Good news for Hay!

Three good reasons to hop on the Hay Ho! bus from Hereford to Hay during the Christmas break...

• We've kept fares on the service at the same price for 3 years...return is 50p cheaper than the weekday Stagecoach fare!
• Beer Revolution is offering a 10% discount off  drinks if you show your valid bus ticket...see ad below
• Hay Ho! (39A) is running a normal service on Christmas Eve (24th December) and New Year's Eve (31st December)
• Buses leave Hereford Rly Stn, then Country Bus stn and Broad St at 1015,1315 and 1615
• Buses return from Hay (Oxford Rd) at 1125,1455 and 1725

Folk Down the Track Christmas 2017

Just posted the info about the Knucklas wassail,  but forgot to mention that there'll be a great night at the Castle Inn, Knucklas on Thursday 21st December...Christmas Folk Down the Track...which is always a great night out.

Usual travel arrangements...1824 train from Shrewsbury with all stops to Knucklas and back from there at 2150 giving you over 2 hours for music, singing, dining and drinks.

Plus if anyone tunes into Radio Shropshire, I'll be a guest on the Saturday show, this Saturday at about ten past nine in the morning. No yawning...talking about latest edition of  Best Shropshire Walks.

Wassail, Wassail...Saturday 13th January 2018

Musical procession leaves Castle Green at 7pm.

Arriving at the Orchard for the Wassail to commence at 7.15pm.

Please bring torch or lantern, something to make a noise with (e.g. saucepan lids & wooden spoons) good singing voices and stout footwear.  The purpose of Wassailing is to awaken the cider apple trees and to scare away evil spirits to ensure a good harvest of fruit for the autumn. For more info phone Siggy on 01547 528223.

 

Train travellers from the Shrewsbury direction - arrive at 7.01pm (return at 9.10pm)

La Vida verde...Llandrindod Wells

A new shop in Llandrindod Wells caught my attention today.

It is a fruit, veg and flower shop offering herbs and spices and oils and vinegars. The shop is aiming for zero plastic packaging for consumers. This is just the type of shop I'm looking for... lovely fresh produce sourced locally wherever possible and with little or no packaging.

It is located in Park Crescent on the way to Rock Park, 5 minutes walk from Llandrindod Wells Railway station and bus stops. Take a look.

Dear readers...here's the latest on Folk Down the Track...a wonderful outing by train to Knucklas on the Heart of Wales line. Put it in your diary!

 

 

THE CASTLE INN KNUCKLAS

Folk Down the Track

On

Thursday 21^st September

7pm start

Come along and sing a song or play a tune

It is always a great night – good food and beer!

Please come on the train if you can.

Arrives at 7.23pm from the Shrewsbury direction & returns at 9.50pm

(Check train times before you set out: 03457 484950)

The new owners  – Ying and Vince – wish to welcome you to the Castle Inn and hope you will have an enjoyable evening.

More Folk Up the Track!

 

As part of Church Stretton Musicfest, on Saturday 13^th May, there is a Folk Stage at Church Stretton & District Club from 4pm until 10pm. It’s only 200yds from Church Stretton railway station, and there are northbound trains after the session at 2203 and 2242; southbound at 2210. That makes it very convenient for supporters of Folk Night Down the Track.

Only £5 entrance (£3 children); this not only gets you into the folk venue, but gives all-day access to the rest of Musicfest which starts at 10am, and is in around 10 venues in the town! Purchase tickets on the day at any of the venues. That is superb value.

Folk acts planned are (subject to amendments): Tradewinds Shindy; Bellamonda; Sue Harris and the Clun Songbirds; Elfin Grot; Dan Nichol and Andy Cook; Moulin; Mollie Ann Grant; BouZaTina; Emma and the Professor. The club (importantly!) also sells Real Ale! 

Only the booked performers will be playing at the event.

More info on the website: churchstrettonmusicfest.org.uk.

PS Folk Night Down the Track is working well with over 20 people down the track last time so as to enjoy the Castle Folk Club at Knucklas. Next folk evening is Thursday May 18th.

All Change on Folk Down the Track 2017

 

Folk Night Down the Track

Changing the format in 2017

We are changing the format for Folk Down the Track in 2017 and the first night is this coming Thursday, 16^th February 2017

Instead of having bi-monthly gatherings it is best for people to have the choice of joining in the folk night at the Castle on any third Thursday of the month. All you need to do is get together with a friend or two and board the train for Knucklas (1824 (6.24 p.m.) out of Shrewsbury, Church Stretton, Craven Arms and stations to Knucklas. There will almost certainly be others on train too so it will have the main ingredients that make it all fun without having to queue at the bar!
At the Castle Inn, Knucklas the musicians will start playing in the bar at around 7.30 (train arrives a few minutes before) and there will be plenty of time to enjoy a meal or drink in the restaurant area or bar before making your way back to the station for 2150 (9.50pm).
As this is not quite the same formula as Folk Down The Track we are calling it Folk Night Down the Track. There's a great atmosphere and train goers are most welcome.

 

 

Wassail at Knucklas Saturday 21st January 2017

Knucklas is set to hold its annual wassail on Saturday 21st, 2017. The procession of locals and visitors parade through the village to the community orchard where the Wassail King blesses the apple trees and implores each tree to produce a good crop in 2017. Great fun and then everyone piles into the Castle Hotel afterwards to enjoy music, good food and refreshment. Fans of Clun beers should enjoy the visit as the Castle often has one on tap.

Catch the 1758 train from Shrewsbury and stations down the track to Knucklas, join the procession at the end of the station drive and then back home on the 2110 from Knucklas station. A great night out down the track.

More information about the new Folk Club Down the Track format coming up at the end of the month so look our for this.

Trail in the Making...Join in!

A Trail in the Making

 

 

There's a launch on Monday 16th January 2017.

 

Yes, a launch of  a trail that is in the making! The Heart of Wales Line Trail funding appeal, to be precise, is ready for lift off next week. I am part of the team bringing this all together and I'd like to ask you to support this great initiative to create a walking trail from Craven Arms to Llanelli (some 120 miles or so). It will weave its way between many of the stations on the line as well as across  the hills and valleys in between and that is a dream come true for many rail ramblers.  

 

In order to make this happen sooner rather than later, the Heart of Wales Line Development Co (social enterprise company) is asking people to chip in to help buy gates, finger posts and the like...all the necessary stuff to make the trail good for walking in 2017/2018. Local authorities will be partners (the Shropshire Council Countryside team are already on board), but they simply do not have the funds to create new trails at present...that is where we come in.

The Heart of Wales Line Travellers’ Association has already raised a fantastic £1000 in a few weeks so they are setting a good example. This crowd funding appeal launches next week and let's hope it is just a busy. Sponsors’ names will appear on a special Roll of Honour and you'll be invited to attend a launch event...bound to be a walk!

What can you do:

Tune in to BBC Radio Shropshire or BBC Radio Wales on Mon 16 Jan to find out about plans for the Trail in 2017

 

Go to Localgiving.org and click in Heart of Wales line trail...and donate!

 

Keep in touch as we will be recruiting volunteers down the line as the project goes from strength to strength.

‪Arriva Trains Wales, which comes in for a lot of stick,  has been great in getting this project off the ground with a priming fund. Let's build on this success.