When you think of Wales, you might think of green valleys, coal, maybe sheep, possibly rugby.  You probably don’t think of a world-class food festival, right?  However, that’s exactly what we found at the Abergavenny Food Festival in Monmouthshire.

Full disclosure: my Dad is from Abergavenny, so I’d been sold on the festival by my cousins, who said it was a must-do.  Of course, you don’t have to twist my arm very hard to get me to attend a food festival either.  So I packed the car with my foodie friends and off to Wales we went.

What we found was an amazing food festival, with just about every type of edible and drinkable you could think of. The festival was really cleverly laid out, with different areas showcasing the best of the town centre and the produce.  We started by the market hall, where there was everything from gourmet chocolate brownie to gelato to cider.  I especially loved the decorations inside!

From the market hall we meandered to Lion’s Yard, which had a high proportion of cheesy deliciousness.  The day was brightening and the crowds were thickening, but it didn’t stop us getting our fair share of samples and nibbles.

My favourite food site by far at the festival was at the Abergavenny Castle.  These beautiful ruins, which we had almost to ourselves on my previous visit, were packed to the brim with more stalls of deliciousness.  There was also live entertainment, including three funny and talented singers who gave us our own rendition of ‘Sweet Mary’ – very cool!

After a bit of a food-induced snooze in the sunshine, we headed back down the hill to the Priory, temporary home of delectable sea food and wines.

We rounded off the afternoon with a glass of rosé at the Angel Hotel, a historic coaching inn with a fabulous outdoor terrace from which to enjoy the last hour of sunshine.

Due to the popularity of the Festival we’d pre-booked dinner at the pop-up version of Cardiff’s award-winning Purple Poppadom, one of the best Indian restaurants in Wales.  The set menu featured delicious starters, four types of curries and unique desserts to finish.

The next day, we (briefly) walked off some of the amazing food we had devoured with a walk at Llangynidr.  Although a bit misty, we still had good views towards Abergavenny and the Brecon Beacons – and lots of bracing fresh air!

I might be a bit biased, but the Abergavenny Food Festival was a fantastic experience.  Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or a first-time festival-goer it had something for everyone – be sure to check it out next year!