Geo-Trips :: The A40 to Wales
Abergavenny
A drive from Oxford, Sun, 23 Apr 2023 by David Howard
Without Geograph I would never have had a reason to go to Abergavenny, but what is the rarest pair of pre-Worboys signs is the no left/right turns, more so still carrying their circle on top. A pair next to each other cropped up there recently, indicating a one way street which had no turn from either direction. And the no left turn had its circle and stripy post. The only other time I'd been there was on school camp in 1973 when I didn't take a camera. The hills (slightly too low to be mountains, but only by a few hundred feet) arrived near the border just as they do on the A44, and continue throughout the Welsh part of the A40. I took it right from London at Hanger Lane and only left it for a mile to reach the sign and have a small trip round the town, which only takes about 15 minutes as it really isn't very big. Being a Sunday as I usually do for long trips there were no problems there or back, the A40 is rarely busy west of Oxford, and made some detours coming back to cover some of the countryside. It rained for about half an hour going through Cheltenham but did provide some reflective roads for the photos.
Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )
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Hereford Road, Abergavenny
Looking towards Blorenge hill.
Hereford Road, Abergavenny
Looking towards Croesonen Parc.
Footbridge across the railway at Abergavenny Station
The Blorenge
From Station Road, Abergavenny. It is a few hundred feet short of a mountain which... more
The A40, Abergavenny
I had just covered the A40 from Ealing to here, the first time was in 1973 by... more
Hereford Road, Abergavenny
The Blorenge hill is on the horizon.
The Old General Store, Abergavenny
The Blorenge is behind it which can be seen across much of the town.
Plas Derwen Way at the junction of Monmouth Road
Abergavenny has recently become virtually all 20mph. Using the main roads is... more
Ashmole & Co accountants, Abergavenny
Cross Street, Abergavenny
The A40 runs through the centre of Abergavenny then turns west.
Balustrade at Sellarsbrooke Park, Ganarew
The entrance to Sellarsbrooke Park, Ganarew
The A40, Ganarew
At the junction to Lewstone
Slope by the A40, Whitchurch
Behind the services
The Blorenge from Merthyr Road, Abergavenny
The entrance to Abergavenny Community Centre
Promenade, Cheltenham
Looking towards the Queen's Hotel on the left.
Hotel No 131 The Promenade, Cheltenham
Here is their website. https://www.no131.com/
Semi-detached houses on Hereford Road, Abergavenny
House on Monmouth Road, Abergavenny
This is not really a wooden house, it was sold in 2018 and panelled over the brick... more
Starling Road, Ross-on-Wye
This is a new estate and not yet on the OS map.
The A40 looking towards The Mead, Hildersley
The A40, Wilton
This is a village the other side of the Wye from Ross.
The A40 south of Abergavenny
We all know how useful these bushes can be.
Field by Raglan Castle
You can just see the castle on the right, I took two closer but the camera... more
The A40 by Monmouth Services
EG stands for Euro Garages but I expect they only trade in sterling.
Unviable public toilets on the A40, Mitchel Troy
They're on the map but you'd need a crowbar to get in now.
Parking area by the A40, Mitchel Troy
Dixton Road at the junction of the A40
Garth Wood, Monmouth
Alongside the A40
Petrol station entrance on the A40, Huntley
I went there to buy my dinner and passed on the site details to the assistant who... more
House on London Road, Charlton Kings
Chapter House on London Road, Charlton Kings
Roundabout on the A40, Ross-on-Wye
Joining the A449
Dixton Road, Monmouth
By Monmouth School playing field
Kymin from Dixton Road, Monmouth
Parking area by the A40, Goodrich
Parking area by the A40, Goodrich
Glewstone Court
You don't get many houses with a medieval tower, it looks like it was there... more
House on Glewstone, Hollymount
Burford roundabout on London Road
Roundabout on the A40, Northleach
Joining Fosse Way either side.
Layby on The A40, Birdwood
Here was my previous visit. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5544414
New houses in Lea
This was Castle End Farm and is almost finished as a housing estate.
New houses in Lea
By the A40, they began around 2018 and carried on adding since.
Parking area on the A40, Mitchel Troy
Parking area by the A40, Mitchel Troy
Field by the A40, Mitchel Troy
This is a picnic area for people parking here.
The A40, Monmouth
Looking towards Kymin
Woodland by Glewstone, Hollymount
Closed garage on the A40, Huntley
Closed garage on the A40, Huntley
Terraced houses on London Road, Cheltenham
New houses on Starling Road, Ross-on-Wye
New houses on Starling Road, Ross-on-Wye
New houses on Starling Road, Ross-on-Wye
New houses on Starling Road, Ross-on-Wye
Roundabout on the A40, Ross-on-Wye
Joining the new Starling Road St Mary's Estate.
Roundabout on the A40, Ross-on-Wye
No stupid people, Glewstone
There is also a joke on the right.
All images © David Howard and available under a Creative Commons licence .