Baskerville Hall to The Hay Book Festival
Hay-on-Wye
Wales
Distance 9.3km Climb 90m
Monday 28 May 2018
Following our previous visits to Hay-on-Wye we have always enjoyed our stay at the Baskerville Hall Hotel campsite. This stay would be no different. We usually take advantage of the free bus up to the Festival site however today we decided on a walk.
From the campsite we walked up to the Baskerville Hall Hotel.
Walking round the back of the Hotel we took the steps up into Cwmsirhwy Wood. We startled a number of squirrels as we walked up the steps. They were swinging and leaping up into the trees. Around here we had heard the Hounds of the House are buried. Today we did not see their gravestones as we turned left, west and followed the tracks. But we would see them another day. Unfortunately due to the heavy rain we have had over the last few days the ground was very wet and slippery. We had to walk around some large muddy puddles.
I did not take my map as the plan was to wander around and see where we would go and what we would find.
Crossing a stream we came to a fence and left the wood, entering a field that many people had walked through before.
Mist still shrouded the hills from view as we followed the hedge line down hill south east. Rain as ever threatened.
On our way down we passed these very old looking standing stones. I am not sure if they are very old boundary stones? Very interesting though.
Across the fields to our right and hovering briefly over the trees we could see a red kite, looking magnificent as it glided upwards in spiralling circles before flying westwards out of sight.
At the bottom of the hill we now joined part of the Wye Valley Walk and crossed the A438. The Wye Valley Walk is a 136 mile walk from Chepstow to Plynlimon, part of which we would have walked when on our Offa's Dyke Path.
After crossing the road we walked by the edge of a field and reached the River Wye. Where we turned left and headed eastwards.
Walking with the River Wye on our right, we could see looking left across empty potato fields Baskerville Hall amongst the trees. It was very peaceful and tranquil along here, so different to the busy Festival site and the bustling town.
The area was full of a beautiful blue coloured dragonflies. There were hundreds of them. Fortunately I was able to get photos of a couple of them.
Continuing around by the River we could hear people talking as they canoed down the river.
Turning a little away from the River the footpath took us behind a house and over a small footbridge.
Over the bridge the path climbed a little up through the trees reaching these tall strong defensive looking walls.
When we returned to the tent I saw from my map that these walls are around a place called Wyecliff.
At the top we passed through a gate and walking by the wall we found ourselves in a large field with a campsite.
Walking eastwards we reached the road B4351. Where we turned right, south east and headed downhill. towards Hay.
Before crossing the bridge into Hay we turned left along part of Offa's Dyke Path. I was taking the opportunity to collect a Geocache. Note This is not a photo of the cache, the cache is further along the path.
Finding the Geocache we returned back to the B4351.
Crossing the bridge, along the River we could see tents from another event that runs in Hay when the Book Festival is on.
Over the bridge we turned right onto the B4350 and headed south west through Hay.
Anne had to have a look around Hay before we continued on our way to the Festival site. So after a look here and a look there, and a little light refreshment, we eventually returned to the B4350. Where we continued our way to the Festival site.
It had been a nice little walk. Fortunately the rain that had threatened all day, stayed away. We had walked 9.3km with 90m climb. The distance would have been shorter but we had a little bit look here and there which added to the distance. A great day out.
We had no events today so had a wander round the Festival to see what was happening, and if any celebrities were about. After which we returned to the Baskerville Hall Hotel campsite, where we had a couple of relaxing drinks before retiring to the bar.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in Wales or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.
Follow the link to a walk on an earlier stay at Baskerville Hall Sugar Loaf.
Follow link to my next walk from Baskerville Hall to The Hay Book Festival via Glasbury
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