Aardvark Easter Event 19th April, 2014

The people who run the Aardvark Bookery at Brampton Bryan are adept at organising superb little country events which are just right. What's more you can now (as of Saturday 19th April) travel out there in style from Ludlow on any weekend including Bank Holidays until the end of September, 2014.

The Bookery has thousands of books, including a section for children, and a cafe so it's is an engaging place at the best of times. Coming up for Easter Saturday is a Plant and Garden event including a talk by Hereford author Bill Laws on Fifty Plants that changed the course of history. There'll be stalls and music too. Check it out at www.aardvark-books.com/events.

The Castle Connect kicks in on that day with departures from Ludlow (Assembly Rooms) at 1015, 1345 and 1715. Buses from Bishop's Castle leave at 0900, 1230 and 1545. All buses call at Brampton Bryan crossroads, two minutes walk along the lane to Aardvark. The picture above shows the coach used on the service provided by M&J Travel, leaving Ludlow.  Full details of Castle Connect can be found at www.shropshirehillsshuttles.co.uk

HOPVINE BUS IMBIBERS

The latest edition of Hopvine, an excellent quarterly publication which can be picked up in local Herefordshire pubs or perused on line at www.herefordcamra.org.uk, highlighted the return of the Castle Connect and Wye Valley Wanderer this summer; they come on tap in a few weeks (duly reported elsewhere in the blog).

However, the article also referred to what was once one of the most stunning rides in the Marches, the B17. Yes, I did say 'what was' as this summer only circular from Hay-on-Wye, through the Black Mountains and back via Longtown and Craswall has gone.  It was one of the few ways to get to the historic Bull's Head, Craswall (featured above) without a car (now horse back, cycling and walking come to mind).

Unfortunately, the very day that Hopvine was put to bed the Brecon Beacons National Park declared that it could no longer support the summer Beacons Bus Network including the B17, known affectionately as the Offa's Dyke Flyer, not sure why for it rarely managed more than 20 mph. For those of you who have a copy of A Guide to Slow Travel in the Marches turn to page 184 and there's more to read there. It's a sad loss.

But you can have your say to save other buses and there's a move afoot to ensure that the 39A Sunday bus to Hay from Brecon and Hereford survives beyond the summer. Hay is a major tourist destination and travel doesn't stop on Sundays.  There's a real need for an all year Sunday service!

The campaign is being spearheaded by Rail for Hereford (www.railforherefordshire.com) and Transition Town Hay (www.transitiontownnetwork.org).  In the meantime spend a couple of minutes to fill in Herefordshire's bus consultation and tell the Council you want buses to stay!

MELOMANICS BAND DOWN THE TRACK

The next Folk Down the Track event features Melomanics, bringing cosmopolitan ceilidh music to the Castle, and some whacky humour too. Check them out on www.melomanics.co.uk.

There'll also be a range of local border folk playing and singing in other rooms too, two of whom are featured in the picture above, just tuning up for the arrival of the Folk Train one summer's eve!

Put the date in your diary now...Thursday April 17th.

Be on the train-the 1805 from Shrewsbury to Knucklas or catch it at one of the stations where the Heart of Wales train picks up...Church Stretton, Craven Arms, Broome, Hopton Heath, Bucknell and Knighton. Ludlovians change at Craven Arms...meet for the 1817 at Ludlow. Back into Shrewsbury for 2200.

Folk Down the Track is a joint venture between Myriad Organics and Ludlow 21. It aims to support this very rural line, local pubs and charities with the help of some super musicians/singers, an understanding landlady at the Castle, Knucklas and, of course, you. See you there on the 17th!

WYE VALLEY WANDERER IS BACK!

Following requests from both residents and walking groups the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)  a Sunday/Bank Holiday bus will operate directly from Hereford to Monmouth via Ross-on-Wye, Kerne Bridge, Goodrich and Whitchurch (for Symond's Yat).

This will be the first time in ten years that the bus has run from Hereford direct through to Monmouth via the Wye Valley. There are also connections from Abergavenny (83), Chepstow (69) and Newport (60) which makes for a great day out in the Wye Valley from these towns.

The bus starts on May 4^th and will run until the end of September 2014. It will be operated by First Wyvern from Hereford Railway Station at 1010 and return from Monmouth Bus Station at 1715. This allows connections by train from Shrewsbury and Worcester as well as from Leominster and Ledbury. There will be an additional three journeys between Ross and Monmouth leaving Ross at 1300, 1420 and 1620 offering connections from Gloucester and Hereford. Stagecoach Explorer and South Wales Network Rider tickets will be valid on the service in addition to concessionary passes (for cross border journeys).

Wye Valley AONB Officer, Andrew Blake adds:
“ We want to encourage more people to visit the Wye Valley by bus; the journey is always part of the day out and buses allow you to sit back and enjoy the view. The bus is being supported financially by the AONB in conjunction with the Walking with Offa project. It allows people to explore landscapes and local places referred to as an Irresistible offa. What's more is that you can make the best of the Festival of the Wye, coming up in May, by using the bus”



A timetable and more details about the Festival is available on the Wye Valley ANOB website at www.wyevalleyanob.org.uk