chepstow to m4 or m5!? what to do in chepstow, sights to see

[Hangar 18]

I have a ggirlfriend, we're both around 20 y/o and she destroyed a perfectly good set of Rover 200 alloys in a spin out. Just won a new set of alloys on ebay (go me!) Does anyone know-

1- Which route I should take from witney (on the a40 near oxford) to chepstow in aid of stress-free (trafficless) driving, will be going on monday morning time m4, m5, a40 or try me!?

2- Want to make a day of it with a stop or 2 in immediately surrounding bits - "nice" places include but are not limited to- beaches, lakes, small walks, nice market towns, anything I hesitate to call "nice" :-) something for her mainly!

Cheers guyys ;-) I've typed this out on my smart phone- any errors in my typing are going to be the work of the evil android auto correct feature!

[miniman]

Pick up the M4, straight past Bristol, over the bridge and you're there. Easy.

Come off at J17, head to Castle Combe, chocolate box Cotswold village, nice hotel for lunch. Rejoin M4 at J18.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

Castle Combe village is a good call.

For the journey out I'd take the B4425 (an awesome road) through Bibury to Cirencester, the A429 to Malmesbury (also a nice place) and then the B4040 to the A46. Join the M4 at J18 and you're nearly there.

Not sure there are many reasons to hang around in Chepstow, but Tintern Abbey is just up the road if you like a ruin.

You could pop in to Bristol on the way back - I can recommend some short walks or good places for lunch if you like.

[Hangar 18]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

Castle Combe village is a good call.

For the journey out I'd take the B4425 (an awesome road) through Bibury to Cirencester, the A429 to Malmesbury (also a nice place) and then the B4040 to
the A46. Join the M4 at J18 and you're nearly there.

Not sure there are many reasons to hang around in Chepstow, but Tintern Abbey is just up the road if you like a ruin.

You could pop in to Bristol on the way back - I can recommend some short walks or good places for lunch if you like.

miniman said:

Pick up the M4, straight past Bristol, over the bridge and you're there. Easy.

Come off at J17, head to Castle Combe, chocolate box Cotswold village, nice hotel for lunch. Rejoin M4 at J18.

Thank you ever so much guys- ill be taking the non m4 route i tthink due to the fact that it's not terribly fun and requires me going near Oxford and swindon, which are over familiar destinations to my 405 and I! I will have my phone open on this thread with my girlfriend dictating to me :-D castle combe is the race track in Wiltshire right? I used to kart there if so! Can't wait!

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

Castle Combe is the village a little way from the actual circuit. It's much more picturesque, and likely to have better food than the track offers:

[CPB31]

On the way there you have to pay to go over the bridge - £5.70 I think now, so I would take the cross country route. Via Gloucester and down through the Forest of Dean. There is some stunning scenery and great driving roads if you get off the A48.

There is a quite impressive castle at Chepstow in addition to Tintern abbey (already mentioned) and railway station if that is your bag. Else there is walking cycling and go-ape in the Forest. You can hire bikes at pedal-a-bike away. Not sure on opening times on these.

No bridge toll on Wales -> England direction if you want to do a loop.

Edited by CPB31 on Sunday 10th April 16:47

[Spudler]

Brecon Beacons National Park...you wont be dissapointed.

[miniman]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

Castle Combe is the village a little way from the actual circuit. It's much more picturesque, and likely to have better food than the track offers:

Hey, I'll have you know The Tavern does a bloody good fry-up!