June Stay Near Gloucester

https://www.visitgloucester.co.uk/things-to-do/attractions

https://www.opentable.co.uk/landmark/restaurants-near-gloucester-cathedral

Outside Gloucester there is the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley to explore, (where there is also a preserved Steam Railway), a very scenic area.

In particular Monmouth and Tintern Abbey.

Until looking for this link for you I didn't know that Monmouth was Britain's first Bee Town.

Not far south, on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal there is the excellent Slimbridge Wetlands Centre- highly recommended especially for birders and anyone interested in wildlife.

One place I like around there is the Ship Inn at Framilode.

Sharpness (at the end of the canal) is a transfer point between the Inland Waterways system and ocean going shipping coming up the River Severn, although smaller ocean going ships could come up the Canal to Gloucester Historic Docks (now where the Inland Waterways Museum is).

Tewkesbury is another very interesting nearby medieval market town, in a splendid location on the banks of the Severn.

As you may be able to tell most of my time in this area has been boating on the Wye, the Severn and the Sharpness Canal.

The Inland Waterways Museum will also tell you how the Sharpness Canal was also an important water link to London via the Stroudwater Navigation then the Thames and Severn Canal to the River Thames- the majority of that link to Thames Head and Lechlade can still be walked, and is another very nice area to visit, especially The Golden Valleys around Stroud

That is the home area of the well known Author Laurie Lee- think Cider with Rosie.

Both Tintern Abbey and Tewkesbury are lovely areas. Don't miss the Tewkesbury Cathedral.

You have the western Cotswolds on your doorstep.

Alternatively there is the Wye Valley with Chepstow (very good castle and attractive town) , the ruined Tintern Abbey, Symonds Yat view point , Monmouth with the only fortified bridge in GB. There is also the Forest of Dean a lovely area to explore with small villages.

Think about Ross on Wye and also Ledbury (nice small town - go and find the painted rooms and go in the church). Not far away is Kempley and St Mary's Church which has some of the best medieval wall paintings in England.

Thanks for all your suggestions. This has been really helpful.

A question on Jeopardy last night reminded me of another Castle just outside the Wye Valley area which is never mentioned on here- Caldicot Castle.

This visit Monmouthshire website is a good resource anyway, irrespective of the Castle.