Stop off on the way to Pembrokeshire

[mamaduckbone]

We're heading to Pembrokeshire next week from the midlands and wondered if anyone has any good recommendations for a stop off near the M5 / M50? We prefer to break the journey up with a bit of a walk and a picnic rather than just a service station but don't want to go too far off the route.

Gloucester Services(Tebay of the South) or turn off at Junction 19(?) of M5 and go to Portishead.

We're planning to come off the M5 on to the M50 before Gloucester services and Bristol (although it's almost worth changing the route just to go there) but thanks anyway.

Apologies, hadn't fully taken in the M5/M50 junction bit .

What about Symonds Yat?

Tredegar House? (National Trust so at the moment you would have to book)

Look at the Natural Resources Wales website, they have a search function for nature reserves/woods/country parks and you may find something suitable around Newport, or look at Cadw for castles, they aren’t all open yet but you may find something.

I wouldn’t stay on the M5 for a minute longer than you have to in August, even for Gloucester services!

Tewksbury is lovely.

The Fleet Inn in Twyning just off the M50 used to be nice.

Symonds Yat looks just the ticket, thank you! Never been to the Wye valley at all and it looks beautiful. We've got a good couple of hours to spare so we can have a good walk.

FlyingFlamingo exactly!

Monmouth can always be a bit snarled up with traffic. It could be a bit of a queue to get to SY.
Ross on Wye? Car park is just off the route, near the river and nice walk along the bank and back through the town. There's a playground half way but don't know if it's open or something you'd need.
Goodrich Castle? Not checked it's open though.
It's a journey we do x6 per year and if it's busy on the motorway I do recommend the 'Heads of the Valleys" route - A40 to Raglan turn off then A465 joining back on at Neath. It can often be faster....

We're doing the same thing in September and are planning to stop at Symonds Yat.

@PicaK

Monmouth can always be a bit snarled up with traffic. It could be a bit of a queue to get to SY. Ross on Wye? Car park is just off the route, near the river and nice walk along the bank and back through the town. There's a playground half way but don't know if it's open or something you'd need. Goodrich Castle? Not checked it's open though. It's a journey we do x6 per year and if it's busy on the motorway I do recommend the 'Heads of the Valleys" route - A40 to Raglan turn off then A465 joining back on at Neath. It can often be faster....

Thank you - always good to have insider info.

I'd get onto the M4 and through Newport because the traffic can be hellish. Plus, Pembrokeshire is still quite a distance from there.

As FlyingFlamingo said Tredegar House is great...Castle Coch would also suit.