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Raglan Walks

3.11 miles (5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This Monmouthshire based village is located close to Monmouth and Abergavenny. There's some excellent walks in the nearby Forest of Dean and Wye Valley to enjoy. A fine old castle and a medieval church are two of the highlights of the immediate area.
This circular walk from the village visits the historic Raglan Castle which lies just to the north of the settlement. The 15th century fortress is considered one of the grandest castles in the country. Today you can explore the photogenic ruins and enjoy wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.
After exploring the castle you can then follow footpaths north to explore the valley of the Barton Brook around Caedina Break and Tregare.

Raglan OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Raglan Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Raglan

Pubs/Cafes

The Raglan Castle Cafe is a nice place to stop off for refreshments. There's a good selection of meals and snacks with a courtyard and terrace to sit out in.
For a pub lunch head into the village where you can visit The Ship Inn. You can find them on the High Street at postcode NP15 2DY for your sat navs.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head north east towards Abergavenny and you could enjoy a climb to Sugarloaf and Skirrid Fawr for amazing views over the area.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Black Mountains Walks and the Brecon Beacons Walks pages.

Photos

Raglan Castle - geograph.org.uk - 2235295

Raglan Castle. The modern castle dates from between the 15th and early 17th centuries, when the successive ruling families of the Herberts and the Somersets created a luxurious, fortified castle, complete with a large hexagonal keep, known as the Great Tower or the Yellow Tower of Gwent. Surrounded by parkland, water gardens and terraces, the castle was considered by contemporaries to be the equal of any other in England or Wales.

Raglan Castle - geograph.org.uk - 2235279

During the English Civil War the castle was held on behalf of Charles I but was taken by Parliamentary forces in 1646. In the aftermath, the castle was slighted, or deliberately put beyond military use; after the restoration of Charles II, the Somersets declined to restore the castle. Raglan Castle became first a source of local building materials, then a romantic ruin. It now attracts visitors as a modern tourist attraction.

Moat, Raglan Castle - geograph.org.uk - 1759444

Moat. View here is between the Great Tower, on the left, and the Parlour wall.

High Street, Raglan - geograph.org.uk - 1754002

High Street, Raglan village. The small blue sign under Santa tells us this is Cycle Route 31.

The Great Tower, Raglan Castle - geograph.org.uk - 1759775

The Great Tower. A view NW towards Sugar Loaf. In the middle distance is Pen-y-Parc Farm. Although the conical shape of Sugar Loaf looks like an extinct volcano, it is entirely formed of sedimentary rocks.

View to Sugar Loaf (596m) - geograph.org.uk - 1759497

View to Sugar Loaf (596m). A view NW from the kitchen area of Raglan Castle. To the right, part of the low shape of The Skirrid (486m), the most easterly of the Black Mountains.

The Old School, Raglan - geograph.org.uk - 1754132

The Old School. Located in Chepstow Road. Amongst other things, the building is used as a village hall and polling station. The building bears a date stone inscribed 1739. Modern school buildings stand close by. The tower of St Cadoc's Church is further along the road.

View across the valley of the Barton Brook - geograph.org.uk - 1754445

View across the valley of the Barton Brook to the north of the castle. View from the balcony of the Castle Mews Cafe. The brook, marked by the centre line of trees, will eventually empty into the Olway Brook and then into the River Usk.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Raglan.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Raglan.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)