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Set within 48 acres of surrounding parkland the museum is named after Alderman Baldwin and Kitty Bantock, former residents of the house, which is now operated by the Wolverhampton City Council's Arts and Museums service.
Originally built in the 1730s as New Merridale Farm, the house was expanded and renovated by Thomas Herrick around the early 19th century, and renamed Merridale House. After changing tenants several times, it was purchased in 1864 by Thomas Bantock, a canal and railway agent. His son, Albert Baldwin Bantock, who served twice as Mayor of Wolverhampton and as High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1920, made further improvements to the estate following his father’s death in 1896. Upon Albert’s passing in 1938, without any heirs, he left the house and park to the Wolverhampton Corporation. The house was renamed in his honor in 1940 and is now a Grade II listed building.
The museum displays the lives of the Bantock family and other influential figures from the area. On the ground floor, exhibits focus on the Bantocks and their lifestyle, while the upper floor highlights the men and women who shaped Wolverhampton’s industries, featuring locally made enamels, steel jewelry, and japanned ware. The museum is notable for its departure from traditional "glass case" displays, opting instead for a more informal and creative presentation. Visitors are even encouraged to sit on the furniture.
The gardens surrounding the house were designed by Albert Baldwin Bantock and were restored in 1998 to reflect his original plans. These gardens offer visitors a glimpse into Baldwin's vision, featuring a sunken Dutch Garden, a rose garden, vibrant flower borders, and a woodland garden that is part of a nature trail around the park.
Bantock Park spans 48 acres and includes a children’s play area, an 18-hole golf course, a putting green, and football fields. Highland cattle, once bred by the Bantock family, are believed to have roamed the park until the 1930s. In their memory, local craftsman Neil Watt created a cow sculpture, which now stands at the front of the house.

https://www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/visit/bantock/

The house has it's own free carpark and entry to the house and gardens is also free. There is a cafe on the premasis and toilet facilities. It is on the outskirts of Wolverhampton so plenty of other places to eat and drink.

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Co-ordinates: 52.57995, -2.154361 • what3words: ///silks.brick.hang

Chobham Common is intersected by the M3, I visited the part north of the M3, most of the part to the south is under the Fairoaks Airport FRZ but can seek permission easily to fly there. Very large space with few overhead hazards so very easy to keep VLOS.

Quite a few car parks around the common, I visited the Chobham Common Roundabout car park. Can also park on Burma Road (the opposite side of the common) and take off on the road (maintained by the local council) or common and also get views of Longcross Studios next door.

I checked the bylaws noted on the rear of the notice board in the car park, it does not restrict flights of drones, just states that they cannot be used to cause harassment and damage or something along those lines. Only thing to note is that the common is a SSSI so common sense is required, don't fly near/close to trees during nesting season etc, I mostly stayed up at 80-120m to also reduce noise.

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Co-ordinates: 51.37884, -0.609001 • what3words: ///badge.economies.cried

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