Newport,Wales
Newport was a great introduction to Wales. Even though it is a main southern transportation point for access to Wales it is a sleepy quiet town. We stayed at the Silurian hotel which had great access to the Train Station and the city for a very reasonable price.
Newport Castle
Newport Castle is the final remains of a significant water fortress. Though it has largely been swallowed up by the modern-day city, we could still get a sense of Newport Castle’s scale by viewing it from the bridge across the River Usk. .
From there, its central tower with water dock come into view, flanked by two further towers which mark the fortress’s north and south ends. The castle’s curtain wall was originally surrounded by a deep moat, which was filled with water at high tide – a key benefit of its riverside location. Built in the 14th century
Belle Vue Park
It was a beautiful day and we wanted to get away from the cityscape and we had heard about a Victorian park that was little known to tourists but a favorite of the locals. We had to walk long and steep hills to get to the park but it was worth the visit.
Belle Vue Park opened in 1894 and has features typical of a Victorian public park, including conservatories, pavilion, bandstand and rockeries.
A beautiful Victorian pavilion is set in an attractive landscape offering children’s play area, walks and features such as gardens and bridges. There is a Tea room in the Victorian house that overlooks the park and pavilion bandstand area.
Wanting to get out into the country of south Wales we decided to take a 3 mile walk along the Monmouthshire Canal. We took a bus to our starting point where there are Fourteen Locks. On the outskirts of Newport near the village of Rogerstone are the fourteen locks - a staircase system of canal locks which was used to transport narrowboats down, or up, 168 feet in a distance of about half a mile. Opened in 1799, the fourteen locks were in use until about 1930.
A lock consists of a lock chamber which is brick, stone or metal and holds the water. To allow boats to get in and out, and to keep the water in, there are gates at each end of the lock. Sometimes there is one single lock gate, other times there are two double gates, and these are pushed open by balance beams on the gates.
Fourteen Locks is the most spectacular flight of canal locks in South Wales. Itis a series of locks, also known as the Cefn Flight, on the Monmouthshire Canal at Rogerstone in Newport, South Wales. The flight of locks was completed in 1799 and raises the water level 160 ft in just 800 yd. This is one of the steepest rises for a major run in the UK which, combined with the sheer number of locks, makes it one of the most significant in the country. The run of locks includes a series of embanked ponds, pounds, sluices and weirs to control the water supply, with no set of gates shared between individual locks.
Mary Kay trying to open the upper sluice gate at the top of the lock.
Unfortunately, the summer in Wales has experienced a severe draught, so the locks were not full enough to see them operating. It was still impressive to see the staircase of locks and ponds.
We explored the half mile of the Fourteen locks and the area was so beautiful and the day was comfortable that we followed the canal back to Newport for 2 1/2 miles along the tow path and walkway.
We weren't alone, because the way was also a bridal and bicycle path. Luckily a large portion of the walk was sparsely travelled.
A nice walk along a lazy water canal with the local residents to greet us along our journey. It was wonderful day in the countryside of southern Wales.
Just around the corner from our hotel was the Newport Market. It turned out to be our favorite breakfast spot.
Situated in the heart of Newport it is Europe's biggest indoor markets. Originally it was built in 1854. It has been newly imagined and we liked the feel of the place because it was a creative mix of the old and the new. It has a great sense of place and would be something I would have wanted to add to a shopping center I would have developed.
Newport Market
Newport Market is rich in heritage, and has been central to Newport life for over 150 years, a bustling community of market gardeners, farmers, allotment growers and butchers. The indoor market was built to replace the previous market building that was too small to cope with the growth of trade in the town.
Revamping the existing historical structure with a contemporary interior and showcasing a diverse mix of independent traders and unique spaces created a vibrant community market for the 21st century.
THEN
As I mentioned above, the Newport Market became our favorite breakfast spot because it was here we first tried Welsh Cakes. We met the son of the mother & son owners of Rogue Welsh Cakes who warmed our Cakes and told us their story.:
Rogue Welsh Cakes may have been officially established in 2020 but the history of them goes way back to the 1990s - back when the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was on the telly, and an NHS Nurse struggled to bring up two children who didn’t like her homemade Welsh Cakes. She discovered the root of the problem was the currants and maybe a bit dry (but she doesn't talk about that bit). She had the brainwave of replacing the currants with chocolate chips and little more butter, a business was born.
NOW
Fourteen Locks
