A Practical Guide for Visitors to Painscastle and Rhosgoch
OK, so you have read some or all of the content on the rest of this site and now you still have 101 questions about the area and how you can find out some more. Well read on, because on this page you will find our suggested highlights for any trip as well as essential information about travel to Painscastle and Rhosgoch, and also about essential services such as police, doctors, dentists and veterinary surgeons. We have also included information about car repair workshops, post offices, banks and tourist information offices. Below you will also find a brief summary of the shops available locally as well as suggestions for cultural entertainment and physical recreation. For suggested accommodation and places to eat and drink as well as many more details of cultural and recreational opportunities please see the Links page.
Hay Castle
When in Hay you simply must go and visit the long-awaited and newly restored Castle. The ancient structure cleverly combines Norman, Jacobean and Victorian elements, but the new conversion has skilfully turned the whole into a bright, open space of which the whole community can be proud. There is a very useful bookshop (of course) and an excellent café / restaurant to be sampled too, or you could just picnic on the green and enjoy the views. Free to enter, but there may be a small charge for occasional exhibitions.
Take a walk on the BegwnsThis relatively short ridge of hills to the south of Painscastle is an ancient common now in the care of the National Trust. It is easy walking and the views of the Black Mountains and the surrounding countryside are simply superb. This map indicates a start from near the summit known as the Roundabout, but you can easily walk from the road between Clyro and Painscastle too.
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Visit Hay-on-Wye
This pretty little town is more than just the second-hand book capital of Britain and the venue for a world-famous Literary Festival. It boasts a very long and interesting history and offers a wide variety of interesting and independent shops as well as plenty of comfortable pubs and cafes. There is a regular street market on Thursdays where you can buy some excellent local produce.
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Enjoy the River Wye
Voted the nation's favourite river, Wordsworth's "sylvan Wye" rises near Aberystwyth and flows into the Severn Estuary just beyond Chepstow, 134 miles later. Hire a canoe, arrange some fishing or just take a stroll along the Wye Valley Walk, but whatever you do please try to see at least a small piece of this magnificent river whenever you visit the area.
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Getting Here:
By Train
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By Bus |
By Car
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The nearest railway service is the Heart of Wales Line, which carries several daily services between Swansea and Shrewsbury operated by Transport for Wales . The nearest station is Builth Road, although you are advised to use Llandrindod Wells instead if you need to find taxis, etc. Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales operate many more frequent services from Birmingham, Manchester and London to Hereford, where you will also find it much easier to link with a taxi or bus service. For quick access to all permutations and options try the excellent Trainline service.
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The last bus service to Painscastle and Rhosgoch stopped operating over ten years ago, so unfortunately you will need to make the final part of the journey by car or some other method. Stagecoach operates a regular bus service between Hay-on-Wye and Hereford, where route 39 stops at various parts of the city, including the railway station. The journey takes about one hour. They also have a regular service between Hay-on-Wye and Brecon.
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If you are travelling by train via Hereford you could always hire a car for the last leg of the journey - try L.T. Baynham on 01432 273298. For taxis from Hereford try Hereford Rank Taxis on 0800 387836 or Hi-Town Taxis on 01432 354321. From Hay-on-Wye try Booktown Taxis on 07881 726547. In Kington try Radnor and Kington Taxis on 01547 560205. In Llandrindod Wells try Pro-Cabs on 01597 822877 or Suprema Travel on 01989 554189 or 07474 262606. Those of you with electric cars should check this useful charging point finder supplied by Carwow.
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Emergencies:
If you genuinely need police, fire brigade or medical assistance quickly or witness a crime actually being committed then you should call the emergency services immediately by dialling 999. For any other matters the following information might be helpful. Please note that mobile telephone and data reception is generally very poor in Painscastle and Rhosgoch and the surrounding area except on the higher ground.
Police |
Medical Services
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Veterinary Services
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Painscastle is situated in the old county of Radnorshire, now part of the much larger county of Powys, in Wales. Local policing is administered by the combined Dyfed-Powys Police, who can be contacted for any non-emergency matters on 101. Staff at the call centre will advise where the nearest available police station can be found. Across the border in Herefordshire policing is administered by the West Mercia Police, who can also be contacted on 101.
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The nearest medical centre is located at Forest Road in Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5DS, telephone 01497 822100. Access is currently by appointment only because of Covid-19 restrictions. The practice area is covered out of hours by Shropdoc, as commissioned by the Powys Local Health Board. For urgent problems that do not require ambulance services call Shropdoc on 111. For general medical advice and for dental issues contact NHS Direct Wales on 0845 4647.
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As you can imagine, in a farming area like this you are never that far away from reliable veterinary services. The nearest is the Hay Veterinary Group at Greenfield Industrial Estate, Forest Rd, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5FA, telephone 01497 820863 (24-hour service). The practice is open from Mondays to Fridays between 0830 and 1830 and on Saturdays from 0900 to 1230. There is an emergency service on Sundays.
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Other Services:
This is a rural area and so some of the services that city people may take for granted might be a little harder to find here. Please be patient and you will find that local people will always find the time to help and advise you on a variety of matters.
Tourist Information |
Car Breakdown
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Post Offices and Banks |
The Tourist Information Bureau in Hay-on-Wye is situated at Chapel Cottage, Oxford Road, telephone 01497 820144, just opposite the main car park. The current opening hours (winter) are from 1100 to 1300 every day. The main Welsh tourism portal is VisitWales, but you will also find much more relevant and local information at VisitMidWales, or the Wales Tourism Community. Because of our proximity to the Brecon Beacons National Park you might also find their web site useful and informative, as is that run by the Brecon Beacons Park Society, who offer regular, guided walks throughout the area all year. Make sure you get a good weather forecast first though.
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Visiting motorists who are not members of the AA or RAC or have an equivalent breakdown policy should contact Ashbrook Garage in Clyro, just four miles south of Painscastle, on 01497 821046 or mobile 07944 663068 or by email. The friendly staff are willing and able to tackle most common repairs and have a tow truck. Workshop opening hours are Mondays to Fridays from 0830 to 1730 and Saturdays from 0830 to 1230. The nearest petrol station is also in Clyro on the A438 and is open from 0700 to 1900 every day of the week except Sundays, when it is open from 0830 to 1800. This also has a useful shop selling some fresh food and other household necessities as well as daily newspapers and magazines.
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This area now has no regular and permanent Post Office. A dedicated counter can be found in the Country Supplies store in Hay, telephone 01497 820387, near the main car park. Mobile postal facilities are also available in Painscastle outside the Roast Ox inn between 1200 and 1300 on Tuesdays only, offering all normal facilities except passports The Carrot and Wine food store and cafe in Whitney has a Post Office that is open for 7 days a week, but please call 01497 831414 to check times.
Sadly, there are now no banks left in Hay, so you will need to head for Brecon, Kington or Hereford. There is a cash machine near the main car park in Hay. |
Shopping and Entertainment:
There are no longer any shopping facilities at all in Painscastle and Rhosgoch. This is inevitable in a rural area with a declining population and many local people now make extensive use of the Internet to order a variety of goods for home delivery. However, there are shops just a short drive away that will cater for most needs and the same is also true of entertainment and recreational services.
Shops
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Entertainment |
Recreation
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Visitors will not be too disappointed by the range of mostly independent shops to be found in the pretty little town of Hay-on-Wye nearby. Famous for many years as the country's second-hand book capital there are still many bookshops to browse through at your leisure, but there are also opportunities to view and buy excellent local crafts and quality clothing, as well as a range of usual market town produce from traditional butchers and bakers. There is a regular weekly street market every Thursday, but come early to get the best choice. The town also boasts a good number of cafes and public houses as well as the well-known Shepherds Ice Cream Parlour.
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Please see our main News and Events page for details of the larger, annual events held in this area and nearby. In Hay-on-Wye you can view the latest films in great comfort at Booths Bookshop Cinema and also a variety of music, dance and other productions at the Globe. The Wyeside Arts Centre in Builth Wells and Theatr Brycheiniog in Brecon also have very full and interesting programmes. Slightly further afield but still only 30 minutes' drive away, the Courtyard Arts Centre in Hereford stages a very wide variety of live entertainment as well as a range of films and televised live performances from other theatres.
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The highly accessible wide open spaces offered by the many hills around Painscastle and the Black Mountains near Hay-on-Wye should provide more than enough fresh air for a week's stay, but then there is also the River Wye to explore (see above) and a range of interesting and challenging golf courses to visit for those who dare. Elsewhere on this site you will find more detailed guidance on local walking and riding opportunities. Bicycles can be hired from Drover Cycles in Hay and canoes from various local operators (see our Links page for more details). There is a large leisure centre with swimming pool in Brecon. There is also a good size swimming pool in Builth Wells by Groe Park. The nearest Parkrun is at Groe Park in Builth though there are plans to introduce one at Hay starting from under the main bridge.
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