{"product_id":"9781902302799","title":"Walking Around Painscastle","description":"Stretching north from the Wye Valley between Builth Wells and Hay-on-Wye, lies a wealth of open access hill land and secluded river valleys. Four 'A' roads enclose a roughly rectangular area of land, which is bisected by the 'B' road running from Erwood in the Wye Valley to a point a few miles to the west of Kington in Herefordshire. The 'B' road also serves as something of a boundary, between the open access land to the north and west and the mainly lower-lying farmland, woodland and villages to the south and east.\nThe River Arrow has its source in this area, before flowing east to Kington and on into England. A few miles further to the west, the Edw follows its course to the junction with the Wye. There are numerous smaller watercourses in the area, as well as two lakes and a considerable number of hill top ponds. \nThis is an area rich in history, with prehistoric remains including hill forts, stone circles and house platforms. There is also plentiful evidence of Norman occupation, with castle sites at Painscastle, Hundred House and Gwaunceste Hill. You will also find a variety of old churches, many in the circular churchyards that indicate the location of a pre-Christian sacred site. Wells were also plentiful in the area, including the site of a sacred well and one now within a public house.\nDuring the later nineteenth century Francis Kilvert, the Victorian cleric and diarist, walked extensively in this area while curate at Clyro recording his impressions of the countryside and its occupants. Some of the country houses he visited can be seen during the walks. \nAlthough lacking in present day public transport, this is an area with a wide variety of accommodation from hotels to camping sites, including a number of public houses. Regular bus services do run along the Wye Valley to the south and the A44 to the north.","brand":"Jane Griffiths","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52492727746824,"sku":"9781902302799","price":5.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0945\/8519\/2712\/files\/9781902302799.jpg?v=1770799266","url":"https:\/\/www.ffolio.wales\/products\/9781902302799","provider":"ffolio.wales","version":"1.0","type":"link"}