August 2026. Newport. (The Gwent one).
It had been too long. A first night in Newport’s historic IBIS Budget (it wasn’t) since The Great Year of GBG Completion when it was only £34.
Well, rather pricier 4 years later, with City and Arsenal fans fighting over Cardiff hotels after The Weeknd (who ?) had priority over Wembley for the Charity Shield.
But the Ibis staff are great, the WiFi works, it’s just off the M4, and there’s actual Welsh coffee and tea from Pwlhelli, which obviously has a rare microclimate.
On my last visit I learnt the most important lesson a man can learn.
You don’t need to do a chicken run across the M4; there’s a secret underpass on Malpas Road,
one of over 300 designated scary underpasses in Wales’ 3rd city (which is twice as big as Hollywood Wrecsam). I’ve never seen Clockwork Orange but this is what I imagine it looks like Newport at night.
I left Mrs RM to her blog, dodged the gaggle of Gooners with newly ironed scarves at the door, and walked the mile to the centre.
Most of that mile looks like this,
a walk under the flyover till you reach the castle.
Some decent historical murals approaching the town city centre,
but I’m heading across the Usk, looking a little sorry for itself after a summer of drought.
Don’t worry though, it’s only weather.
Riverside has the football club, the mammoth Clarence House with scary “Sports Bar” at the bottom,
and some fine examples of “trees growing out of buildings“.
But you’ve been reading for two minutes; you’ll be wanting a pub I guess.
retiredmartin 
I’m quite happy for Newport to be classed as Wales’s third city. Wrexham, regardless of any bit of paper saying otherwise, is a Town. Always has been, always will be. Nothing wrong with that.
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See ! Nothing but facts here !
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I remember when Newport, like the Shropshire one, and Monmouthshire were part of England.
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Monmouthshire was one of those weird ones like Berwick on Tweed, where nobody could agree which country it was in. Until the Local Government Act 1972 (came into effect 1974) which put it in Wales for good.
Having said that, I remember going to a pub just outside Newport to watch Wales v England in the 6 Nations only to find all the locals cheering for England.
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Except on Trip Advisor where everything is a city.
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Yes! Even Lerwick!
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Fabulous shots, especially the first underpass one after your map. A work of art.
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I’ve made it look less unprepossessing than it is, Lana. There’s a sizable rise and decline in the middle and you wonder what’s coming!
The Bullring underpass 30 years ago was more unpleasant.
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Yes, superb photography. I know better than to visit Newport (Gwent) in hope of seeing anything so gorgeous, though. It’s all done with “jiggery pokery” (as John Lennon complained to George Martin).
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Stone Roses – Love Spreads in one of those pictures
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