Poston Mill Park in the Golden Valley Herefordshire, sits on the
edge of Peterchurch and Vowchurch and is surrounded by land
unchanged for centuries. The area has a wealth of history from
parkland to buildings and offers an abundance of walking, cycling
and an opportunity to see wildlife in natural surroundings.
The Black Mountains (Y Mynyddoedd Duon)
This magnificent range of hills roughly sit between the towns of
Abergavenny, Hay on Wye, Llangors/Talgarth .They are also the most
easterly point of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The Black Mountains (Y Mynyddoedd Duon)
The Black Mountain (Mynydd Ddu), not to be confused with the
Black Mountains range, is the only one to straddle the Welsh/English
border and is the highest peak on Hatterall Ridge along which part
of the ‘Offa’s Dyke Path’ runs. It also boasts to be the highest
ground in England south of the Yorkshire Dales.
The whole area is popular for hill walking, mountain biking, and
horse riding. The Offa’s Dyke long distance footpath runs along the
national border. The Beacons Way and the Marches Way also pass
through the Black Mountains. The Northern Escarpment offers
excellent conditions for gliding, hang gliding and paragliding.
Hay Bluff
www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
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Hay on Wye (the town of books)
Hay sits within the Brecon Beacons National Park and although it is
on the Welsh side of the border at times you will find yourself back
in Herefordshire without even realising it. It is renowned for being
the ‘Second Hand bookshop capital’ of the world. In 1977 Richard
George William Pitt Booth declared Hay on Wye to be an independent
Kingdom with himself as King, he later became Emperor and in 2009
was ‘executed’ all in all he has changed Hay from a small market
town to a healthy cosmopolitan tourist town.
The Hay Literary festival has been running since 1988 and is held
for 10 days from the May bank holiday through into June. Big
literary names from around the world come to talk about their books,
renowned musicians, comedians, politicians and Bishops are all seen
at the Festival.
Hay-on-Wye
www.hay-on-wye.co.uk
Dore Abbey
Founded in 1147 by French Cistercian Monks from Morimond. The
present Stone construction dates from 1175 and the Abbey was
consecrated in 1275. These monks would have been skilled at managing
agricultural land and at Dore they bred sheep with fine wool. This
wool was of a very fine quality and was sold in Italy.
The Abbey escaped the wrath of Owen Glendower in 1407 but was
dissolved by Henry Vlll in 1537 when the building was sold to Lord
Scudamore. The Scudamores subsequently restored the ruins and
created a parish church which was re consecrated in 1634. Further
restoration took place in 1700 and alterations in 1900. Regular
church services are still a part of this Abbey along with concerts
and music festivals. The web site gives much more information on
these events.
Dore Abbey
www.doreabbey.org.uk
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Hergest Croft Gardens
A place to visit at all seasons and for all ages.
Four distinct gardens covering 28 hectares/70 acres, with more than
5000 rare trees and shrubs, Hergest Croft Garden, the Azalea garden,
Maple grove and the Kitchen Garden along with the Park and Park
Wood. The park itself is full of specimen trees and Park Wood is a
secluded valley hidden deep within an ancient oak wood containing
over 12 hectares/30 acres of giant rhododendrons and exotic trees
creating a Himalayan scene that will surprise and amaze you.
Hergest Croft Gardens
www.hergest.co.uk
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