One of our favourite walks is from Dorstone to Hay via Vagar Hill

It’s just under 8 miles, both up and downhill, but mainly down, and we take the bus back (T14) from Hay or Cusop which usually runs on time leaving the Castle bus stop at 16:43 (Mon-Sat). There’s a later bus only on Sunday (39A) which leaves at 17:45.

Take Pitt Road south out of the village and that will take you up a long hill which then flattens out as you approach Vagar Hill. The lane has a good tarmac surface and hardly any traffic, so you gain height relatively easily to enjoy the views all around.

The Vagar Hill antennae are interesting, but if you go up the steep path to them and turn right onto the bridle path at the top, it’s very muddy at the best of times, so better to turn right (west) at the crossroads along a lane called The Drain, which has no mud, and follow the tarmac down, around and up to the Michaelchurch-Cusop road next to the woods. The steep hill up to it is the last one of the trip; views are great and it’s all downhill all the way to Hay.

Billy the Black Baa-Baa will be watching out for you!

Follow the road westward for about a mile, then take a footpath off to the left, across a couple of fields, before dropping downhill and along through the woods. We usually have our coffee here enjoying the views of Hay Bluff and the Black Mountains scarp.

It being autumn, the colours of the leaves are delightful, but the fearns do like to envelope the pathway which is otherwise well marked.

Eventually you are rewarded with a first view of Hay in the distance

This was one not to eat:

The path takes you through a friendly farm (three collies, which bark loudly, but only want to be stroked on the nose) and down into Cusop Dingle . We are still in England here and only have to start conversing in Welsh (if only) the other side of the mighty Cusop Brook.

On the Welsh side of the Brook, beware the Gruffalo and friends:

The last field before Hay:

Destinations are reached – the newly renovated Castle with tea shop and dungeon:

Or, more importantly, Shepherds Ice Cream Parlour, where the selection and quality cannot be matched.

Dorstone’s red telephone box no longer has button A and B in it!

How to use it and look after it was, however, an agenda item on September’s village council meeting. We await the minutes of the meeting with excitement!

Autumn cyclamen come to Chapel Lane

A trip to Snodhill Castle less than a mile away from the Cottage is always worthwhile

The Hay Festival in May spanned the town, the castle and the usual marquees in the fields with thousands therein.

The Morris comes to Dorstone May 2024

Dorstone Open Garden Weekend 2024

With the arrival of summer, up to a dozen residents of Dorstone throw open their magnificent gardens to the gaze of the discerning public, who come from far and wide for this delightful occasion. This year three gardens in The Bage, a mile outside the village, were included, so a regular mini-bus service was provided, thanks to the generosity of a local school and an appropriately qualified local driver. Some of the many gardens are shown below:

Teas, coffees and home made cakes were made available throughout the week by volunteers from the village