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WYE VALLEY TOUR

 Highlights
 Caerleon- Amphitheatre, Bath House & Legionary Museum
 Celtic Manor Resort, host of 2010 Ryder Cup (exterior view)
 Chepstow Castle, UK's oldest surviving Norman fortress
 Wye Valley, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
 Tintern Abbey
 Usk Town   
 Staged
 Every Tuesday & Friday
 Price
 Adult £45.00GBP, Concession £40.00GBP Student & over 60s , Children under 16 years £20.00GBP (Great British Pound) 
 Inclusive
 Tour Guide (female), Driver (male), transport, & Admissions
 Exclusive
 Lunch & refreshments
 Times
 Start 9am/Return 5:30pm
 Start
 National Museum Cardiff, central location

Escorted guided tour and live commentary en route...
A town steeped in history.  In 75 AD, Isca Silurum, was established as a permanent garrison for the Second Augustan Legion at 5,600 strong, now called  Caerleon, which translates to 'Fort of the Legions'.  This area hides a wealth of Roman remains, along with Chester and York, Caerleon was one of the principle Roman military bases in Britain.  The elite of the Roman army were based here, in what became a large Roman town.  The extent of the remains here are impressive and Britain's most revealing Roman site. Guided tour of amphitheatre built in 90AD, Fortress Baths, and museum.
Our journey from Caerleon travels the route used by stagecoach passengers before railroads were built, along narrow roads with quaint stone cottages and coaching inns to our next stop, 5-star Celtic Manor Resort, host of the prestigious 2010 Ryder Cup (exterior view).
Built on the banks of the River Wye, Chepstow has the distinction of being the first castle in Britain to be constructed of stone, founded in 1067AD.  Medieval town walls enclose Chepstow's narrow streets and the main road is straddled by the battlemented 13th century town gate which adds further to the town's charming historic character. Guided tour of the castle.
 
The Wye Valley, is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  Visit in  spring and you will find woods carpeted with bluebells, wild garlic and wood anemones, summer time the meadows come alive with wild flowers and autumn's cascade of golden colours. LUNCH STOP: Tintern Parva, a riverside village which nestles amongst the wooded slopes of the Wye Valley. 
 
13th-century Tintern Abbey is one of the UK's top attractions.  The medieval builders did an amazing job, truly a masterpiece of decorated Gothic architecture.  The Cistercian abbey, now a majestic ruin, was founded in 1131 by Walter de Clare and was active until the Dissolution of the Monasteries enacted by King Henry VIII.  It is easy to see why this abbey, in its splendid setting, inspired poetry from William Wordsworth and was painted by Turner. Guided tour of the Abbey. 
 
Our final stop, is the picturesque small town of Usk, set on the banks of the river from which it takes its name.   Photostop and orientation driving tour of the town.     
   

Images courtesy of © Crown copyright (2008) Visit Wales