the Pit Pony @ Parc Penallta.

The pony is located here: https://what3words.com/snitch.buggy.scaffold
Parking is available here: https://what3words.com/parting.digit.trembles and here: https://what3words.com/qualifier.scatters.undivided depending on how easy a walk you want.

I opted for the second and took a good 10k ramble around the park itself. Description of the pony, and indeed the Parc itself can be found here: https://greenspacescaerphilly.co.uk/parc-penallta/

I didn't see any requirements to get permissions, and in fact, the sign board in my car park actively welcomed "any activity you want" including cycling, kite flying and so on.

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Co-ordinates: 51.65054, -3.256529 • what3words: ///toffee.defrost.explains

Monmouth Castle is located near the centre of Monmouth, the county town of Monmouthshire, on a hill above the River Monnow in south-east Wales.


It was an important border castle and the birthplace of Henry V of England. During the English Civil War, it was damaged, changed hands three times, and partially destroyed to prevent further fortification. In 1647, part of it collapsed, and Great Castle House was built on the site, now serving as the headquarters and museum of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers.


The castle is a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument.

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Co-ordinates: 51.81226, -2.716867 • what3words: ///leathers.flipping.birdcage

The Wye Bridge in Monmouth is a grade II listed building. It has five arched spans with the original pointed arches visible beneath. The total span of the bridge is 71 metres (233 ft).

The original wooden bridge was built in the Middle Ages but was completely rebuilt in stone in the early seventeenth century (1615–17). At that time, tolls were collected from all those crossing the bridge.

A plaque on the parapet records the widening of the bridge on both sides in 1878–80

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Co-ordinates: 51.81127, -2.709761 • what3words: ///dote.ever.accented

The Monmouth Viaduct or Chippenham Meadow Viaduct is a 20-arch, 183-metre red sandstone viaduct which carried the Coleford, Monmouth, Usk & Pontypool Railway line across the River Wye at Monmouth, Wales.

The line it carried was opened in 1857 and extended in 1861 on the east side of the viaduct. The bridge was not heavily used until 1876 when the Wye Valley Railway completed its line from Chepstow and south Wales. The building of the viaduct took exactly ten months.

In 1873, the Ross & Monmouth Railway arrived from the north-east at Monmouth May Hill. Connecting the town’s two terminii – thereby creating a through route – demanded a ¾-mile link and another bridge, this time a three-span wrought iron structure almost 300 feet in length, with a bowstring central section. This Duke of Beaufort bridge opened on 1st May 1874.

The line between Monmouth Troy and Mayhill was closed on 6 January 1964

The viaduct’s river span has been removed and its masonry arches – particularly on their northern side – have suffered marked deterioration. The river bridge is still standing and, despite its rust, is due to provide a link for pedestrians and cyclists as part of a Sustrans scheme.

It's a lovely setting just 20 minutes walk from Monmouth town centre. TOAL point is next to the Duke of Beaufort bridge from a public footpath. Access closer to the dismantled bridge not currently possible due to a landslide that took out the footpath

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Co-ordinates: 51.80545, -2.706448 • what3words: ///concerned.relations.carpeted

Monnow Bridge in Monmouth, Wales, is the only remaining fortified river bridge in Great Britain with its gate tower standing on the bridge. Such bridge towers were common across Europe from medieval times, but many were destroyed due to urban expansion, diminishing defensive requirements and the increasing demands of traffic and trade.

The importance of the bridge and its rarity are reflected in its status as a scheduled monument and a Grade I listed building..

Construction of Monnow Bridge began in 1272 to replace a 12th-century Norman timber bridge. It also served as a gaol, a munitions store, a lodge, an advertising hoarding, a focus for celebrations and, most significantly, as a toll gate.

Built predominantly of Old Red Sandstone, the bridge was the subject of significant reconstruction and rebuilding in the 18th and 19th centuries. In those centuries, it also became a popular subject for artists; Turner, Gastineau and Cotman produced sketches of the bridge and gate.


Parking was in public pay and display car park 30 metres away, TOAL from the public footpath running along the river

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Co-ordinates: 51.80901, -2.720138 • what3words: ///prank.blocking.progress

The Church of St Michael, Llanfihangel Tor-y-Mynydd, Monmouthshire is a parish church with its origins in the 14th or 15th century. The building is Grade II* listed as "an attractive and well preserved medieval church" and remains an active parish church.


The church is constructed of Old Red Sandstone rubble with a roof of Welsh slate The nave and bellcote are part of a Victorian restoration.


Theirs a car park next to the church fence (private but available to use for visitors to the church) and TOAL was from a public footpath leading off from the churchyard

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Co-ordinates: 51.71267, -2.777567 • what3words: ///hairstyle.steaming.outer

Chepstow Castle is the oldest surviving post-Roman stone fortification in Britain. Located above cliffs on the River Wye, it was the southernmost of a chain of castles built in the Welsh Marches, and with its attached lordship took the name of the adjoining market town in about the 14th century.

In the 12th century the castle was used in the conquest of Gwent, the first independent Welsh kingdom to be conquered by the Normans. It was subsequently held by two of the most powerful Anglo-Norman magnates of medieval England. However, by the 16th century its military importance had waned and parts of its structure were converted into domestic ranges. Although re-garrisoned during and after the English Civil War, by the 1700s it had fallen into decay. With the later growth of tourism, the castle became a popular visitor destination.

The ruins were Grade I listed on 6 December 1950.

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Co-ordinates: 51.64383, -2.675385 • what3words: ///undertook.dots.cringe

Situated in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

Wentworth Woodhouse is the largest, privately owned estate in the UK and has been used as a location for a number of movies and TV series including:

Films:

Darkest Hour
Downton Abbey (movie)


TV Series:

Victoria (ITV)
Gentleman Jack (BBC)
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (BBC)
Charles III
Billionaire Boy
The Irregulars (Netflix)
Bodies (Netflix)
The Regime (HBO)
Most Haunted (Sky)

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Co-ordinates: 53.47424, -1.40375 • what3words: ///users.lease.locals