We went to the Big Pit in Blaenafon a couple of decades ago but wanted to go back now that our son…read moreis old enough to visit with us. It's still excellent. Our guide, Steve (a former miner), taught us so much about the mine and mining, and he shared his sharp wit many times along the way. We loved the tour. This is a national treasure. If you haven't seen it, go! We arrived about 10 a.m. and didn't have to wait, but it can get busy with tourists and school groups. We also had lunch in the Big Pit Canteen. Despite being shorthanded that day, the staff produced a wonderful lamb cawl and roll for £5.65 each that was nourishing and delicious. With beverages, the three of us ate for £20.85 (approximately $26).

This was a FABULOUS experience. You suit up, get prepped and go down deep in a real mine once…read morefully operational but now run and maintained by the National Museum of Wales. Our guide was fabulous. He led us through dark and tiny tunnels. He told us about the history of the mine and the people who worked in the mines. (Some of the history and conditions the people and animals were put through were quite sad.) We got to experience how dark the tunnels were and see how you mine as well as where the horses were kept. I was a little scared. Two of my friends couldn't handle the tight space and close quarters. However, if you're not claustrophobic and up for a different kind of adventure; I whole heartedly recommend it. Guide was fun and did everything to make sure we were safe. For instance, you must leave all electrical devises on the surface for fear of any current sparking a fire because even though this is run by a museum now, it's still an active mine and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Said to be one of Wales' best kept secrets, the castle at Caldicot sits on an ancient, attractive…read moreand strategically important site. Restored to much of its original outstanding condition, it is an attractive and interesting place to visit. The castle contains all the elements of the typical medieval fortress, and has been lovingly cared for by its present owners, who have opened it to the public. Founded by the Normans, developed in royal hands as a stronghold in the Middle Ages and restored as a Victorian family home, this castle has a romantic and colourful history. It was originally built on a site that had long been recognized for its strategic value. In fact the Romans already actively made use of the area in the early centuries AD, when Caldicot stood on the Via Julia roadway to Caerwent, the Roman town of Venta Silurum (ruins visible) just to the north. Caldicot's placement near the Bristol Channel allowed observation of the comings and goings of ship traffic and eased transport of supplies to the site. Its useful location was recognized by the Normans as early as 1086, and they built a motte with two baileys and a deep surrounding ditch to control this portion of south Wales. It is a surprisingly pleasant find in the Welsh countryside, so close to the modernized, industrial sector of Wales, yet so isolated from it. The castle is now owned and operated by the local authority, and is open to the public. The great gatehouse is now home to popular medieval banquets, a lavish and appropriate setting for such whimsical entertainment. Indeed some of the official website makes it almost sound like Disneyland in my opinion, but there are indeed some aspects that also make it fun for those with children so don't let that put you off visiting when in the neighbourhood of Newport/Chepstow. For the full history, go here: http://www.castlewales.com/caldicot.html If you want to stay over (within walking distance), try here:http://www.qype.co.uk/place/754362-The-Lychgate-Caldicot

Only a short car ride from Chepstow or Newport this is an ideal day out for any family with…read morechildren of all ages. Plenty of space (over 50 acres), yet you get a feeling that everything is close at hand. The castle is open and you can enjoy an audio tour at your own pace, so if something catches your eye you can spend that extra time there. Any-one for chess? Play on a giant out-door board with 2ft tall figures. Like knights and heraldry? See the armor worn by your forefathers; could you see yourself in combat wearing this kind of battledress? Pity the poor horses that carried armies in those times! There are gentle paths for strolling, with several picnic tables spread about the grounds, and unusually, there are barbecue hearths for a really splendid family meal. All the lawns and paths by the castle are level which makes it ideal for those with any mobility problems. Tours are availble for those with impaired hearing. A visit to the shop will end the peferct day; something for everyone & of all ages. Altogether a lovely day out, just a little off the beaten track, but more than worth the time you spend there.

What a fantastic day out. This place offers a lot for family's…read more Great value for £8 per adult and £5 for children over two, under twos are free ! The grounds are fantastic lots of open space for the children to wonder and explore and also paths that follow through the trees and gardens. There's a big adventure playground full of lots to explore, zip wire, slide climbing frame etc. There were also blow up slides and a paddling pool. There was a separate area with Wendy houses, trampolines and a climbing frame for the smaller children which was in a really nice relaxing area. You can get up close with pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens in Pet's Corner. There is 66 acres of beautiful gardens and woodland walks, the views across the River Severn and Wales and spectacular ! There's also a cafe and shop. The cafe is really nice I had a caramel latte with a cheese and chutney sandwich came to £5.50 wich Is good value. Plenty of parking available. Overall a fantastic day out which was really enjoyed by all.

Old Down Country Park is not your typical stately home. It is a farm/zoo/park/house. Great for the…read morewhole family too. They have large lawn areas for picnics, a café for those who didn't pre-prepare food, and lots and ltos of animals. Expect to find your typical farm animals. Goats? Check. Pigs? Check. Sheep? Check. Ponies? Check. Wallabies????check!!! Entry is only a fiver and you can spend the whole day there (weather permitting) walking along the Victorian walls and cooing at all the cute animals.

Brynmawr Museum was set up and continues to be run totally by volunteers. It was officially opened…read morein June 2003 and quickly outgrew it's old location to be re-located to the Carnegie building, it has received massive support from the town and expatriates of Brynmawr who have donated several items of historical significance to the collections here. These include Brynmawr Furniture, items reflecting the strong iron, steel and coal industries and the famous Semtex site (Brynmawr Rubber Company) as well as the wider historical culture including religion, education and pubs of the area. (Call in on Thursday mornings and they might even give you some of their toast!)

This is another one of those places that anyone who grew up in South Wales will have gone along on…read moreschool trips to. When you're a kid, all you care about is the coal and the explosions and dead canaries and severed limbs, and the like. It's all exciting and interesting; going down into the mine is probably the most exciting thing you ever did while in primary school. As an adult, this museum takes on a very different persona. The exhibitions and historical buildings tell a very real story of a Welsh past that effected many lives. The stories told are both sombre and uplifting, but above all the camaraderie between locals is immensely touching. The museum has undergone massive redevelopments in the last 6 years or so, and now has hit the 21st century with multimedia exhibitions. The highlight is still the famous underground tour, however. You go down into the mines, 300 feet beneath the surface, and really find out what it might have been like for the thousands of men who spent lives chipping away at the coalface. This is a fun and informative day out, and I would recommend it for all ages. This museum has worked hard to entertain everyone, and they've succeeded.

I didn't live in Wales as a child, so I only visited this attraction as an adult after several…read moreyears of living in Cardiff. Despite it being widely respected and award-winning, I didn't expect to enjoy it because the idea of a mining museum just didn't appeal to me at all. I found when I got there, however, that the museum is put together so well it is really engaging - even for adults. The museum itself is located on the heather-covered moors of Blaenafon, amidst an industrial landscape that has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its huge importance in the process of industrialisation through iron and coal production. The world-famous Underground Tour involves descending 300 feet underground with a real miner to find out what life was like for the thousands of men who worked at the coal face. Following recent redevelopment, visitors can also go on a multi-media tour of a modern coal mine with a virtual miner in the Mining Galleries, and see exhibitions in the newly renovated Pithead Baths and Historic colliery buildings.

This is a beautiful old house just outside Newport, very easy to get to from the motorway, and well…read moreworth a visit. For anyone who's a fan of BBC costume dramas, then this is the type of house that would make any Jane Austen heroine fall in love with even the most ruthless and cutthroat of villainous rich men. It packs quite a punch. Sitting in 90 acres of surrounding parkland, this is a lovely oasis of tranquillity. The house and gardens are open to the public during the summer months, and there are also countless festivals and seasonal events happening throughout the rest of the year. There is also a short avenue of arts and crafts shops which are open throughout the year. Here you'll find Busy Bees Patchwork and many other pottery, art and smithies. Pop along for a cultural afternoon.

Tanya is right on the money when she says this park is straight out of a BBC costume drama (don't…read moreeven get me started on their version of Pride and Prejudice - I know the whole damn thing by heart and that series is most likely the reason I moved to the UK in the first place). I used to work at the government building that's right around the corner, so a few lunch hours were spent walking around this park's stunning grounds. The park and woodland walk is open from 9 am to dusk. The House is open from Easter to the end of September, with house tours from Wednesday - Sunday. Tours last a little over an hour starting at 11am, then run hourly until 4pm. Events are held year round, and more information can be found on their website. Tredegar House is licensed for weddings and caters for conferences, although I'm happy just meandering around the park with the grand house serving as part of the background. If you're not a driver, you can get here via the number 30 and 36 Cardiff Bus, which I'd recommend instead of taking the train, as Newport Railway Station is a fair bit away.

Wow! what a beautiful place in an i-sore of an industrial town. Once hailed the largest town in…read moreWales, Merthyr Tydfil is now the home to the Gurnos estate, the highest number of benefit claimers and the good old Merthyr Martyrs. But, its also home to Carfartha Castle,previous home to the Crawshay's, the owners of the Merthyr Ironworks. Set in luscious green grass the castle stands proud on the mountainside visible from quite a few angles in Merthyr. The park itself is something to behold with the cute little lake and acres of grass to loll about in. A nice park for the kiddie winkles and in the summer there's a small, yet freezing cold little paddling pool. Hey,it cant have it all can it? The castle itself plays host to a museum which is free to enter and plays home to a small tea room where the grub is top notch! You can get married here too, and even if you don't many couples opt to have their wedding pictures here, so the best time to visit, if your an old romantic like yours truly, is a Saturday during the summer months. Well worth a little hour out, whether to feed the ducks, have a little wander, learn some valuable, rugged, Welsh history or have a wee wedding perv!

Situated on the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil Cyfartha Castle is well worth a visit. The castle was…read morethe home of the Crawshay family, the owners of the Merthyr Ironworks, which played a pivotal role in the history of the industrial revolution. Part of the building which is set in large parkland is the local comprehensive school but there is also a fascinating museum/art gallery, in part of the Crawshay's former home. There are a number of re-creations illustrating the rich and varied history of Merthyr as well as several galleries housing paintings, precious artefacts, and natural history and collections. The museum which is free entry, has a well stocked shop with books, and a variety of souvenirs and a small tea room. Be warned though, on the day I visited, the tea room was closed at 3pm despite the website stating 4pm so visiting later in the day may be worth having your cup of tea before exploring the museum. The grounds of the castle are well worth exploring and in summer months often host concerts, one held by Donny Osmond some years ago being particularly remembered (though not by myself, I hasten to add).

Great place to find out some of Chepstow's history. It was initially build as a chemist, but…read moretranform into a surgery and then a hospital. These days it stands for some important developments throughout history out and inside. You will find reminders of Chepstow being a busy port and market town and the roles and developments of the castle. It also displays some early pictures of Chepstow and the Wye valley. Also it tells the story of the Chepstow bridges. If you want some cultural experience or just a little inside into history, this will be the right place for you. And for local residents the entry is free!