


Edge of Empire: Romans in South Wales
From £575
Summary
Life in ancient Caerleon and Caerwent
The most Westerly part of the Roman Empire, South East Wales presents some of the finest Roman remains in the UK, boasting both Caerleon and Caerwent, which invite us to consider not only the lives of soldiers but the lives of ordinary people in a provincial Romano-British town. Caerleon, the headquarters for the Legio II Augusta, presents a number of photogenic remains, including barracks, baths and an amphitheatre; it was also known by both Bede and Gildas, who described the martyrdoms of two saints, Julius and Aaron. In turn, Caerwent, the ancient town of Venta Silurum, built by Rome to accommodate the defeated Silures, is one of the hidden gems of Roman Britain, boasting the best-preserved Roman city wall in the country with magnificent projecting towers. Within the walls, we will visit the excavated remains which include part of the Forum/Basilica, a temple, a number of houses and shops. In the medieval church a Roman statue base, altar and other fragments of sculpture are on display. The tour continues to Lydney, set in the southern fringe of the Forest of Dean, where an extensive Roman Temple complex was excavated by Sir Mortimer Wheeler in the 1920s. Built within the ramparts of an Iron Age hillfort, visible remains include a large temple of unusual plan and a bath-house, all with spectacular views across the Severn Estuary. The excavated artefacts are all on display at the site and include the 'Lydney Dog', an exquisite cast bronze figurine of a hunting hound.
Tour highlights:
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Today's Price
£575
Benefit from this limited time offer:
- Pay a low deposit of £99, was £250.
Single supplement: £195
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Meet your Experts
Mark Corney
Guide Lecturer
Mark Corney is an Archaeologist, broadcaster and former Senior Landscape Investigator with the Royal Commission for Historic Monuments of England.

Tour dates & prices
Included in your cost:
- Expert Guide Lecturer
- Local travel aboard a private air-conditioned coach
- Meals as per the itinerary, wine and tea or coffee with dinner
- Accommodation
- Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
- All taxes & gratuities
Tour Departure | Tour ID | Departure date | Return Date | Guided by | Price | Deposit | Single Supp. | Offer | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 May 2021 | ASSE210514 | 14 May 2021 (Friday) | 16 May 2021 (Sunday) | Mark Corney | £575 (ex. flights) |
£99 |
£195 | Book Now | |
24 September 2021 | ASSE210924 | 24 September 2021 (Friday) | 26 September 2021 (Sunday) | Mark Corney | £575 (ex. flights) |
£99 |
£195 |
£546.25 save £28.75 |
Book Now |