It is not often you are likely to have the opportunity to live like the Tudors in a Grade II manor house that once belonged to Henry VIII. The Medieval Manor comes with five atmospheric bedrooms, two bathrooms, an extremely characterful living room, a newly redecorated country kitchen fit for feasts and a mature garden. You will discover carved antique bedframes, heavy oak doors, tapestries, and exposed stone walls. There are ancient nooks and crannies, open fireplaces, beams and heavy stone lintels. Along with these wonderful nods to the past, The Medieval Manor offers modern touches including fabulous bathrooms.

This wonderful property enjoys a lovely setting in the delightful village of Caldicot, just 100 metres from Caldicot Castle which was founded by the Normans and its 55 acre country park. Just a few minutes’ walk from the manor house is the village pub, The Castle Inn. Caldicot sits in South Wales between the two bridges over the River Severn, between Chepstow and Newport. Close by, you can enjoy the subterranean hidden gardens of Dewstow and Wales’ last lave net fishermen practising the tradition at Black Rock. The Wye Valley Meadery Taproom is an excellent place to pick up a bottle or two of the local sparkling mead or Hive Mind beer made with honey from beehives in the Wye Valley. Caldicot enjoys a fascinating past, just as The Medieval Manor does. Dating back to the Bronze Age and mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086, the village offers ancient buildings such as Llanthony Secunda Manor built around 1120 as a grange for monks. England and Wales are both at your fingertips when staying here, with Bristol being a twenty minute drive away and the ancient spa city of Bath, thirty five minutes away.

When arriving at The Medieval Manor, you will find a characterful reception hall with a cloakroom and stairs leading to the farmhouse country kitchen upstairs. In turn, a few steps takes you to the lounge which has recently been redecorated whilst maintaining its fabulous nods from the past. The entertainment offered includes a television with Netflix, Disney channels, Now TV and many DVD’s. The chef in your group will be able to prepare a delicious feast in the kitchen which has all the modern appliances that you need for your self-catering stay including a range cooker, fridge, freezer, dishwasher and microwave. The dining table seats up to fourteen guests. Just off the kitchen is a utility area and the first of two family bathrooms. Here you can soak in a wonderful slipper bath, dreaming of how things were in days gone by or you can take a shower. Two bedrooms are located on the first floor including one master bedroom and a family room. Some of the rooms were originally dormitory rooms for the monks of Llanthony. The master boasts an intricately carved, four poster medieval bed, wonderful ceiling beams, a couple of accent chairs, the thickest of walls which are really apparent when you look out of the windows and an ensuite toilet. The other double room offers a vintage kingsize bed and a single bed, a feature fireplace, more beams and exposed stone walls.

A spiral staircase heads up to the second floor to a further three bedrooms. The first, another master, enjoys a vintage, intricately carved kingsize bed and exposed stone walls. The second is a cosy twin with a basin and mirror. The last is another family room with a double bed and single bed. Another family bathroom offers a slipper bath, shower and window seat. You will discover lots of window seats around and plenty of original medieval features. The house is steeped in history, offering a fabulous atmosphere.

The garden is lovely with high stone walls, bench seating and tables where you can enjoy a barbecue in summer months.

The Medieval Manor is located between Cardiff and Bristol on the southern tip of the Wye Valley, an area known for its outstanding natural beauty. This wonderful property is just three miles from from the market town of Chepstow. Further afield, you can discover Abergavenny and the Brecon Beacons. Caldicot, home to The Medieval Manor, is a charming village with an incredible history. Nearby, the medieval Church of St Mary’s was also built by the monks of Llanthony in the 12th century.

Bristol, a city steeped in history, enjoys top attractions including Bristol Cathedral and the Lord Mayor’s Chapel, SS Great Britain, one of the best preserved boats in the country, Brunel’s masterpiece, the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol Aquarium and Aerospace Bristol.

Chepstow, famous for its racecourse, offers a wonderfully scenic entrance to Wales. The racecourse is home to Wales’ most prestigious race meeting, the Coral Welsh Grand National and thirty other annual meetings so you may be lucky enough to enjoy a racing experience during your holiday. Chepstow also boasts a magnificent castle which towers over the cliff sides of the River Wye, the Chepstow Museum where you can learn about the history of the town and many excellent shops, restaurants and cafes. There is a National Diving Centre nearby and peregrine falcons on the river. There are many walking trails from the town including the Wye Valley Walk, the Offa’s Dyke National Trail and the Wales Coast Path.

The compact, friendly Welsh capital Cardiff offers much entertainment from global sporting events, intimate gigs, national museums, a castle, cosmopolitan dining and excellent shopping. Its 76,000 seater stadium sits right in the heart of the city. Cardiff Castle is nearly two thousand years old but had a lavish makeover by the architect William Burges in the 19th century. With ornate décor, intricate carvings and rich colour tones fusing Arabian, Gothic and Mediterranean styles, it is a must visit. It offers an incredible view of the city and beyond if you climb to the top. Bute Park, a sprawling green space, sits next to the castle. You can enjoy a meander along the River Taff, look out for wildlife, visit the cafe or enjoy a delicious picnic. You can also soak up some culture at The Old Library which is home to the fabulous Museum of Cardiff. The National Museum Cardiff sits in a grand building offering an enormous collection of Impressionist art and hundreds of exhibits. Music lovers may want to visit the oldest record shop in the world, Spillers Records which opened in 1894. Chapter Arts Centre in Canton and Tramshed in Riverside are great for some evening music and arts entertainment.

Roughly forty five minutes away, Abergavenny is a wonderful blend of old and new. With fresh mountain air and the beautiful scenery of the Usk valley, it offers an excellent range of shops, restaurants and cafes, a museum, a ruined Norman castle, a colourful market, all with a dramatic backdrop. This south east corner of the Brecon Beacons National Park is a fabulous base for walking, cycling and enjoying the great outdoors. Its annual Abergavenny Food Festival is fantastic. This market town boasts a rich history and heritage. Visitors enjoy exloring the area’s castles, medieval mansions, Roman remains and standing stones. The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal is on the doorstep and the Blaenavon World Heritage and Big Pit Mine are just up the road. The Abergavenny Museum is set within the grounds of the castle, an ideal spot for a picnic or a walk. The museum building was formerly a hunting lodge built by the Marquess of Abergavenny. This area of South Wales is certainly fit for foodies. Visitors enjoy the very best of Welsh cuisine at the superb, Michelin starred Walnut Tree Inn and The Hardwick Restaurant. There are many other fantastic restaurants and gastropubs including The Bell at Skenfrith or The Skirrid Inn.

Other popular Welsh excursions including kayaking and canoeing in the rivers, shooting, hang gliding and bird watching. If you fancy a day by the sea, you can head to the beautiful Swansea Bay coastline and the Gower Peninsula with its gorgeous coves and glorious stretches of fine sand. The Victorian seaside village of Mumbles with its promenade, shops and restaurants is worth a visit. Mumbles was one of Dylan Thomas’ many stamping grounds and is the home of some world class ice cream. Mumbles is steeped in history with its lighthouse being built in 1794. It also boasts a Victorian pier and Oystermouth Castle which sits on the hilltop overlooking the sea. There are lovely boutique shops and galleries including the gorgeous Lovespoon Gallery and the Gower Gallery. No visit to Mumbles would be complete without sampling some ‘fresh off the boat’ seafood, its handmade chocolates and its fantastic ice creams.