Welcome To the e-travelguide to Hotels, guest houses and attractions in Abergavenny

Make the most of your time in Abergavenny, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links above to plan your visit.

Abergavenny lies 15 miles west of Monmouth in the Wye Valley, to the south of the Brecon Beacons. It is surrounded on almost all sides by the seven mountains. Its name, which translates as ‘mouth of the river Gavenny’ comes from the Gavenny tributary which runs through the town. Abergavenny is traditionally a market town, but its origins are more violent than the term suggests. Originally a Roman fort known as Gobannium, the town grew under Norman rule following the conquest of 1066. Abergavenny castle was built, as most forts in the South-East of the country, as a way to mediate relations between the Norman English and the Welsh. The castle became the site of a massacre in 1175 when the Baron at the time, William de Braose, invited the local Welsh clan leaders to the castle in order to build up trade and local relations. However, on arriving at the castle and removing their weapons in a goodwill gesture to the Baron, the chiefs were taken into the great hall and butchered by waiting soldiers. In retaliation, the Welsh seized Abergavenny Castle in 1182. As with other Welsh border towns, this civil unrest continued over several centuries. Despite this, Abergavenny did indeed flourish as a market town. It was given the right to hold twice weekly markets and three fairs a year in 1211, and was particularly famous for its flannel and wigs made from goat hair. Abergavenny livestock markets began to be held in Castle Street in the early 19th century and are still held there today, dealing mainly in sheep and cattle. The town market hall is also still in use, with different markets held on alternate days of the week, and an antique fair on the third Sunday of the month.

Today Abergavenny remains a popular market town and farming community. The town is now gaining a reputation for its fine dining and in particular its September Food Festival. Although fairly rural, Abergavenny has good road links to the nearby towns of Monmouth, and the picturesque Crickhowell, as well as regular rail connections to the population centres of Newport and Cardiff. The surrounding area, as one might expect from the Wye Valley (hyperlink to Monmouthshire and Wye valley info) offers golf courses, cycle paths and pony trekking. For the more active visitor, Llangorse, just to the west of Abergavenny, provides sailing on Llangorse Lake, and indoor climbing at Llangorse Activity Centre. Finally, for those not scared of heights there is the option of paragliding lessons, with the aim of one day descending from Blorenge Mountain, one of the seven peaks surrounding Abergavenny.

Contact: 0118 971 4700