Your guide to holiday fun for free in Gwent

NICOLE DAVIES investigates some of Gwent’s top free attractions

BLAENAU GWENT

Activities

July 25-August 26, Mon- Fri, 10am-3pm – age range 8-12, £3.90, various activities at Abertillery, Nantyglo, Ebbw Vale and Tredegar Sports Centres, including netball, street dance and badge making etc As part of this, Blaenau Gwent Games, a look forward to Olympics 2012

From July 25, under eights playscheme, Wednesdays 10.30am-12.15pm, Tredegar Sports Centre and Tuesdays 10am- 11.45am, Abertillery Sports Centre Mon-Thurs, Parc Bryn Bach, age range 12-16, £20 per day, call 01495 711816 for more details

25-29 July – Dance Summer School, Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale, 10am- 4pm, £26

Also cinema, street dancing and badge making at leisure centres

CAERPHILLY COUNTY BOROUGH

Attractions

CWMCARN

Forest Drive

A seven-mile beautiful woodland area with stunning views waiting to be explored.

With seven themed picnic sites, a few with play areas and facilities for barbecuing, many interesting walking trails and an exhilarating mountain bike trail.

Activities

Blackwood Comprehensive – Half-term sports scheme for children, Mon-Thurs, age range 6-12, beginning July 25, £3 per day or £10 for four days in one week.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, Caerphilly leisure centre, Sport Caerphilly Summer Aquatics Programme, from 3pm, children must be over the age of eight, admission free

Fridays, Newbridge Leisure Centre, Sport Caerphilly Summer Aquatics Programme, 11am, canoeing, admission free

Various weekdays, Risca Leisure Centre, Sport Caerphilly Summer Aquatics Programme, from 5pm, admission free

TORFAEN

BLAENAVON

Attractions

Ironworks

Glance into industrial Britain’s past by viewing the remains of the blast furnaces, the cast houses and the restored water balance tower at the setting of the award- winning BBC television series Coal House.

Enter the reconstructed company shop and worker’s cottage at Stack Square and Engine Rowand learn all about the significance of the iron industry. Open every day from10am to 5pm.

DISCOVER YOUR HERITAGE: Big Pit, Blaenavon

Big Pit National Coal Museum

Take a journey 300ft down the Big Pit mine shaft ready for the famous guided underground tour of a real mine.

Get kitted out with real miner’s equipment of a helmet, cap lamp and belt and begin your descent underground where you will be accompanied by a former miner for a 50- minute walk of the coal mine.

Open daily 9.30am-5pm.

CWMBRAN

Shopping Centre

Come meet the stars of BBC1’s Bang Goes the Theory at Gwent Square and the Congress Theatre on September 2 and 3 from 11am to 6pm.

The team will be testing, stretching and exploding science live on stage as well as recreating some of the best stunts fromthe series.

Other events include street magic fromBe Bop Illusion on August 13 and puppet storytelling fromthe Story Tent on August 20. For more visit www.cwmbranshopping.co.uk.

The Boating Lake

Have a great time in the children’s play area, play games and have fun on the playing fields, picnic in the park and relax by taking a gentle stroll around the lake while feeding the geese and ducks.

PONTYPOOL

Pontypool Museum

After recently renovations and with free admission to all Torfaen library cardholders, Pontypool Museum is well worth a visit. Enjoy the newdisplays and exhibitions which tell the story of Torfaen.

The museum is open from 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Friday and from2pm to 5pm over the weekend.

Activities

Free playschemes for 8-12 years olds: from August 1-25 10am-3pm, at: Abersychan Youth Club, Croesyceiliog Woodland Road Bowling Club, Fairwater Leisure Centre, Garndiffaith – Ty Rosser Gwyn, Llanyravon Social Club, New Inn Recreational Grounds and, from 1pm-3pm at West Pontnewydd – Glenside Community Hall

And for age range 5-15, 10am-12pm: Abersychan Victoria School Field, Blaenavon Flower Gardens, Sebastopol – Alexandra Gardens, Trevethin Central Drive Park and Cold Barn Farm

Age range 5-12, 10am- 12pm Blaenavon – The Neon Club, Old William Street, Coed Eva & Hollybush Community Hall (Welsh Language Playscheme), Cwmynyscoy – Pontymoile Community Hall, Pentwyn Chapel Hall, Ponthir Village Hall, Pontnewydd – Ashley House, Pontnewynydd – Zion Hill Community Hall, St Dials Youth Club, Thornhill- Cam Court

Age range 5-12, 1pm-3pm, Forgeside Welfare Hall, Pentwyn Wellbeing Centre, Pontypool – Lower St James’ Hall (Welsh Language Playscheme), Thornhill – Wye Court, Tranch – Pentranch Community Hall

Age 5-15, 1pm-3pm: Griffithstown – Sunnybank Park, Hollybush – Sandybrook Park, Penygarn & St Cadocs Woodlands Field, Penygarn & St Cadocs – Mount Road Play Park, Pontnewydd – Park View Park, Pontnewynydd Park, Pontypool Park, Sebastopol – Panteg ‘Fishpond’ Park, Southville – Whitebrook Way Open Space.

MONMOUTHSHIRE

Activities

Mon-Fri, Abergavenny, Chepstow, Caldicot, Monmouth leisure centres, 9am-3.30pm, £7 per child, £6 per sibling, if in receipt of Monmouthshire free school meals, £3.50, age range 5-11.

Also breakfast club from 8am, from August 1 Weds, Thurs and Fri, Bulwark Community Centre, 9am- 3.30pm, age range 5-11, from August 3

Also Wiggle and Giggle for under fives – contact local leisure centres for prices and times. Children must be accompanied by an adult

Various promotions running throughout the holiday including Holiday Activity Saver Card, pay £5 and get a 25 per cent dicsount on certain activities

NEWPORT

COOL DOWN: The Fourteen Locks Centre

Fourteen Locks Canal Centre

Learn about the canal and its role in transporting goods fromthe Valleys, and even try your hand at working a canal lock.

The locks are an impressive sight and you can go on a stunning walk or breath-taking bike ride along the canal towpath and have lunch in the attractive picnic area. The free car park is open 6.30am to 4.45pm, while the visitor centre is open from 9.00am to 4.30pm.

Newport Museum

Discover the story of Newport at the Newport City Museum by viewing a stunning collection of artefacts representing history in and around Newport, including the original designs for the Transporter Bridge and weapons used in the Chartist protest of 1839.

Open between 9.30am and 5pm Monday to Thursday, 9.30am and 4.30pm Friday, and 9.30am to 4pm Saturday.

The museum holds many themed days, including the medieval family fun day on Saturday, July 30, between 11am and 3pm.

SWEEP FOR FOR BUGS: Newport Wetlands

Newport Wetlands

With numerous events over the summer, including a teddy bears’ picnic, an introduction to birdwatching and guided walks, Newport Wetlands is a greatday out for all the family.

The centre is open every day between 9am and 5pm. For more information visit rspb.org.uk/newportwetlands

Tredegar House and Park

Get creative every Friday in August by attending the free children’s craft activities in the education roombetween 1.30pm and 3.30pm.

Turn your hand to puppet, mask and card-making and many more activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Why not have a picnic in the 90 acres of parkland?

The area includes many playing fields, an excellent play area and a paddling pool which children will love to have a splash in during the hot summer holidays.

Belle Vue Park

Opened in 1894, the park was a gift fromLord Tredegar to the people of Newport.

It has many popular features including the recently renovated pavilion, the cascade and the Gorsedd stone circle.

The Ship

Newport’s historic medieval ship is opening to the public on August 20 between 11am to 4pm.

Food and drink will be on offer, learn all about the leather trade and make your own castle to take home.

The ship is at Unit 22 on the Maesglas Industrial Estate.

Park Life

At this year’s Parklife, organised by Newport council, there are many activities to take part in including a climbing wall, trampolines and go karting You will also get the chance to watch the final of Newport’s Got Talent and even meet Buzz Lightyear, who will be performing on stage. Go to Tredegar House on August 24, 11am to 4pm to join in the fun. For more information visit newport.gov.uk

Playday

Children can take part in activities fromsports to arts and tree climbing to water play, plus more on Wednesday, August 3, between 11am and 3pm at Tredegar Park.

Kingsway Centre

Newport’s covered shopping centre is putting on free entertainment for visitors.

Events include a circus workshop on July 23, face painting on August 6 and an inflatable golf challenge on August 20.

Visit kingswaycentre.com.

CAERLEON

National Roman Legion Museum

Explore life in the mighty Roman Empire as a soldier by stepping into the barrack roomand trying on replica armour.

The museum is close to the village amphitheatre.

Open 10am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday and 2pm to 5pm on Sundays.

Activities

Mon-Fri, Holiday Club, Newport International Sports Village, 8.30am- 5.30pm, £18, age range 8-12

Mon-Fri, 10am-3.30pm for free, age range 5-12, in the following locations: Pillgwenlly Millennium Centre, Active Living Centre, Underwood Leisure Centre and Ringland Centre, from August 1 Mon-Fri 10am-3.30pm for free, age range 8-12, in the following locations: Rhiwderin Community Centre, Beaufort Centre, Caerleon Comprehensive, Cefn Wood Youth Annex, Gaer Junior School, Hope Centre, Maesglas School, Malpas Court School and Moorland and Broadmead Community Resource Centre for 8-12 years olds (1.30pm- 3.30pm for age range 5-12)

Outreach playschemes – August 1-12, free at Mary Dunn Playing Fields, 10.30am-12.30pm and Tredegar Park, 2pm-4pm, both for age range 5-12.

From August 15-26, Maindee Primary School, 10.30am-12.30pm and Stow Hill Share Centre, 2-4pm, both for age range 5-12

COUNTY-WIDE

Free swimming

The Welsh Government is again funding free swimming for all children and teenagers aged 16 and under at leisure centres across Wales during the holidays.

For more information on participating pools visit www.sportwales.org.uk