July Country Meeting, Saturday 12th July 2025
Event has now expired
The July country meeting will be held in Abergavenny, Wales.
The picturesque market town is just 6 miles from the border with England and is surrounded by hills and mountains.
The event will cover three days of peal attempts, a tour preceding the meeting, and a meal on the Saturday evening.
Peals and Event Programme
There are many peal towers available for peals, which are available on:
- Thursday 10 July
- Friday 11 July
- Saturday 12 July (morning only)
Thursday’s evening Venue is The Kings Head Hotel, 59-60 Cross Street, Abergavenny, NP7 5EU. This also offer accommodation.
Also on Thursday evening there is a Monmouth Branch 8 Bell Practice at Usk, at 7.30-9.00, with drinks after in The New Court Inn 62, Maryport Street, Usk NP15 1AD. Please let Helen Philips know if you’re likely to attend (e-mail: monmouth8bell@llanmon.org.uk)
Friday’s evening venue is the Lamb & Flag, Brecon Road, Abergavenny, NP7 7EW which also provides food Booking is advisable if food is required.
There are plenty of good restaurants and cafes in Abergavenny.
General Ringing
There will be a tour of towers in the area on Saturday as follows:
- 10:00 – 11:00 St Tudors Mynyddislwyn**, (8, 12-1-4), NP12 2BE. Ave. distance from Abergavenny 21 mile, approx 45 mins
- 11:30 – 12:15 St Sannan Bedwellty (8, 14-0-14), NP12 0BD, Ave. distance from Abergavenny 22 mile, approx 35 mins
- 14:30 – 16:00 St Mary, Abergavenny (10, 25-0-18), NP7 5ND.
*All distances and timings are approximate as there is usually more than one route to get to the towers.
St Sannan’s church is likely to be open to the public as Mynyddislwyn like to advertise ringing when it happens. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available.
The time and distance between Mynyddislwyn and Bedwellty is approx. 16mins and 6 miles (you can see Bedwellty from Mynyddislwyn).
Routes / Distance to Abergavenny (It is not possible to get from Bedwellty to Abergavenny by public transport.)
- Via Tredegar and heads of the valley road (A4048 and A465) 21 miles, approx. 35 mins
- Via Pontypool (A472 & A4042) 20 miles approx. 40mins
Lunch Suggestions
Blackwood
- Rhymney Brewery pub: The Westgate in the high street, I don’t think they do food.
- Craft Brewery pub: The Moggridge Arms in the high street, I don’t think they do food
- The Bumble Bee – NP12 2FS Marstons (in the retail park at the south end of Blackwood) does food
- The Otter – Bridge Street, Newbridge, Newport, NP11 5FJ Marstons (about 2.5 miles from Blackwood) would need to pass it if you go to Abergavenny via Pontypool
- The Sirhowy - JD Wetherspoon, 61 High St, Blackwood NP12 1BA is not recommended.
Pontypool
- Chip shop the Horseshoe fish bar – 1 Hill Street, Pontnewynydd, Pontypool NP4 6NL https://www.thehorseshoefishbar.co.uk
- The Lion Hotel - 41 Broad St, Blaenavon, Pontypool, NP4 9NH this also does accommodation and is between 7 & 13 miles from Abergavenny depending on route taken.
https://www.thelionhotelblaenavon.co.uk - The world Heritage centre at Blaenavon has various places to eat. https://www.visitblaenavon.co.uk/en/visit-blaenavon/places-to-eat
If you go to Abergavenny via the heads of the valley road (A465) you would go through
Tredegar
- The Olympia JD Wetherspoon, Morgan Street, Tredegar, Blaenau, Gwent NP22 3ND
- Morgan’s eatery and coffee shop, 9 Castle Street Tredegar, NP22 3DE which is very nice if you don’t want alcohol.
Meeting
The meeting will be in the Abergavenny Community Centre, Merthyr Road, Abergavenny. The main entrance is the other side of the building, you need to walk around by the road (car park postcode NP7 5BY). Parking is limited so please park considerately. This is approximately half a mile from the church.
- 16:00 – 17:00: Tea, coffee and cakes (£2.00 donation)
- 17:00 – 18:15: Meeting Creative Room / Zoom
- View business meeting details here, members only
Dinner and Quiz
After the meeting, there will be an evening meal 18.30 in the main hall of the Community Centre.
The menu will be meat or lentil lasagne (which could be Vegan if needed), Salad (leaves & micro greens, tomatoes, cucumber, beetroot (two salad dressings), Focaccia and for Dessert, a selection of cheesecake and mini Pavlovas - with seasonal fruit and pouring cream.
Any dietary allergies, intolerances, restrictions must be given by 27th of June.
The Evening Entertainment will be a Quiz starting at about 8.00
Beer and Wine will be available to purchase (cash please), but please bring your own soft drinks. The price will be £25.50 or for under 25s £17.5. Please sign up below to join the evening's entertainment and food.
Location map
Transport
Public transport is very limited and takes a long time once you arrive in Wales, except in certain areas, therefore car share is advisable. Distances between towers / Abergavenny range from 10 to 50 miles.
Accommodation
Below are some suggestions in the local area. Please note, there are weddings in Abergavenny and Usk over the weekend, therefore accommodation may be limited in Town.
- The New Court Inn, 62 Maryport Street, Usk, NP15 1AD – Tel:- 01291 671319
- Three Salmons Hotel, 3 Portycarne Street, Usk, NP15 1RY – Tel:- 01291 672133
- Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel & Spa, Llangibbi Usk, NP15 1PG – Tel:- 01633 450521
- Premier Inn, Tyr’Felin, Pontypool NP4 0RH
- Premier Inn, Victoria Business Park, Waun-Lwyd, Ebbw Vale, NP23 8AN
- Premier Inn, Westgate House, Llanfoist, Abergavenny, NP7 9LH
- Best Western, Pontypool Metro Hotel, Lower Mill Field, Pontypool, NP4 0XB – Tel:- 01495 750552
- The Kings Head Hotel, 60 Cross Street, Abergavenny, NP7 5EU – Tel:- 01873853575
- The Kings Arm’s Hotel, 29 Nevill St, Abergavenny, NP7 5AA Tel:- 01873 855074
- The Abergavenny Hotel, 21 Monmouth Road, Abergavenny, NP7 5HF Tel:- 01873 859050
Other things to do
There are plenty of things to do in Abergavenny other than ring.
The following sites provide some good suggestions:
Sign up and pay
Logged in members can sign up for peal attempt and meal. (If you can't see the link to sign up here, and you have a log-in to this site, you can log in here, then you can sign up; alternatively by ticking the paper list on Wednesday or please email Penny Sharpe the Assistant Secretary.)- Peal attempt: signup has now expired
- Meal: signup has now expired
Payment
You can pay Penny Sharpe the Assistant Secretary directly, by cash or cheque (£25.50/17.50 per person). Alternatively, you can pay by telephone banking or online banking (also £25.50/17.50 per person).
Please notify Penny Sharpe the Assistant Secretary, if you have paid by telephone banking, online banking or paypal.
We hope you can come along and take part in what's typically a fun day out.