GOLDEN VALLEY PROBUS CLUB
Home     About Us     Notices     Archive     Contact     Links

 

DIRECTIONS

 

This page is being developed to make it easier to find some of the places we tend to go back to from time to time. We will NOT include directions for places that are easy to find if all it takes to get good directions is to look at a web site which has been linked to from either the Notices page or the Archive page. Accordingly, THIS PAGE WILL NOT BE USED OFTEN but it may be used for places for which we have found it difficult to get good directions. Except as reported otherwise, these directions are for getting to the destination from Ewyas Harold, not the other way around.

Directions included for:
1. The Bull's Head, Craswall
2. Mary Powell's Farmhouse, Upper Newton
3. The Castlefields, Clifford

4. The Hogs Head, Great Treadam

Note: Directions are only being provided here if the places are difficult to find. That may mean that the Post Code is not enough for your SatNav to take you directly to the exact place. We try to provide precise co-ordinates below. Note that SatNavs differ as to how co-ordinates should be inserted. For example: for Mary Powell below, N: 51.99141° ; W: 2.97286° may have to be input as N: 51° 99' 14" ; W: 2° 97' 29", rounding the seconds figure when more decimal points are given than your SatNav can take. That may take you to the nearest 20 metres rather than the nearest 2 metres (or similar) but that should do!

 

THE BULL'S HEAD
Craswall
HR2 0PN
An old drovers' pub, this was closed in 2014 with the owners at that time wanting to convert it into a private residence. However, local objections won the battle to keep it as a Public Inn. In 2021 it was converted into a modern 'gastro pub'. On 1st December 2021 Probus became the first to use it as a lunch venue for a large group.
Web site at www.wildbynaturellp.com/the-bulls-head-inn.

 

 

We may as well start with the exception that proves the rule. This pub is not in fact difficult to find but it can seem that way! Finding it does need some perseverance. It is 5 miles along the rural road from Longtown to Hay, on your right, but it seems longer.

SatNav is helpful.
Precise location is N: 52.01806° ; W: 3.05369°
What3Words reference: suspends.hike.snacks
MARY POWELL'S FARMHOUSE
Upper Newton
Newton St. Margarets
HR2 0QU
For several years we held our annual Ladies Night at Mary's Farmhouse, deep in the countryside. In recent years this has been replaced by our annual 'Afternoon Tea'. Mary does not operate a web site but she may be contacted at 01981-510295.

 

Basic location
The farmhouse is south of Newton St. Margarets, a few miles north-west of Ewyas Harold. It is accessed only by minor roads.

If using SatNav
The postcode is quite reliable, probably taking you down the road/lane to the farmhouse to within a hundred yards or so of the farmhouse.
Precise location is N: 51.99141° ; W: 2.97286°.
What3Words reference: sunbeam.vent.bitters

Recommended route
Although there is a more direct route from Ewyas Harold [go (past church) through Dulas towards Longtown; turn towards Michaelchurch/Newton St. Margarets; (first?) left after sign to Bacton] it is easiest to go through Abbey Dore to Bacton then drive through Bacton, bearing right before the lane to the church, over the top of the hill. At junction (where left used to be for 'Toi et Moi'), turn right to Newton St. Margarets & Michaelchurch. [Road goes down-hill then up-hill again.] Go straight across the next cross-road (where left is to Longtown), carrying on towards Michaelchurch until junction with signs left for Longtown & right to Michaelchurch. Take that left turn to Longtown. First on the right, after about a quarter of a mile, is the road/lane down to the farm (the sign for Upper Newton is sometimes partly hidden in the hedge). The farmhouse is about a quarter of a mile down that road/lane, after 3 cattle grids.

THE CASTLEFIELDS
Clifford
HR3 5HB
This inn was refurbished during the 2020-21 pandemic-induced lockdown. We visited it for the first time in May 2022 and liked it so much that it became the first venue that Lunch Club decided to visit twice in one year.
Web site at thecastlefields.co.uk.

 

Drive towards Hay-on-Wye through Peterchurch then Dorstone. Unless you know the shortcut shortly after The Bage, carry on past Hardwicke to the B4352 junction. Turn right (left would take you to Hay) and carry on the B4352 for about 2 miles (towards Bredwardine), past the sign (on your left) to Clifford. The road wobbles a bit but you will find The Castlefields inn on your right immediately after a sharp right-turn.

Many (most?) SatNavs will suggest you take the above-mentioned shortcut (it may not be worth it if many take it at the same time) and then (hopefully) take you within sight of the inn.
Precise location is N: 52.10239° ; W: 3.03504°.

THE HOGS HEAD PUB
Great Treadam
Llantilio Crossenny
Abergavenny NP7 8TA
This pub/events-centre has been used by the Club a few times over the years for our annual Skittles Event, which is normally held in January. The web site at www.hogsheadpub.co.uk provides a Google Map link to help you find it. However, as it is somewhat 'in the countryside', the additional information provided here may prove helpful.

 

Basic location
The pub/centre is about 3 miles as the crow flies east-north-east of the outskirts of Abergavenny. It is off a minor road which connects the B4521 (Old Ross Road - from Abergavenny to Ross) and the B4233 (from Abergavenny to Monmouth). It is about 2 miles from the B4521 and about 1 mile from the B4233.
Simplest route from Ewyas Harold
Down the A465 towards Abergavenny. Continue (about 10 miles) until a short bit of dual carriageway where turn left onto the B4521 to Skenfrith & Ross ('the 'Old Ross Road' which goes behind the Skirrid). Continue for about 3½ miles then (about ⅓ mile after Lanes Garage on your left) turn right, signpost directing to Treadam (2 miles) & Llantillo Crossenny (3½ miles) with small sign to The Hogs Head. The pub/centre is about 2 miles along that road, reasonably well signposted up drive on your left.
If using SatNav
WARNING: If you try to follow all of the instructions given by your SatNav, it is very likely that you will get into trouble! Unless you prefer narrow country lanes over good roads and there is daylight and the weather is good, ignore the initial instructions and drive down the A465 towards Abergavenny until you are well past Pandy. After that, the postcode (NP7 8TA) is quite reliable.
The precise location is N: 51.83499° ; W: 2.89893°.
Alternative routes
Those who know the area well may wish to take another route. There are alternatives, such as going through Cross Ash, but if you know about them then you probably do not need this page anyway (!) whilst if you do not know the area well then we recommend that you avoid them as they involve lanes that are narrow even by local standards.

 

     Back to the top of the page