Racehorse Inn, Waunavon. THIS traditional pub, perched on the top road between Brynmawr and Blaenavon, has arguably the best views in Gwent, looking down from the heights to Abergavenny and Crickhowell.

It also has some of the best food in the county. We decided not to have a starter but went straight on to the main courses, all of which were served with salad and peas with a large bowl of crisp, fat chips.

The three of us had duck a l'orange, chicken with tarragon sauce and pork chops, the latter coming with onion rings.

The sauces - made freshly in the kitchen rather than from some faceless central supplier - were delicious. The duck was cooked to perfection, indeed it completely outshone the same menu choice we had in a four-star hotel recently.

The chicken was tender and the chops chunky and filling. For pudding we had tasty wimberry tart, made with berries enthusiastically collected locally by youngsters from the village.

The ambience was relaxed, with the landlord sitting down and chatting to us about the desserts as though we were friends rather than customers. The walls of the inn are decorated with photographs of famous boxers, actors and singers, some of them signed.

This is an inn that concentrates on a quality menu, supplemented by specials, rather than an impossibly long list of choices, which you know will be lifted from a freezer having been cooked miles away.

It serves well-executed, reasonably-priced, delicious food. Our main courses ranged from £7.75 to £8.20 with the tart at £2 a portion. Two glasses of wine and two soft drinks came to £5.50.

Well worth a visit, there is one word of warning. It doesn't accept credit cards so remember to take your chequebook or cash. Caroline Woollard