Lion Inn, Trellech, MONMOUTH (TREFYNWY), NP25 4PA [Map]
01600 860322http://www.lioninn.co.uk/ 
12-15, 18 (19 MO) 0 23 MO-FR; 1215, 18:30-23 SA; 12-15 SU (closed SU evening)
Accommodation, Car Park, Evening Meals, Real Fire, Beer Garden, Lunchtime Meals

Me outside the Rising Sun, July 2003

Yet another award winning pub! Having helped run five meteorology field trips at the Caer Llan field centre just up the road, monitoring the temperature and humidity in and around Lloysey Wood and Craig-y-Dorth hill on cold November days, I'd never quite made it just that little bit further down the road to the Lion. Totally forgot about the pub until one day a few years later I randomly drove past it, did a bit of a double take, and thought that as it was lunchtime it'd be rude if I didn't turn around and poke my nose in the pub. What an idyllic location, bees buzzing around the flowers with the sweet scent of roses in the air, the village church over the road.

Firstly a little bit of history. The village of Trellech takes its name from the three tall stones (tri=three and llech=flat stone) standing in a line 12m (39ft) long in a field a quarter of a mile or so towards Chepstow on the main road. The stones are locally known as Harold's Stones and were supposedly erected by Harold, the Saxon king, in commemoration of a victory over the Britons in 1063.

End of village history lesson [camera pans around to pub with Ant Veal holding a perfect pint of Wye Valley Butty Bach]. This is a fantastic stone pub built in the 16th century as a coaching inn, brew house and pig farm! It's a lovely village local oozing with character with a proper rustic and wholly unpretentious feel about it. A place where you can truly relax and feel that you're away from it all. The bar's open plan with a low ceiling and some wooden beams and is and full of comfy seats, and a mix of other seating and tables. There's a separate dining area on the other side and picnic benches outside in the garden. They usually have several real ales on tap with a bias towards local and regional brewers. Quite an Eastern European bias with the food as I understand the landlord's family are from Hungary. All freshly prepared decent tasty food.

No accommdation in the pub itself, but you can stay in a nearby house.

Geography students with anemometer on Craig-y-dorth hill, November 1995