CLUB SITES TREDEGAR HOUSE COUNTRY PARK such bridges were built worldwide, between 1893 and 1916. Designed to Look out for the wildlife at Tredegar House Country Park provide a river crossing without disrupting shipping, they featured lofty steel towers with a high span from which a suspended gondola carried passengers back and forth. Eight of the 16 survive (three in Britain), Newport’s being the largest, with a span of 645ft and height of 242ft. Other Newport attractions include a Norman cathedral, a castle and a museum and art gallery. The city is also hosting this year’s Ryder Cup (1-3 October), when Europe’s top golfers face the cream of America at the magnificent Celtic Manor Resort. Many of the game’s big names also compete at the Wales Open here every June. History has left its mark in various places nearby. Separated from Newport by the Usk, Caerleon boasts some of Britain’s best Roman remains. DID YOU Called Isca by the Romans, the KNOW? town was one of three legion Newport was granted headquarters in Britain and city status in 2002 to mark Queen Elizabeth garrisoned 6000 legionaries. II’s Golden JubileeThere’s a seven-mile forest drive, Remains include barracks foundations, a plus extensive walking and cycling trails INFORMATION well-preserved amphitheatre and the for those wanting to stretch their legs. fortress baths, presented with audiovisual Beyond Cardiff’s western suburbs at SITE displays that almost encourage you to dive St Fagans, the National History Museum Full details can be found on p238 of the Sites Directory & Handbook 2009/10 in. Artefacts are displayed at the Roman brings together 40 historic Welsh buildings Legion Museum. in the grounds of St Fagans Castle, one of TOURISM Caerphilly has an impressive 13th- the principality’s finest Elizabethan manor n Caerleon TIC – call 01633 422656 or email Port of [email protected] century castle – Wales’ largest – rising from houses. Highlights include a thatched a lake in the town, one of its towers listing farmhouse of 1508, a tollhouse built in n Caerphilly TIC – call 029 2088 0011 or email at a crazy angle. Every July, Caerphilly’s Big 1772, a 17th-century cockpit from a [email protected] n Cardiff TIC – call 029 2087 3573 or email Cheese festival is held there to celebrate Denbigh pub, an early 20th-century [email protected] not only the town’s popular cheese but also workmen’s institute and medieval n Newport TIC – call 01633 842962 or email its favourite son, the late, great comedian St Teilo’s Church with its colourful wall [email protected] Tommy Cooper. paintings. You can also watch people Between Caerphilly and Cardiff, working at bygone trades. CYCLING CALL Castell Coch rises like a fairytale palace Farther south, Cardiff Bay is a The Celtic Trail (National Cycle Network Route 4) is the nearest cycle route to Tredegar House. See sustrans.org.uk for more from a steep wooded hillside. Originally modern development of the city’s former Don Jolly ‘drops anchor’ for a while at a Club site well information. In addition, a Sustrans volunteer ranger has ❖ a 13th-century fortress, today’s docks. It’s a buzzing place with cafés, bars produced notes on a family-friendly cycle ride from the site. placed to discover Newport and its immediate area romantic appearance owes much to and restaurants, and combines Download the notes from the site page on the Club website. Victorian imagination. 21st-century architecture like the Wales Ordnance Survey Landranger Map 171 For something different, Cwmcarn Millennium Centre (showcasing theatre, NE OF the appeals of the Club’s Birds are not the only wildlife you’ll spot direct you to The Dragonfly pub – main Forest, along the A467, is a great day out. ballet, opera and concerts) and the Tredegar House Country Park here – squirrels and rabbits are frequent courses start at around £7. If you prefer Senedd (housing the National Assembly ATTRACTIONS site, near Newport, is its visitors, while the lake beyond the site eating in, stock up on supplies at the Asda for Wales), with older buildings such as n Caerphilly Castle – call 029 2088 3143 O n proximity to the M4. Although this makes barrier is home to an escaped terrapin, superstore just a short drive away. the distinctive Pierhead Building Castell Coch – call 029 2081 0101 n – call 01495 272001 or see it a convenient stopover en route for which has grown rather bigger than it Closer still is Tredegar House itself. Just (containing Welsh history displays) and Cwmcarn Forest Drive caerphilly.gov.uk/cwmcarnforest Wales’ south-western extremities, you’ll would have had it been living in captivity. yards from the site entrance, it was built the timber Norwegian Church (now an n Doctor Who Exhibition – call 029 2048 9257 or see be missing out if you don’t stay awhile as Keep your eyes peeled and you might spot during Charles II’s reign for the Morgan arts centre and coffee shop). doctorwhoexhibitions.com the area is thick with attractions. it sunbathing on a log. family, who lived there until 1951. Now in Sculptures are prominent, among the n National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon – The drawback of being so close to the On your arrival at the site, you’ll be the care of Newport City Council, its best being People Like Us, which call 01633 423134 or see museumwales.ac.uk/en/roman M4, of course, is traffic noise, but nature greeted by cheerful Wardens Pip and guided tours (with discounts available for represents a couple and their dog looking n Roman amphitheatre, barracks and baths, Caerleon – does its best to counter that – mature trees Nadine Crane. Everyone I met on site had site users) are informative and enjoyable. out from Mermaid Quay; a coal miner, call 01633 422518 (baths) n St Fagans: National History The impressive muffle it, while day-long birdsong all but kind words to say about them. For a good- A rare sight is Newport’s transporter reminding us coal was exported around Museum – call 029 2057 3500 or castle at Caerphilly drowns it out. value meal out nearby, Pip and Nadine will bridge straddling the river Usk. Only 16 the world from here; and the Scott see museumwales.ac.uk/mwl Antarctic Memorial, commemorating the n Techniquest – call 029 2047 5475 explorer’s departure from Cardiff on his or see techniquest.org final tragic expedition a century ago. n Tredegar House – call 01633 More up-to-date is the Techniquest 815880 or see newport.gov.uk/tredegarhouse hands-on science centre, and the Doctor n Wales Millennium Centre – Who Exhibition, where you can get up call 029 2063 6464 or see close to many of the Doctor’s enemies. wmc.org.uk Tredegar House Fine sculpture in Cardiff Bay Do you dare? n 64 The Caravan Club Magazine August 2010 The Caravan Club Magazine 65.