I’ve noticed there’s something missing in my London life, something that I hadn’t anticipated. I miss driving! There’s something wonderful about getting behind the wheel of a car and being able to go absolutely anywhere you choose – even more so in the UK than in New Zealand, where the rest of Europe is just a Tunnel away. While I wouldn’t want to drive around in London (it seems like a nightmare), I do love to take advantage of a cheap rental car deal when I can. When my sister came all the way from New Zealand to visit me, hiring a car was the perfect option to squeeze in a fleeting visit to our family in Abergavenny and explore a bit of Wales and the Cotswolds on the way back that we wouldn’t have been able to do by train.
I’ve visited my family in Wales a few times now, and crossing the Severn Bridge always feels like coming home. Whether it’s for the Abergavenny Food Festival, for Christmas, or just a fleeting visit like this one, it’s always great to get in some quality cousin time! One tradition we’ve established is going up on the Llangynidr Moors to admire the views and blow away the cobwebs – seeing those beautiful green fields and hills spread out before me always lifts my spirits.
Definitely blowing away those cobwebs with Zoe!
White Castle
It’s probably my New Zealand upbringing, where a hundred-year old building is historic, but I find castles endlessly fascinating, whether intact or in ruins. The beautiful White Castle, near the Wales/England border, stands sentinel over the Monmouthshire countryside. The site has had fortifications since the the late eleventh century, and today stands in partial ruins – but you can still explore the towers and check out those awesome views!
White Castle is one of the ‘Three Castles’, often grouped together because they were at one time under the control of the same lord. The other castles are Skenrith and Grosmont, but White Castle is the best preserved. I loved wandering inside its walls and picturing what the rooms, now mostly low outlines of stones, might have been used for. Of course as always, I wanted to get as high as possible, and loved these stunning panoramas from the top of the castle tower!
(Don’t worry – this is NOT the tower we climbed!)
The Plough Inn, Cotswolds
After all the castle climbing Zoe and I needed a lunch stop between Wales and Oxford, our afternoon destination. A bit of pre-research had identified The Plough Inn as the perfect stopping place for the quintessential Sunday pub lunch – and what a lunch it was. We were utterly charmed by this beautiful pub, tucked away in the hamlet of Ford (unsurprisingly, by a river!) and serving delicious food in one of the loveliest beer gardens I’ve seen.
This is certainly a gastro-pub, and one of the best I’ve been to. It’s pretty much the law for Zoe and I that we can’t go past scallops on a menu, and especially not when served with chorizo – yum!
The main event was most certainly this incredible pork roast – we could easily have shared one given their extremely generous portions, although we were happy not to have to fight over the stuffing!
We took the sign’s advice and continued on our journey to Oxford – check back soon to see how much we managed to squeeze into our afternoon there!
Bits & Pieces
White Castle is near Llantillio Crossenny off the B4233. The road up to it is a little narrow but there are passing bays on the way and loads of parking space up the top. It is officially open April – October although I think it might be able to be accessed in winter too. For more information click here
There are many Plough Inns in the Cotswolds – this one is in Ford, near Cheltenham, and I highly recommend it. Directions are on their website here
Do you like road-trips or do you prefer a train / bus / plane to get you around?
