Things to DO
Below you will find a list of suggestions for things to do, workshops to try, places to go and festivals to enjoy locally. Also see the Events & Gatherings tab in the menu to the top here for things that take place at The Hymns itself. If you would like a custom art or pottery class, please get in touch!
Recreation
From The Hymns itself there is a wonderful network of footpaths & bridleways running up into the Radnor Forest to the north and south to Ireland Moor. There are quiet lanes along which to cycle. There are also stables for two horses if you would like to bring your horse or pony with you.
There is a brilliant Tourist Information Office in Kington, which is worth a visit.
Pubs, Restaurants, Eating Out - One may eat out or have a pint at The Harp Inn, in Old Radnor (tel 01544, 350 655, postcode LD8 2RH), or in Kington at the Tavern(tel: 01544 239 033, postcode HR5 3BX, Camra rated, it is an interesting pub (listed building) - food is periodically served - check in advance. The Oxford Arms (managed by the community as Open Arms Kington) The Royal Oak in Gladestry (tel: 01544 370 669, postcode HR5 3NR), The Red Lion Inn, in Llanfihangel Nant Melan, (near New Radnor, postcode LD8 2TN, tel : 01544 350220. The Stagg Inn in Titley (tel: 01544 230 221, postcode HR5 3RL), Knighton, Ludlow, Weobley, New Radnor, Presteigne (once the smallest Assize town in Britain), Pembridge, Fownhope, Bromyard, Leominster etc. The Bulls Head at Craswall is worth a visit after walking Hay Bluff. There are good tea rooms in Kington (Border Bean and Hergest Croft), Marstons Farm shop near Pembridge, Hampton Court, Eardisley and Eardisland. Wild Herb, Daphnes and others in Presteigne.
Cafes and Tea Rooms
- Dunkerton's Cafe & Cider Mill in Pembridge, Border Bean Cafe in Kington
Others places to eat if you are out and about on day trips :
- Local (2 to 10 miles) The Lion, Kington 01544 231002, The New Inn, Pembridge 01544 388427, The Cider Barn, Pembridge 01544 388161, Red Lion, Pembridge 01544 388007, The Hat Shop, Presteigne 01544 260017, Jules, Weobley 01544 318 206, The Riverside Inn, Aymestry 01568 708440, The Angel, Kingsland 01568 709195
- Ludlow (17 miles) - Kin Ludlow
- Hereford & surrounding area (18-25 miles) Castle House Hotel 01432 356321, La Madeleine 01432 265233, The Crown Inn at Woolhope 01432 860 468, The Green Man, Fownhope 01432 860243, Verzon House, Ledbury 01531 670381
- Hay on Wye & Surrounding Area (10-20 miles) The Boat Inn, Whitney on Wye 01497 83122, The Bridge Inn, Michaelchurch Escley 01981 510646, Three Tuns 01497 821855, The Granary 01497 820 790, The Old Black Lion 0844 288 0711, Kilvert's Inn 01497 821042, Llangoed Hall 01874 754525, the Griffin Felin Fach 01874 620111
- Abergavenny (30 miles) The Walnut Tree Inn (Michelin star) 01873 852797, The Hardwick 01873 854220, The Crown Pantygelli 01873 853314
Food shopping - You can buy cider and perry from Ralph’s Cider which is on the road from Kinnerton to New Radnor. Eggs are sold from the roadside between Kinnerton and New Radnor. A great tray of all types of eggs including duck eggs, bantom etc etc. There is a GREAT village shop in New Radnor (ESCO's) which is open weekday and Saturday mornings from 8.30am until 6pm, apart from lunchtime (1 to 3pm) and sells freshly made bread, produce and other food & veg & household necessities. There are lovely local shops on the high streets in the pretty market towns of Kington & Presteigne. You can order in advance : meat (Mr Lewis Butchers 01544 230 527, 49-50 High Street, Kington), green grocery (Mr Peek, The Grapevine 01544 231 202, 31 High Street, or Morgans (flowers too) 01544 230 324, 47 High Street), cheese, bread, deli items (Number 25 Deli, 25 The High Street 01544 230330). And some charming antique and second hand shops. The Women's Institute Market in Bridge Street, Kington is on Friday. (10:00-Noon). There are wonderful farmers markets in Presteigne (first Saturday of the month, 9am-1pm) and in Knighton (2nd & 4th Saturday of the month, 9am-1pm). Planet B in Kington has brilliant sustainable soaps, refills, homecare and bodycare. Well worth a visit too.
Antiques, galleries etc
Presteigne has lovely galleries and antiques shops, as does Kington, together with furniture shops. The Work House gallery set on the outskirts of Presteigne is very interesting. And the Chapel Gallery in Pembridge is worth a visit. Also "Flock" and other galleries in Kington.
Shows & Festivals
- The magazine and website Broad Sheep lists many local concerts, courses and events, including Flics in the Sticks . You can find the magazine in most pubs & cafe's locally.
- Keep scrolling down this page for a long list of the most of the wonderful festivals in the area by month, so you can see which co-incide with your stay. The ones marked with an asterisk are nearby (within 10 to 25 mins drive)
Films - Presteigne Screen and Knighton Flics in the Sticks shows some wonderful films through the autumn & spring seasons, as do other village halls and gathering places nearby.
Other Local Events - there are lots of talks & concerts locally. In New Radnor they are often listed on the New Radnor community website here : concerts & gardening talks . On the first Thursday of every month there is a Womens Institute talk at 8pm in the Village Hall in Kinnerton (20 minute walk up the lane to the north). In Kington events are often listed on the Kington website or on Kington blackboard (everything from salsa to belly dancing classes to …) and in Presteigne, Presteigne website. Details of events in the Assembly Rooms in Presteigne can be found on the Mid Border Arts website
Walking - There are wonderful local walks from the front or back door of the Hymns, with several public footpaths passing by. You can reach the hills and the magnificent Radnor Forest that you can see from the house by local footpaths and barely cross a road. A little further afield is the walk to Water Break its Neck, the wonder much admired and enhanced in the style of "The Picturesque" by the Victorians, and home to one of the UK's rare natural rain forest climates with exquisite ferns.
There are several local walking festivals (see section above). The line of Offa's Dyke (796 A.D.) passes within about a mile of The Hymns and remains are visible on Rushock Common, among other places. The section from Rhos-y-Meirch (2 miles south of Knighton) northwards is excellent for walking. (Strip maps from the Offa's Dyke Association, West Street, Knighton, Powys. LD7 1EN.) Mortimers Trail is also very close and is much shorter (30 miles). Glyndwr's Way National Trail starts in Knighton. There are also beautiful walks at the Elan Valleynear Rhayader, Powys (15 miles from The Hymns). Kington has many interesting alleys between the shops and houses, some of which lead down to the river. The Kington tourist office has various walking leaflets. Walking Britain lists lots of walks locally, as does Powys Ramblers. Organised walks can be taken with Hay Tours.
Fishing - The Wye & Usk Foundation (www.wyeuskfoundation.org tel: 01874 712 074, or [email protected], Mon-Fri, 9-5pm) offers nearby beat fishing which you can book on line and rent by the day. Download their brochure with places to fish or search their website www.fishingpassport.co.uk - search on Wye-Arrow, Wye-Lugg, Wye-Main River, or wildstreams which will help you find the nicest spots near to here. We can particularly recommend www.wyeflyfishingabernant.co.uk. The book Fly-fishing The Welsh Borderlands by Roger Smith, is also a wonderful thing to read to find nice places to fish. Note you will need 1) a permit from The Wye and Usk Foundation, and 2) a licence from the Environment Agency which you can get via the Wye and Usk Foundation, any post office or online, and will be asked to respect the fishing bylaws.
Golf - The 18 hole course on the top of Bradnor Hill (tel: 01544 230 340, postcode HR5 3RE), above Kington, is the highest in Britain (1,200 feet) and has superb views.
Cycling - There are numerous excellent cycle routes around the area, for example, around New Radnor or Knighton. Bicycles may be hired from Chris in nearby Evenjobb (Chris Cycles , postcode LD8 2SA)(tel : 07970 152170, email [email protected]) - you can collect, or he will deliver the bikes to you! You can also cycle further into Wales and enjoy great views. Electric bicycles can be hired from The Tours de Presteigne (Tel: 01544 267 163). For the distance cyclist, the 84 mile The Radnor Ring is amazing. Several of the, tiny and charming, Heart of Wales Railway Linestations are on its route, if you would like to shorten the pedalling distance a little.
Clay Pigeon Shooting - Clay pigeon shooting is available at Griffin Lloyd in Llangunllo near Knighton (tel: 01547 550 634, postcode : LD7 1SL)
Horse Riding - Riding and or pony trekking facilities are available at Clyro to the south with Free Rein Wales (Tel : 01497 821 356, postcode HR3 5LE). Their riders are often to be seen riding along the green lanes near the Hymns. Riding is also available at Underhill Riding Stables (Tel: 01597 851890, postcode : LD1 5TL) in Dolau (west across the Radnor Forest).
Horse Racing - Ludlow and Hereford have race-courses. Kington's race track on the top of Hergest Ridge has not been used since about 1900. Trotting races are held locally over the late summer.
Gardens
- The Hymns is a National Garden Scheme garden, open once a year to the public, or by appointment, and as guests in the house, you are welcome to walk around.
- The grounds of Hergest Croft (in Kington, tel 01544 230160, postcode LD8 2PD), include a very fine arboretum which is open to the public in the Spring. It houses the National Rhododendron Collection and azaleas and magnolias
- The NGS gardens at Broadheath House near Presteigne
- Stocktonbury Gardens with its lovely restaurant (11am to 4.30pm) near Leominster
- Hampton Court & Gardens near Leominster
- Westonbury Mill Water Gardens near Pembridge
- Welsh Lavender (tel: 01982 552467, postcode LD2 3HU) is a lovely 40 minute drive into the Welsh hills, to find a hillside haven growing lavender, and selling their Welsh lavender products. You can walk around the farm, swim in their wild swimming pond, enjoy cafe teas, and if you call or email in advance, they offer group talks and tours, including refreshments.
Site-seeing
- The Judges Lodgings Museum (tel : 01544 260 650, postcode LD8 2AD) in Presteigne has been voted 'Britains Local Museum of the Year' - and is well worth a visit.
- The Offa's Dyke Association visitor centre in Knighton is well worth a visit - https://offasdyke.org.uk/
- The Small Breeds farm (tel: 01544 231 109, postcode HR5 3HF) : with donkeys, owls, goats, rabbits and pigs is very popular with children - it has one of the finest collections of owls in Europe.
- The Spaceguard Centre and Observatory near Knighton (tel : 01547 520 247, postcode LD7 1LW) provides education about the threat of asteroid and comet impacts, and the ways in which we can predict and deal with them.
- Kington Museum is well worth a visit and you can get a good cup of tea and a cake there too!
- St. Andrews Church, Presteigne, has a carillon dated 1726, with a wooden mechanism.
- Pembridge Church has a very old bell tower, constructed in the same way as the Scandinavian Stave churches. Pembridge is a very pretty village which The village pre-dates the Domesday book. A community has existed at this place for over 1000 years.
- Lyonshall Castle ruin, which is on private land, can be seen from the churchyard. There is a nice public footpath which passes Castle Weir Farm close to the castle where some of the original moat can be seen.
- Westonbury Mill water gardens on the road to Pembridge has pretty gardens and a cafe - it isn’t open in the winter.
- Hampton Court Castle near Leominster has spectacular gardens (and a very nice tea room).
- Hereford is a Cathedral city, with a riverside walk and a number of small parks. The Cathedral has a chained library and a map of the world (Mappa Mundi) dated 1290 A.D.
- Other places worth a visit are listed in Homes and Gardens Open to the Public, The National Trust List of Properties and Pevsner's book on the architecture of the area, which are in The Hymns bookshelves. The Cyclists' Touring Club, also publish a list, of which a copy is in the Instruction folder.
- Hereford's wonderful Cider Museum
- The Herefordshire web site has a lot of different options for places to visit, including Hereford Cathedral
- The properties of the National Trust at Berrington Hall and Croft Castle are spectacular and have lovely tea rooms in the summer. Cwmmau farmhouse, near Kington, is open a few weekends in the year
- Bus Tours from Kington & Presteigne - details are available from : the Tourist Information Office at the end of the High Street in Kington. There is a bus that runs from opposite the pub in New Radnor to Kington and Hereford daily (tel 01544 230 778)
-You could join one of the tours led by The Rural Concierge
- In Talgarth, the bakers and mill - Talgarth Mill
- By appointment only, hen parties to make fresh flower head dresses and groups for flower arranging courses at Rough Acre
Museums - There are excellent, award winning and intriguing museums with wonderful local stories in Kington (Kington Museum), Presteigne (The Judge's Lodgings), Builth Wells, Hereford (chained library and Mappa Mudi), Clun and Ludlow. In Llandrindod there is the National Cycle Museum
History - The Radnorshire Society & Kington History Society have periodic meetings, and the papers of the former are in the bookshelves at the Hymns.
Bookshop visiting - the area is full of fabulous bookshops. In Brampton Bryan there is Aardvark Books, in Leominster there is a St Michael's Hospice Bookshop, full of treasures, in Hay there are myriad bookshops.
Kitchen pharmacy / hedgerow medicine courses - Rowan McOnegal near Ledbury - Hedgerow Medicine
Painting - Most of the artists at www.radnorshireartists.com are happy to lead art or pottery / pottery painting classes at the Hymns for you. The views from The Hymns & barns are beautiful and provide much material for the amateur and the established artist. Our artists in residence have been many and varied. If you have painted here too - do share a photo of your work with us if you would like.
Artists & crafts - can be found in the places to visit section above, and we would particularly recommend Flock in Kington. The following are some of the local artists who may be open by appointment, and are generally open during Herefordshire Art Week (H.Art) in September each year. In Kington : James Burnett-Stuart pottery, The Sidney Nolan Trust, in Pembridge : The Old Chapel Gallery
Other creative courses in Herefordshire, including machine knitting, stone carving, upholstery, dying and weaving, felt making, beaded jewellery, rag rug making, glass fusing, leatherwork, basket making, stained glass etc can be found at Creative Breaks
Playground – in Kington there is a playground at the side of the riverside recreation ground with climbing frames, a small skateboard park, swings, rope sliding chair.
Spa/Swimming Pool – in Kington at the Burton Hotel is a full size heated indoor swimming pool, sauna and gym, and offers a discount to groups from the Hymns (see folder in the house for your voucher). East Radnor Leisure Centre in Presteigne has squash courts, indoor swimming pool etc. For 'spa' treatments, try Grace Salon in Presteigne (01544 260 440, 5 Broad St Presteigne LD8 2AA). For tennis try the leisure centre in Leominster.
Archaeology – The Four Stones, pre-historic standing stones, are in a meadow quarter of a mile to the south of the Hymns. These are the only confirmed Welsh example of a four-poster stone circle. The circle is about 16½ ft (5 m) across and the stone heights range from 3 ft (1 m) to 6 ft (1.9 m). The tallest stone at the North-west may have served to indicate the sun as it set behind the dome-shaped Whimble hill (visible in the distance, at centre-right of picture) on the Celtic festival days of Beltane and Lughnasa (present day May Day and Lammas). Like other standing stones in the region (e.g. the Kinnerton stone), the shapes of these stones appear to mimic the shapes of nearby hills. The stone at the South-west (left of picture) has three cupmarks on its upper surface, and it may have served to indicate the midwinter setting sun. A local legend tells of the stones going to the nearby Hindwell Pool for a drink whenever they hear the bells of Old Radnor church ring. Martin Powell
The remains of ancient camps may be found on the tops of several nearby hills; one of the largest being Caer Caradoc, 3 miles north-east of Knighton. Alfred Watkins evolved his thoughts about laylines looking out from the hill at Old Radnor across the valley to the Hymns and the Walton Basin.
Industrial Archaeology - The remains of the railway station, iron foundry, water pumping station and stone water tower may be seen in Kington. The water mill at Mortimers Cross is open to the public on summer afternoons (with a video of the battle of Mortimers Cross)
Geology – This is where Sir Roderick Murcheson evolved the Silurian System & nearby is some of the oldest rock in southern England.
Steam Railways - The least distant narrow gauge railways are at Devil's Bridge (50 miles), near Aberystwyth, and at Towyn. The Heart of Wales Railway lineruns from nearby Knighton south through wonderful countryside to Swansea
Gliding – There is a gliding school in Talgarth to the south.
Flying - There is a small airfield at nearby Shobdon Airfield, and its fun to go for a bacon butty and watch the planes take off. Or an evening drink on a Friday or Saturday evening. Or take a flying lesson, or charter a flight over the beautiful hills and valleys.
Outdoor woodland leisure - Oaker Wood Leisure
Taste for Adventure - the adventure centre near Hereford has a host of day-long activities
Mountain adventure - Activities in the Brecon Beacons from Craswall, near Hay on Wye
Alternative Technology - the Centre for Alternative Technology is at Machynlleth, Powys (60 miles), is very much recommended.
At The Hymns
- Cards,Dominoes,Chess and Draughts - Playing cards and a set of dominoes are available and there is also a chess and draughts set. The new game 'Perigon' is also available.
- Pingpong table & small billiard table
- Music - You are welcome to use the piano and there is a stereo with speakers in each of the principle rooms, which can be switched on and off from the control suite, and played using your own device of the cd's provided.
- Reading – A library of books, fiction, nature, history, local interest etc, are in large bookshelves around the house. Nearby Hay on Wye is a centre for second hand books. There are also magazines.
- Audio books - a library of audio books on tape is available
- TV - There is a small television with satellite Freeview, DVD player and small selection of DVDs.
- Wifi - There is complementary wifi at the Hymns
- Massage - try Elly Ingram, holistic mobile massage therapist, based in Kington but happy to travel to the house, or Silvan Massage at the Workhouse Gallery in Presteigne
Other Local Events - For local news and details of current events, see the following weekly papers : -
- Hereford Times: Holmer Road, Hereford, HR4 9UJ
- Brecon & Radnor Express: 11 The Bulwark, Brecon, LD3 7AE
- Mid Wales Journal: Chronicle House, Shrewsbury, SY
Worship - There are C of E churches in Old Radnor, and other local churches in Kinnerton, New Radnor, Evenjobb, Kington, Lyonshall, Shobdon, Kingsland etc. and a small Roman Catholic Chapel in Kington (Church Street). There is the Cathedral in Hereford with Mappa Mundi. There are Baptist and Methodist chapels in Evenjobb and New Radnor.
Tourist Information - A brief summary of the area is given inside the cover of Bartholomew's 1:100,000 Map No. 18, which is no longer in print, but further information may be obtained from Tourist Information Offices in Kington, Knighton, Hay, Hereford, Leominster etc.
Other
If you need physiotherapy whilst visiting, try Radnor Physiotherapy in New Radnor
Events & Festivals -Through these you will capture, and enjoy, the essence of life in the area & the richness of things the local community offers and shares. The ones marked with an asterisk are nearby (within 10 to 25 mins drive).
January
- Wassails countywide
- Silurian Border Morris Wassailing
February and March
- *Kington & Radnor Beer Festival
- The Crickhowell Walking Festival
- *Borderlines Film Festival
- Icebreaker Winter Decathlon
- Herefordshire Ploughing Match
- Old Chapel Gallery Spring Exhibition
April
- *Kington Spring Walking Festival
- Wye Valley River Festival
- Hereford River Carnival
- Hereford Arts Market
- The Palace Art Fest
- Bromyard Festival of Speed
- *Hay Chamber Music Festival
May
- *Welsh Trotting Races
- *The Builth Wells Antiques Fair
- *The Royal Welsh Spring Festival
- The Talgarth Walking Festival takes place in Talgarth in May.
- *How the Light Gets in, festival of philosophy and music takes place in Hay in May
- *The Hay Festival of literature takes place in Hay in May
- *The Spring Greens Fair takes place near Lyonshall in May
- The Big Apple Blossomtime festival round the orchards of Herefordshire
- The Bartestree Beer and Cider festival
- Hereford May Fair
- Ross Cider Festival
- *Hergest Croft Gardens Flower Fair
- Leominster May Fair
- Burton Court Antiques Fair
June
- *Welsh Trotting Races
- * Gardens in The Wild Festival
- The Hellens Garden Festival
- *The Kington Festival takes place in June
-* The Kington Past Day
- *The Leominster Festival
- Leominster Medieaval Pageant
- The Dore Abbey Festival
- The Herefordshire Walking Festival
- The Linton Music Festival
- *The Shobdon Food & Flying Festival
- The Yarkhill Field to Fork Festival
- The Open Farm Sunday
- Midsummer Fair on the Green
- Hereford Rowing Regatta
- Ross Open Gardens
- Gillows Cider Festival
- Bromyard Scarecrow Festival
- Shropshire Hills Art Week in the area around Knighton, Clun & Bishops Castle
July
- *Welsh Trotting Races
- *The Royal Welsh Show : Builth Wells
- *Kington Classic Sportive
- *The Leominster & Hereford Kite Festival
- The Ledbury Poetry Festival
- Bromyard Gala
- Beer on the Wye
- Ross Country Music Festival
- Historical Hereford Day
- Much Marcle Steam Rally
- Madley Festival
- Nozstock Music Festival
- Mortimer Country Food Fair
- *The Sheep Music Festival takes place in Presteigne in July, with live bands and acoustics
- The Three Choirs Festival in Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester (in rotation)
- Historical Hereford Day
- Hay does Vintage
August
August is a good time for shows, including : -
- *Welsh Trotting Races
- *Kington Vintage Rally
- Herefordshire Country Fair
- The Three Counties Show : Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester (in rotation)
- The Brecon Show : Brecon
- *Titley Festival : Titley
- *Presteigne Festival of classical music and the arts (August Bank holiday)
- Ross Rowing Regatta
- Hereford Rotary River Festival
- Lakefest
- Ledbury Carnival
- Ross Carnival
- Steam & Vintage Rally
September
- *Kington Show
- *Welsh Trotting Races
- Bromyard Folk Festival
- *The Kington Walking Festival
- Herefordshire Art Week H.Art
- The Ross Walking Festival
- The Big Apple Harvestime festival round the orchards of Herefordshire
- Leominster Food Fayre
October
- *The Hay Walking Festival
- *Presteigne Poetry Festival
- Leominster Apple Fayre
November
- *Hay Winter Weekend
- Herefordshire Art Week Winter Weekend
- Choral Society Winter Festival
- Laser & Firework Spectacular
December
- Kington Festive Food Fair
- The Royal Welsh Winter Fair
- Leominster Victorian Christmas Market
- Christmas Fair on The Green
- Trumpet Corner Christmas Craft Fair
- Ross Christmas Carnival
- Carols in the Chapel
- Bromyard Christmas Lights
- Berrington's Georgian Christmas
Litterpicking
The DIY activity of litter picking our countryside is much encouraged, as a competition for how much you can find over a defined period of time. Borrow one of our litter picker grab sticks (by the recycling bins at the gate) and take it for a walk with you (take a carrier bag too!) and see what litter bits you can pick up. Plastic is one of the biggest dangers to our wildlife and, importantly, our rivers and fish, so if you're prioritising your impact, come back with all the bits of plastic you see. If you would like to learn more about it, visit Keep Wales Tidy and Clean-up UK.
Recreation
From The Hymns itself there is a wonderful network of footpaths & bridleways running up into the Radnor Forest to the north and south to Ireland Moor. There are quiet lanes along which to cycle. There are also stables for two horses if you would like to bring your horse or pony with you.
There is a brilliant Tourist Information Office in Kington, which is worth a visit.
Pubs, Restaurants, Eating Out - One may eat out or have a pint at The Harp Inn, in Old Radnor (tel 01544, 350 655, postcode LD8 2RH), or in Kington at the Tavern(tel: 01544 239 033, postcode HR5 3BX, Camra rated, it is an interesting pub (listed building) - food is periodically served - check in advance. The Oxford Arms (managed by the community as Open Arms Kington) The Royal Oak in Gladestry (tel: 01544 370 669, postcode HR5 3NR), The Red Lion Inn, in Llanfihangel Nant Melan, (near New Radnor, postcode LD8 2TN, tel : 01544 350220. The Stagg Inn in Titley (tel: 01544 230 221, postcode HR5 3RL), Knighton, Ludlow, Weobley, New Radnor, Presteigne (once the smallest Assize town in Britain), Pembridge, Fownhope, Bromyard, Leominster etc. The Bulls Head at Craswall is worth a visit after walking Hay Bluff. There are good tea rooms in Kington (Border Bean and Hergest Croft), Marstons Farm shop near Pembridge, Hampton Court, Eardisley and Eardisland. Wild Herb, Daphnes and others in Presteigne.
Cafes and Tea Rooms
- Dunkerton's Cafe & Cider Mill in Pembridge, Border Bean Cafe in Kington
Others places to eat if you are out and about on day trips :
- Local (2 to 10 miles) The Lion, Kington 01544 231002, The New Inn, Pembridge 01544 388427, The Cider Barn, Pembridge 01544 388161, Red Lion, Pembridge 01544 388007, The Hat Shop, Presteigne 01544 260017, Jules, Weobley 01544 318 206, The Riverside Inn, Aymestry 01568 708440, The Angel, Kingsland 01568 709195
- Ludlow (17 miles) - Kin Ludlow
- Hereford & surrounding area (18-25 miles) Castle House Hotel 01432 356321, La Madeleine 01432 265233, The Crown Inn at Woolhope 01432 860 468, The Green Man, Fownhope 01432 860243, Verzon House, Ledbury 01531 670381
- Hay on Wye & Surrounding Area (10-20 miles) The Boat Inn, Whitney on Wye 01497 83122, The Bridge Inn, Michaelchurch Escley 01981 510646, Three Tuns 01497 821855, The Granary 01497 820 790, The Old Black Lion 0844 288 0711, Kilvert's Inn 01497 821042, Llangoed Hall 01874 754525, the Griffin Felin Fach 01874 620111
- Abergavenny (30 miles) The Walnut Tree Inn (Michelin star) 01873 852797, The Hardwick 01873 854220, The Crown Pantygelli 01873 853314
Food shopping - You can buy cider and perry from Ralph’s Cider which is on the road from Kinnerton to New Radnor. Eggs are sold from the roadside between Kinnerton and New Radnor. A great tray of all types of eggs including duck eggs, bantom etc etc. There is a GREAT village shop in New Radnor (ESCO's) which is open weekday and Saturday mornings from 8.30am until 6pm, apart from lunchtime (1 to 3pm) and sells freshly made bread, produce and other food & veg & household necessities. There are lovely local shops on the high streets in the pretty market towns of Kington & Presteigne. You can order in advance : meat (Mr Lewis Butchers 01544 230 527, 49-50 High Street, Kington), green grocery (Mr Peek, The Grapevine 01544 231 202, 31 High Street, or Morgans (flowers too) 01544 230 324, 47 High Street), cheese, bread, deli items (Number 25 Deli, 25 The High Street 01544 230330). And some charming antique and second hand shops. The Women's Institute Market in Bridge Street, Kington is on Friday. (10:00-Noon). There are wonderful farmers markets in Presteigne (first Saturday of the month, 9am-1pm) and in Knighton (2nd & 4th Saturday of the month, 9am-1pm). Planet B in Kington has brilliant sustainable soaps, refills, homecare and bodycare. Well worth a visit too.
Antiques, galleries etc
Presteigne has lovely galleries and antiques shops, as does Kington, together with furniture shops. The Work House gallery set on the outskirts of Presteigne is very interesting. And the Chapel Gallery in Pembridge is worth a visit. Also "Flock" and other galleries in Kington.
Shows & Festivals
- The magazine and website Broad Sheep lists many local concerts, courses and events, including Flics in the Sticks . You can find the magazine in most pubs & cafe's locally.
- Keep scrolling down this page for a long list of the most of the wonderful festivals in the area by month, so you can see which co-incide with your stay. The ones marked with an asterisk are nearby (within 10 to 25 mins drive)
Films - Presteigne Screen and Knighton Flics in the Sticks shows some wonderful films through the autumn & spring seasons, as do other village halls and gathering places nearby.
Other Local Events - there are lots of talks & concerts locally. In New Radnor they are often listed on the New Radnor community website here : concerts & gardening talks . On the first Thursday of every month there is a Womens Institute talk at 8pm in the Village Hall in Kinnerton (20 minute walk up the lane to the north). In Kington events are often listed on the Kington website or on Kington blackboard (everything from salsa to belly dancing classes to …) and in Presteigne, Presteigne website. Details of events in the Assembly Rooms in Presteigne can be found on the Mid Border Arts website
Walking - There are wonderful local walks from the front or back door of the Hymns, with several public footpaths passing by. You can reach the hills and the magnificent Radnor Forest that you can see from the house by local footpaths and barely cross a road. A little further afield is the walk to Water Break its Neck, the wonder much admired and enhanced in the style of "The Picturesque" by the Victorians, and home to one of the UK's rare natural rain forest climates with exquisite ferns.
There are several local walking festivals (see section above). The line of Offa's Dyke (796 A.D.) passes within about a mile of The Hymns and remains are visible on Rushock Common, among other places. The section from Rhos-y-Meirch (2 miles south of Knighton) northwards is excellent for walking. (Strip maps from the Offa's Dyke Association, West Street, Knighton, Powys. LD7 1EN.) Mortimers Trail is also very close and is much shorter (30 miles). Glyndwr's Way National Trail starts in Knighton. There are also beautiful walks at the Elan Valleynear Rhayader, Powys (15 miles from The Hymns). Kington has many interesting alleys between the shops and houses, some of which lead down to the river. The Kington tourist office has various walking leaflets. Walking Britain lists lots of walks locally, as does Powys Ramblers. Organised walks can be taken with Hay Tours.
Fishing - The Wye & Usk Foundation (www.wyeuskfoundation.org tel: 01874 712 074, or [email protected], Mon-Fri, 9-5pm) offers nearby beat fishing which you can book on line and rent by the day. Download their brochure with places to fish or search their website www.fishingpassport.co.uk - search on Wye-Arrow, Wye-Lugg, Wye-Main River, or wildstreams which will help you find the nicest spots near to here. We can particularly recommend www.wyeflyfishingabernant.co.uk. The book Fly-fishing The Welsh Borderlands by Roger Smith, is also a wonderful thing to read to find nice places to fish. Note you will need 1) a permit from The Wye and Usk Foundation, and 2) a licence from the Environment Agency which you can get via the Wye and Usk Foundation, any post office or online, and will be asked to respect the fishing bylaws.
Golf - The 18 hole course on the top of Bradnor Hill (tel: 01544 230 340, postcode HR5 3RE), above Kington, is the highest in Britain (1,200 feet) and has superb views.
Cycling - There are numerous excellent cycle routes around the area, for example, around New Radnor or Knighton. Bicycles may be hired from Chris in nearby Evenjobb (Chris Cycles , postcode LD8 2SA)(tel : 07970 152170, email [email protected]) - you can collect, or he will deliver the bikes to you! You can also cycle further into Wales and enjoy great views. Electric bicycles can be hired from The Tours de Presteigne (Tel: 01544 267 163). For the distance cyclist, the 84 mile The Radnor Ring is amazing. Several of the, tiny and charming, Heart of Wales Railway Linestations are on its route, if you would like to shorten the pedalling distance a little.
Clay Pigeon Shooting - Clay pigeon shooting is available at Griffin Lloyd in Llangunllo near Knighton (tel: 01547 550 634, postcode : LD7 1SL)
Horse Riding - Riding and or pony trekking facilities are available at Clyro to the south with Free Rein Wales (Tel : 01497 821 356, postcode HR3 5LE). Their riders are often to be seen riding along the green lanes near the Hymns. Riding is also available at Underhill Riding Stables (Tel: 01597 851890, postcode : LD1 5TL) in Dolau (west across the Radnor Forest).
Horse Racing - Ludlow and Hereford have race-courses. Kington's race track on the top of Hergest Ridge has not been used since about 1900. Trotting races are held locally over the late summer.
Gardens
- The Hymns is a National Garden Scheme garden, open once a year to the public, or by appointment, and as guests in the house, you are welcome to walk around.
- The grounds of Hergest Croft (in Kington, tel 01544 230160, postcode LD8 2PD), include a very fine arboretum which is open to the public in the Spring. It houses the National Rhododendron Collection and azaleas and magnolias
- The NGS gardens at Broadheath House near Presteigne
- Stocktonbury Gardens with its lovely restaurant (11am to 4.30pm) near Leominster
- Hampton Court & Gardens near Leominster
- Westonbury Mill Water Gardens near Pembridge
- Welsh Lavender (tel: 01982 552467, postcode LD2 3HU) is a lovely 40 minute drive into the Welsh hills, to find a hillside haven growing lavender, and selling their Welsh lavender products. You can walk around the farm, swim in their wild swimming pond, enjoy cafe teas, and if you call or email in advance, they offer group talks and tours, including refreshments.
Site-seeing
- The Judges Lodgings Museum (tel : 01544 260 650, postcode LD8 2AD) in Presteigne has been voted 'Britains Local Museum of the Year' - and is well worth a visit.
- The Offa's Dyke Association visitor centre in Knighton is well worth a visit - https://offasdyke.org.uk/
- The Small Breeds farm (tel: 01544 231 109, postcode HR5 3HF) : with donkeys, owls, goats, rabbits and pigs is very popular with children - it has one of the finest collections of owls in Europe.
- The Spaceguard Centre and Observatory near Knighton (tel : 01547 520 247, postcode LD7 1LW) provides education about the threat of asteroid and comet impacts, and the ways in which we can predict and deal with them.
- Kington Museum is well worth a visit and you can get a good cup of tea and a cake there too!
- St. Andrews Church, Presteigne, has a carillon dated 1726, with a wooden mechanism.
- Pembridge Church has a very old bell tower, constructed in the same way as the Scandinavian Stave churches. Pembridge is a very pretty village which The village pre-dates the Domesday book. A community has existed at this place for over 1000 years.
- Lyonshall Castle ruin, which is on private land, can be seen from the churchyard. There is a nice public footpath which passes Castle Weir Farm close to the castle where some of the original moat can be seen.
- Westonbury Mill water gardens on the road to Pembridge has pretty gardens and a cafe - it isn’t open in the winter.
- Hampton Court Castle near Leominster has spectacular gardens (and a very nice tea room).
- Hereford is a Cathedral city, with a riverside walk and a number of small parks. The Cathedral has a chained library and a map of the world (Mappa Mundi) dated 1290 A.D.
- Other places worth a visit are listed in Homes and Gardens Open to the Public, The National Trust List of Properties and Pevsner's book on the architecture of the area, which are in The Hymns bookshelves. The Cyclists' Touring Club, also publish a list, of which a copy is in the Instruction folder.
- Hereford's wonderful Cider Museum
- The Herefordshire web site has a lot of different options for places to visit, including Hereford Cathedral
- The properties of the National Trust at Berrington Hall and Croft Castle are spectacular and have lovely tea rooms in the summer. Cwmmau farmhouse, near Kington, is open a few weekends in the year
- Bus Tours from Kington & Presteigne - details are available from : the Tourist Information Office at the end of the High Street in Kington. There is a bus that runs from opposite the pub in New Radnor to Kington and Hereford daily (tel 01544 230 778)
-You could join one of the tours led by The Rural Concierge
- In Talgarth, the bakers and mill - Talgarth Mill
- By appointment only, hen parties to make fresh flower head dresses and groups for flower arranging courses at Rough Acre
Museums - There are excellent, award winning and intriguing museums with wonderful local stories in Kington (Kington Museum), Presteigne (The Judge's Lodgings), Builth Wells, Hereford (chained library and Mappa Mudi), Clun and Ludlow. In Llandrindod there is the National Cycle Museum
History - The Radnorshire Society & Kington History Society have periodic meetings, and the papers of the former are in the bookshelves at the Hymns.
Bookshop visiting - the area is full of fabulous bookshops. In Brampton Bryan there is Aardvark Books, in Leominster there is a St Michael's Hospice Bookshop, full of treasures, in Hay there are myriad bookshops.
Kitchen pharmacy / hedgerow medicine courses - Rowan McOnegal near Ledbury - Hedgerow Medicine
Painting - Most of the artists at www.radnorshireartists.com are happy to lead art or pottery / pottery painting classes at the Hymns for you. The views from The Hymns & barns are beautiful and provide much material for the amateur and the established artist. Our artists in residence have been many and varied. If you have painted here too - do share a photo of your work with us if you would like.
Artists & crafts - can be found in the places to visit section above, and we would particularly recommend Flock in Kington. The following are some of the local artists who may be open by appointment, and are generally open during Herefordshire Art Week (H.Art) in September each year. In Kington : James Burnett-Stuart pottery, The Sidney Nolan Trust, in Pembridge : The Old Chapel Gallery
Other creative courses in Herefordshire, including machine knitting, stone carving, upholstery, dying and weaving, felt making, beaded jewellery, rag rug making, glass fusing, leatherwork, basket making, stained glass etc can be found at Creative Breaks
Playground – in Kington there is a playground at the side of the riverside recreation ground with climbing frames, a small skateboard park, swings, rope sliding chair.
Spa/Swimming Pool – in Kington at the Burton Hotel is a full size heated indoor swimming pool, sauna and gym, and offers a discount to groups from the Hymns (see folder in the house for your voucher). East Radnor Leisure Centre in Presteigne has squash courts, indoor swimming pool etc. For 'spa' treatments, try Grace Salon in Presteigne (01544 260 440, 5 Broad St Presteigne LD8 2AA). For tennis try the leisure centre in Leominster.
Archaeology – The Four Stones, pre-historic standing stones, are in a meadow quarter of a mile to the south of the Hymns. These are the only confirmed Welsh example of a four-poster stone circle. The circle is about 16½ ft (5 m) across and the stone heights range from 3 ft (1 m) to 6 ft (1.9 m). The tallest stone at the North-west may have served to indicate the sun as it set behind the dome-shaped Whimble hill (visible in the distance, at centre-right of picture) on the Celtic festival days of Beltane and Lughnasa (present day May Day and Lammas). Like other standing stones in the region (e.g. the Kinnerton stone), the shapes of these stones appear to mimic the shapes of nearby hills. The stone at the South-west (left of picture) has three cupmarks on its upper surface, and it may have served to indicate the midwinter setting sun. A local legend tells of the stones going to the nearby Hindwell Pool for a drink whenever they hear the bells of Old Radnor church ring. Martin Powell
The remains of ancient camps may be found on the tops of several nearby hills; one of the largest being Caer Caradoc, 3 miles north-east of Knighton. Alfred Watkins evolved his thoughts about laylines looking out from the hill at Old Radnor across the valley to the Hymns and the Walton Basin.
Industrial Archaeology - The remains of the railway station, iron foundry, water pumping station and stone water tower may be seen in Kington. The water mill at Mortimers Cross is open to the public on summer afternoons (with a video of the battle of Mortimers Cross)
Geology – This is where Sir Roderick Murcheson evolved the Silurian System & nearby is some of the oldest rock in southern England.
Steam Railways - The least distant narrow gauge railways are at Devil's Bridge (50 miles), near Aberystwyth, and at Towyn. The Heart of Wales Railway lineruns from nearby Knighton south through wonderful countryside to Swansea
Gliding – There is a gliding school in Talgarth to the south.
Flying - There is a small airfield at nearby Shobdon Airfield, and its fun to go for a bacon butty and watch the planes take off. Or an evening drink on a Friday or Saturday evening. Or take a flying lesson, or charter a flight over the beautiful hills and valleys.
Outdoor woodland leisure - Oaker Wood Leisure
Taste for Adventure - the adventure centre near Hereford has a host of day-long activities
Mountain adventure - Activities in the Brecon Beacons from Craswall, near Hay on Wye
Alternative Technology - the Centre for Alternative Technology is at Machynlleth, Powys (60 miles), is very much recommended.
At The Hymns
- Cards,Dominoes,Chess and Draughts - Playing cards and a set of dominoes are available and there is also a chess and draughts set. The new game 'Perigon' is also available.
- Pingpong table & small billiard table
- Music - You are welcome to use the piano and there is a stereo with speakers in each of the principle rooms, which can be switched on and off from the control suite, and played using your own device of the cd's provided.
- Reading – A library of books, fiction, nature, history, local interest etc, are in large bookshelves around the house. Nearby Hay on Wye is a centre for second hand books. There are also magazines.
- Audio books - a library of audio books on tape is available
- TV - There is a small television with satellite Freeview, DVD player and small selection of DVDs.
- Wifi - There is complementary wifi at the Hymns
- Massage - try Elly Ingram, holistic mobile massage therapist, based in Kington but happy to travel to the house, or Silvan Massage at the Workhouse Gallery in Presteigne
Other Local Events - For local news and details of current events, see the following weekly papers : -
- Hereford Times: Holmer Road, Hereford, HR4 9UJ
- Brecon & Radnor Express: 11 The Bulwark, Brecon, LD3 7AE
- Mid Wales Journal: Chronicle House, Shrewsbury, SY
Worship - There are C of E churches in Old Radnor, and other local churches in Kinnerton, New Radnor, Evenjobb, Kington, Lyonshall, Shobdon, Kingsland etc. and a small Roman Catholic Chapel in Kington (Church Street). There is the Cathedral in Hereford with Mappa Mundi. There are Baptist and Methodist chapels in Evenjobb and New Radnor.
Tourist Information - A brief summary of the area is given inside the cover of Bartholomew's 1:100,000 Map No. 18, which is no longer in print, but further information may be obtained from Tourist Information Offices in Kington, Knighton, Hay, Hereford, Leominster etc.
Other
If you need physiotherapy whilst visiting, try Radnor Physiotherapy in New Radnor
Events & Festivals -Through these you will capture, and enjoy, the essence of life in the area & the richness of things the local community offers and shares. The ones marked with an asterisk are nearby (within 10 to 25 mins drive).
January
- Wassails countywide
- Silurian Border Morris Wassailing
February and March
- *Kington & Radnor Beer Festival
- The Crickhowell Walking Festival
- *Borderlines Film Festival
- Icebreaker Winter Decathlon
- Herefordshire Ploughing Match
- Old Chapel Gallery Spring Exhibition
April
- *Kington Spring Walking Festival
- Wye Valley River Festival
- Hereford River Carnival
- Hereford Arts Market
- The Palace Art Fest
- Bromyard Festival of Speed
- *Hay Chamber Music Festival
May
- *Welsh Trotting Races
- *The Builth Wells Antiques Fair
- *The Royal Welsh Spring Festival
- The Talgarth Walking Festival takes place in Talgarth in May.
- *How the Light Gets in, festival of philosophy and music takes place in Hay in May
- *The Hay Festival of literature takes place in Hay in May
- *The Spring Greens Fair takes place near Lyonshall in May
- The Big Apple Blossomtime festival round the orchards of Herefordshire
- The Bartestree Beer and Cider festival
- Hereford May Fair
- Ross Cider Festival
- *Hergest Croft Gardens Flower Fair
- Leominster May Fair
- Burton Court Antiques Fair
June
- *Welsh Trotting Races
- * Gardens in The Wild Festival
- The Hellens Garden Festival
- *The Kington Festival takes place in June
-* The Kington Past Day
- *The Leominster Festival
- Leominster Medieaval Pageant
- The Dore Abbey Festival
- The Herefordshire Walking Festival
- The Linton Music Festival
- *The Shobdon Food & Flying Festival
- The Yarkhill Field to Fork Festival
- The Open Farm Sunday
- Midsummer Fair on the Green
- Hereford Rowing Regatta
- Ross Open Gardens
- Gillows Cider Festival
- Bromyard Scarecrow Festival
- Shropshire Hills Art Week in the area around Knighton, Clun & Bishops Castle
July
- *Welsh Trotting Races
- *The Royal Welsh Show : Builth Wells
- *Kington Classic Sportive
- *The Leominster & Hereford Kite Festival
- The Ledbury Poetry Festival
- Bromyard Gala
- Beer on the Wye
- Ross Country Music Festival
- Historical Hereford Day
- Much Marcle Steam Rally
- Madley Festival
- Nozstock Music Festival
- Mortimer Country Food Fair
- *The Sheep Music Festival takes place in Presteigne in July, with live bands and acoustics
- The Three Choirs Festival in Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester (in rotation)
- Historical Hereford Day
- Hay does Vintage
August
August is a good time for shows, including : -
- *Welsh Trotting Races
- *Kington Vintage Rally
- Herefordshire Country Fair
- The Three Counties Show : Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester (in rotation)
- The Brecon Show : Brecon
- *Titley Festival : Titley
- *Presteigne Festival of classical music and the arts (August Bank holiday)
- Ross Rowing Regatta
- Hereford Rotary River Festival
- Lakefest
- Ledbury Carnival
- Ross Carnival
- Steam & Vintage Rally
September
- *Kington Show
- *Welsh Trotting Races
- Bromyard Folk Festival
- *The Kington Walking Festival
- Herefordshire Art Week H.Art
- The Ross Walking Festival
- The Big Apple Harvestime festival round the orchards of Herefordshire
- Leominster Food Fayre
October
- *The Hay Walking Festival
- *Presteigne Poetry Festival
- Leominster Apple Fayre
November
- *Hay Winter Weekend
- Herefordshire Art Week Winter Weekend
- Choral Society Winter Festival
- Laser & Firework Spectacular
December
- Kington Festive Food Fair
- The Royal Welsh Winter Fair
- Leominster Victorian Christmas Market
- Christmas Fair on The Green
- Trumpet Corner Christmas Craft Fair
- Ross Christmas Carnival
- Carols in the Chapel
- Bromyard Christmas Lights
- Berrington's Georgian Christmas
Litterpicking
The DIY activity of litter picking our countryside is much encouraged, as a competition for how much you can find over a defined period of time. Borrow one of our litter picker grab sticks (by the recycling bins at the gate) and take it for a walk with you (take a carrier bag too!) and see what litter bits you can pick up. Plastic is one of the biggest dangers to our wildlife and, importantly, our rivers and fish, so if you're prioritising your impact, come back with all the bits of plastic you see. If you would like to learn more about it, visit Keep Wales Tidy and Clean-up UK.