Folk Down the Track Extras

                                                  Border Reelers in full swing at FDTT


There's a Folk Down the Track event this coming Thursday, 21st August; that's 1800 train out of Shrewsbury picking up stations and request stops down the line to Knucklas. There'll be an eclectic mix of musicians at the Castle Inn and often there's singing on the train back! Hereford, Leominster and Ludlow people have to change at Craven Arms both ways (1831/2232). As always it is a great night at the Castle Inn, Knucklas where Chris and her team make people very welcome.

There are also two other superb events coming up this weekend which might be of interest. The first is an excellent event at the Greyhound Inn, Llangunllo, a true village pub in a remote part of Radnorshire which makes it all the more intriguing to get out there and enjoy the beers, cider and music. The festival commences at 1600 on Friday 22nd and every day from noon until close on Monday 25th. If you'd like more information about the festival phone 01547 550400. The village and pub is just over a mile from Llangunllo station (request stop) and so be ready to do some walking in superb scenery. Last train back north to Shrewsbury is just after 2100 so make sure you're on the platform to wave the driver to stop!

At the Sun Inn, Leintwardine, there's the annual Beer and Music Festival and Ludlow 21 will be running a Festival Bus from the Green Festival, Ludlow at 1230 and hourly until 1930 (except 1630)...leaves from the Assembly Rooms... returning at 1305 and hourly until 2005 (except 1705) from outside the Lion at Leintwardine. Return ticket on the bus is £5 with a £1  discount on entry (£5) at the festival if you show your bus ticket!

Hay Ho! Bus

There's good news on the horizon for slow travellers seeking to get to Hay-on-Wye for a weekend break this autumn. Whether you are up for the Walking Festival,  the Winter Hay Festival or simply to spend the weekend lazily browsing around bookshops, then it is easy enough to get to Hay on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Until last week, the news was that the Hereford to Brecon via Hay-on-Wye bus would be axed come the end of September; a rather gloomy scenario for us and for the residents of Hay. But all is not lost. The Hay Tourism Group, Hay Chamber of Commerce, Rail for Herefordshire, Herefordshire Ramblers and three generous individuals have stepped in  to finance a Sundays and Bank Holidays service between Hay and Hereford. That is how important a Sunday bus is to their community!

The bus, still numbered 39A, has a new name for fun loving types; it is called the Hay Ho! bus. There's a new timetable too; it is designed to fit with the arrival and departure of trains from London (and the North and Midlands). The stop for Hay is just across the road from Hereford railway station forecourt, beyond the mega roundabout on the right, Stand 2 to be precise but, in earnest, its not much of a stand. Hay Ho! will run three times each way: 1010, 1310 and 1610 from Hereford Railway Station and 1150,1450, and 1720 from Hay-on-Wye (Hay Castle side of Oxford Road). It will be operated by Yeomans Travel of Hereford and commences on October 5th, 2014. The full journey takes just over an hour.

What a breath of fresh air, a positive strand among threads of rural bus up and down the Marches. The Hay Tourist Group want to make the bus part of the overall tourist experience and what better way to do just that by riding through the Golden Valley on the Hay Ho! bus. The views across the foothills to the Black Mountains are exceptional...sit on the left hand side of the bus to enjoy the scenery.