My family and I visited Chepstow Christmas 2018, while holidaying in Lydney. It’s such a pretty town but who better than a resident to fill you in on its local hidden gems. For the second instalment of the series My Special Place, I’m featuring the founder of BlackBellePrints, Victoria Phair. Read on to find out about the border town Chepstow and Victoria’s special place.
About Victoria
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Victoria, owner of BlackBellePrints , an artist, content creator and teacher. I moved to Wales in 2018, just after I got married and we’ve finally settled in Chepstow.
How long have you been living in your Chepstow?
I’ve lived in Chepstow for nearly a year and a half now and discovered it’s a beautiful place with many areas to venture. Whether you come for dining, shopping or to explore there’s something for everyone.
One of the first things we did when we first moved to Chepstow was visit the Chepstow Town market. It is held every second and last Sunday of the month along the high street. From local artists to local homemade foods and craft beers you’ll find something that you love in the market. I particularly love the vibrant atmosphere of the market with a mix of cultural influences. My husband and I fell in love with the Caribbean food stall the last time we were there!
Cheptow Monmouthshire
What’s one thing people should know about Chepstow before visiting?
One of the things to know about Chepstow before visiting is that it is a small town but surrounded by lots of beautiful scenery.
Aside from tasting local foods from the market, Chepstow has some beautiful restaurants perfect for family dining. From dining in an Italian restaurant on the banks of the river Wye in Chepstow to grabbing a tea or coffee from a vintage tea and coffee house; there’s something for everyone. I especially love the originally Welsh coffee house Coffee #1 which you can also find on Chepstow High Street.
If you are more into exploring, then you can’t leave without visiting the castle. Rich in history, the castle spans over 600 years of medieval and Tudor living. As and when restrictions lift, the castle is definitely a central part of Chepstow to discover. Not only are elements of the castle walls within the town centre, the castle itself stands tall and is beautifully preserved stretching out above the River Wye. Best of all it’s free to explore!
Chepstow also offers many walking trails. Being so close to the Wye Valley there are several beautiful places to walk and explore. One of the places to trail would be the Chepstow Park Woods to Chepstow Castle. Apparently the woods used to be a medieval hunting park! Another place to walk is the Severn Bridge. Whether you want to cross from England to Wales or vice versa, one thing is for sure the views of the river and the Estuary are stunning. I drive across the bridge every morning to go to work and again to come home and still sometimes pinch myself at how amazed I am that I live in such a beautiful place.
Visiting Chepstow
When is the best time to visit Chepstow?
The best time to visit would definitely be during the height of summer. From dining outside along the river to the vibrancy of the markets, you’ll be able to really capture the essence of Chepstow and its beauty.
What is the biggest event on the Chepstow town calendar?
Chepstow Rocks is a concert that’s held in the castle annually. Also the Chepstow Racecourse is quite a big attraction when the horse races are on.
Victoria’s Hidden Gem
What is your hidden gem in Chepstow? And why?
I’d say it has to be our coastal path from the Chepstow Castle to Colwyn Bay. It takes about 14 days to walk the whole thing so is definitely a great venture holiday!
I hope you enjoyed Victoria’s interview. Prior to reading this did you know about the town of Chepstow? Have you visited?
Comment below, let me know what you think of this new series and what you thought of the interview. Also to read the previous feature CLICK HERE.
