Directions to Middle Ninfa Farm

Directions to Middle Ninfa Farm Coming along the M4 from London, it is easiest to take the turning towards Monmouth. It is on the outskirts of Newport and you can see the Celtic Manor Hotel on the hill above the exit roundabout. It’s a big roundabout. I think it is the 4th exit you want, anyway, towards Monmouth. Continue along this dual carriageway until you reach the exit for Raglan (2nd exit, I think.) Follow the road towards Abergavenny. You come to a concrete road which is boring and noisy but not usually very busy. You can see Sugar Loaf Mountain ahead and to the right and the Blorenge looming up ahead on the left. You are going halfway up the Blorenge. (jump the next 2 paragraphs)

Coming from the Midlands go through Monmouth on the A 40. Carry on out of Monmouth. After a while (5 miles?) you will see a Little Chef service place on the right. Take the next exit after this. It is signposted to Abergavenny. In fact this turning is the A40 and the road straight ahead has a new number. It is very confusing and like this for historic reasons. Don’t miss this turning or you have to go all the way to Newport and back! Continue past Raglan and over the next double roundabout to Abergavenny. (carry on next paragraph but one)

Coming from the West Wales along the Heads of the Valleys Road, take the first road signed to Abergavenny and Neville Hall hospital. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit toward Lanfoist. Go over the next roundabout towards Llanfoist. (jump next paragraph)

You come to a rather strange double roundabout. Take the second exit on the 2nd roundabout towards Merthyr Tidfil. It is another dual carriageway. DON’T be tempted by the sign to Llanelen! Take the first road exit signed to Abergavenny and Llanfoist and at the roundabout on the exit turn left towards Llanfoist.

As you reach the sign for the start of Llanfoist there is a turning to the left signed to Llanelen and road is called Gipsy Lane. There is also road narrowing on the Llanfoist road at the point. Take the turning towards Llanelen. Continue along Gipsy Lane and you will come to a sharp right angled bend to the left. Go carefully round this and you will see red lines in the road which used to indicate the end of the 30 mph limit until they shifted it forward a bit. From those lines you can see Grove Farm on your left with white stones (more like grey these days!) to stop people driving on their grass. You don’t want to turn into Grove farm but from their driveway you can see ahead of you a turning on the right going steeply and sharply bending up the mountain. THIS IS THE TURNING YOU WANT. Most people miss it but from Grove farm entrance (or from the new end of 30 mph sign) it is easy to spot.

Go up this road which is narrow and steep. I will always reverse downhill (ie when I am driving uphill), if I meet someone. This I recommend, but it is up to you. You go over the canal. Look out for the miniature Shetland ponies, all rescued. A story for your arrival if you are interested. The road deteriorates and you reach a huge newly built driveway on the left, Castell Prydydd. Drive on past another turning (their previous entrance) and past grapevines on the left, with plastic bird of prey to keep small birds away. Continue to the small brow of a hill by a bungalow. I recommend you take this small hill slowly as there is poor visibility.

The road goes around and then up very steeply. At the top you will see a little white cottage saying Lower Ninfa on the side. The road bends to the left in front of the cottage and you want the next proper driveway on the right. (Not the entrance to the muddy field.) There is a sign saying Middle Ninfa Farm but most people miss it. As you turn into the drive keep well to the LEFT of the entrance and give it lots of welly, especially if it is wet. I don’t know why but the back wheels can catch in the drain and it is difficult to get out. You also need the left hand branch of the drive and the right hand bit goes back to Lower Ninfa. It is quite obvious when you see it. By now you will have seen why you needed lots of welly. Please be very careful not to go on the grass. Our neighbour is getting fed up with people spoiling the edges by driving on it. The drive is the steepest part yet, but it is short. Go over the cattle grid at the top and the bunkhouse is on your left by the cattle grid. Come and shout at the house if there is no-one around, and if we are out, let yourselves in. The radio is on the garage to keep foxes away from the ducks so please don’t “helpfully” turn it off. It goes off at night.

For camping, after the cattle grid go straight on up to the gate (not v far but quite steep). Carry your stuff through the gate a go on past the “sports field” for croquet, tennis or whatever to the flat section above it. The compost toilet and tap is in the little wooden hut up the steps. If you wanted a remote site, I suggest you contact us by phone so we can agree which you want.

You are welcome to make a campfire in the area provided. We charge £2.50 for a sack of firewood. The sacks are kept in the flat roofed corrugated iron shed just inside the gate to the campsite and tennis court. Help yourself but please keep count of how many you take. Ask if you would like a sauna but please follow safety rules. The sauna is around the back of the garage past the duckshed. Feel free to go anywhere on the farm but please shut all gates. The horses are fine but the grey (Duchess) is very old and the chestnut (Fly) inclined to rear so don’t be tempted to ride.