Hotel
Holiday Inn Newport
Set in woodland just off junction 24 of the M4, this modern 3* low-rise hotel has the leafy Coldra Woods as an attractive backdrop and is just 10 minutes' drive from Newport city centre. Following an extensive refurbishment programme the hotel lounge lobby bar and restaurant is a colourful and modern space in which to relax and dine. Guestrooms are spacious and comfortable and feature blackout curtains, flat screen TV, complimentary WiFi, hairdryer plus tea / coffee making facilities. There is a small pool and gym. There is no lift but some ground floor rooms
Itinerary
Day 1 - After boarding your holiday coach, head to South Wales with a stop en-route in the ancient walled border town of Chepstow which sits on the Welsh side of the River Wye. The town is steeped in history and here you will find quaint cobbled streets, buildings that date back 1000 years, alleyways and hidden gems. Check into your hotel on the outskirts of Newport for your 3-night stay DBB
Day 2 - Caerleon and Abergavenny
Around AD75, Roman settlers built the mighty fortress of Isca Augusta in what is now Caerleon in South Wales. It housed a 5000-strong garrison, and you can get a glimpse of the past at the National Roman Legion Museum in Caerleon which includes artefacts such as the impressive stone coffin containing the 1800-year-old remains of a man, a large collection of everyday items and a Roman-inspired garden. Entrance is also included to the Caerleon Fortress Baths, beautifully brought to life with sound and light effects. A section of the original bath house remains, and you'll find out about the caldarium, tepidarium, frigidarium and natation. Caerleon's amphitheatre is also just a few steps away and is the most complete example in Britain.
Continue on to quaint Abergavenny in the south-east corner of the Brecon Beacons National Park with the beautiful Black Mountains as a backdrop. There are plenty of independent shops selling everything from locally produced food and drink to antiques and bric-a-brac and the town centre is packed with coffee shops and restaurants. The town's museum is FOC to visit and is located in a Regency building, built on top of a Norman motte within the grounds of Abergavenny Castle. Return to the hotel later this afternoon.
Day 3 - Barry, Barry Island & Gavin & Stacey
If you've seen the BBC's award-winning TV series Gavin & Stacey, you will be familiar with the tidy seaside vibes of Barry. Backdrop to many of the iconic scenes, Barry plays almost as big a role as the main characters. Your Nessa look-a-like guide awaits to regale you with stories about the making of the show and the actors that play the roles whilst visiting some of the key film locations with plenty of opportunity to stop, take photos and see the neighbourhood up close. Halfway up the hill of terraces on Trinity Street is where you'll find the house that Stacey and her mum live in as well as Doris' house next door and Uncle Bryn's house opposite. The tour also heads to the village of Dinas Powys where Pam and Mick's house is located (actually not in Essex at all!) as well as the Gavin & Stacey mural featuring all main characters. The tour ends at Barry Island where you will find Marco's Café and Nessa's Slots at the Island Leisure Amusement Arcade. There will be time at leisure to explore before heading back to the hotel later this afternoon.
NB Most of the locations on the tour are easily accessible but some may require a bit of a walk and some have steps and / or slopes up/down (Trinity Street)
Day 4 - After breakfast head homewards via interchange with plenty of 'lush' Welsh memories to arrive back in your hometowns early evening.