Where to go, what to see, how to find good food & local culture

Drovers Retreat is set in the magnificent scenery of the Welsh Borders, on the edge of the Radnor Forest.

Whilst it is the rural peace and superb landscape which attracts people to the area, there are also many other attractions to enjoy. Here we give a taster of these attractions, including local picturesque towns and villages, eating out and sourcing local food.

This page gives information about:

• Local Attractions

• Trains and Buses

• Local Towns

• Eating Out

• Finding Local Food

• Local Cultural attractions

The Welsh Borders

Travel eight miles east from Drovers Retreat, just beyond Knighton, and you are across Offa's Dyke into England, with its pretty Black and White villages, and market towns. Head west towards the Cambrian Mountains, and the most spectacular scenery. The Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog National Park) are not far away. Everywhere is walking country, and castles, country pubs and picturesque market towns and villages await you either side of the Wales/England Border.

Many of the market towns on the Welsh/English border are picturesque and full of interest. Places such as Ludlow (29 miles) and Leominster (26 miles) were developed on the wealth of the Medieval wool trade. Hay-on-Wye (30 miles), famed for its annual literary festival, and its many second-hand book shops is about 40 minutes away.

Local Attractions

Apart from the magnificent and unspoiled landscapes of the Welsh Marches, local visitor attractions include:

• Horse riding is available at the nearby Underhill Stables (01597 851890 or 07377 412595).

• Old Hall Pottery at Dolau (1 mile away), run by potter Jason Braham and artist Julienne Braham. Visitors can buy pottery and paintings directly from the artists, though it is recommended to call ahead or arrange a visit via email.

• At nearby Penybont (4 miles) is The Thomas Shop – a village shop preserved from the 1950’s and before. A teashop is part of the visit. 01597 851951. Opening times vary.

• Another interesting building near Penybont is the Pales Quaker Meeting House (4 miles from Drovers Retreat). Quaker meetings have been held on this site since the establishment of a burial ground in 1673. The Pales Quaker Meeting House was first built in 1716 and then rebuilt in 1745. There is a lovely walk to the Pales, or a 10 minute drive.

• Elan Valley dams and reservoirs near Rhayader (30 mins away), which supply Birmingham's water, with Visitor Centre, cycle hire and plenty of walks - some following old railways routes; There are occasional Dam Open Days, when you can walk inside the dam walls.

• Gilfach Nature Reserve (18 miles) - For centuries Gilfach was a working hill farm, now it's a spectacular nature reserve tucked away in the Marteg Valley in the heart of rural Mid-Wales.  Still grazed at certain times of the year by livestock to conserve its wildlife richness.

• Gigrin Farm - Birds of Prey Feeding Station - (15 miles) Gigrin is a small family-run farm, now famous for its Red Kite Feeding Centre. Hundreds of wild Red Kites feed here every day. It is a truly breath-taking spectacle

• In the beautiful small town of Presteigne (11 miles), the Judges Lodgings enable you to experience a Victorian courtroom, complete with cells;

• the Victorian Spa and National Cycle Museum in Llandrindod Wells;

• the Spaceguard Centre (12 miles) at Knighton is a working observatory, and the main source of research in the UK about Near Earth objects. Daily tours are available (book on website).

• Knighton Livestock Market (9 miles).Here local farmers bring their livestock (sheep and cattle) to sell, as they have done for hundreds of years. It offers visitors a great sense of the local farming community, and is fascinating to watch the bidding process. The market is held every Thursday and some Fridays. For current dates see here.

• Knighton Museum - a fascinating showcase of bygone times in this small market town.

• Llandrindod Wells Radnorshire Museum -another interesting place to learn about life in this Victorian Spa Town.

• Hay-on-Wye - the Town of Books is 45 minutes away. World renowned for books and bookshops. Its unique position on the border between England and Wales makes Hay ideal for visitors to explore and enjoy the beautiful border country.

• Visit the Lavender Farm near Hay-on-Wye, where you can enjoy a shop and an informal cafe serving cake, coffee, tea, soft drinks, beer, wine and a few snacks. 

  
  And of course, superb walks in all directions from the front door of Drovers Retreat.

The gloriously picturesque Heart of Wales railway line has a station 2 miles away at Dolau. Head north towards Shrewsbury, or south towards south Wales and Swansea, through some of the most beautiful and unspoiled countryside in Britain.

Trains and Buses

SPECTACULAR HEART OF WALES RAILWAY LINE

The Heart of Wales Line is a spectacular rural railway between Swansea and Shrewsbury. The seven days/week train service is operated by Transport for Wales. Much loved by day trippers and walkers, the line also provides a vital transport link for lively rural communities and towns across Mid Wales and the Borders. Dolau station (just 2 miles away from Drovers Retreat - see top photo), has won many prizes for the best-kept station.

Details of trains are to be found on the Heart of Wales Line website, which contains the current timetable.

Local buses

There are two local bus services - the X48 which is operated by Celtic Transport. This travels from Shrewsbury to Builth Wells, and stops at Dolau Church. Details of the route and timetable are here.

The other route runs from Llandrindod Wells to Hereford and stops at The Severn Arms Hotel, Penybont (4 miles away). Times and route details are here.

Local Towns

Knighton (10 miles)

Known as the Town on the Dyke, Knighton boasts the Offa's Dyke Visitor's Centre, which is a fascinating free exhibition about the 8th Century earthwork built by Offa, the King of Mercia. The dyke follows the Welsh English border from the hills above Prestatyn to the Severn Estuary near Chepstow.

A traditional Border Country market town, Knighton, which straddles the English/Welsh border, is certainly worth a visit. A busy livestock market, as well as a Community Market, with plenty of local produce, independent shops and some great coffee shops are amongst its attractions. If you haven't been to a livestock auction. Knighton's is well worth a visit. There are auctions every Thursday (Finished Lambs and Cull Ewes) and the first and third Friday in every month – Store Cattle and Store Sheep.

Llandrindod Wells (10 miles)

Llandrindod Wells (known locally as Llandod), developed as a Victorian Spa town. The legacy of this is some fine Victorian architecture. Now the County Town of Powys, it hosts the main Powys County Council buildings, and is an attractive town to wander around. The Llandrindod lake has a cafe and is a pleasant walk around its edge.

The town developed from the mid-19th century as a fashionable spa around its mineral springs, which can still be taken today. This was boosted by the arrival of the railway in 1862, which gave visitors an easy way to access the town. The railway also remains, and the Heart of Wales line connects Swansea with Shrewsbury, and is one of the country's most scenic routes. One station, Dolau, lies just over 2 miles from Drovers Retreat.

PRESTEIGNE (11 miles)

One-time capital of the old county of Radnorshire, Presteigne is an attractive Border town, with plenty of activity.

Together with many independent shops, cafes and restaurants, Presteigne is worth visiting for the Judges Lodgings, with the audio conducted tours, ending up in the dock of the old courthouse.

Rhayader (14 miles)

The series of dams which supply Birmingham with its water are just outside the small town of Rhayader at the Elan Valley. A fantastic engineering feat of the late 19th century and early 20th century, at close quarters the dams are staggering.

EATING OUT

Around the local towns and villages, there are great places to eat and drink. Several local pubs are great for a drink, or a meal - from honest pub grub to more adventurous restaurant eating, including:

• Harp Inn at Old Radnor (13 miles) - Excellent food, real ‘pub’ atmosphere, and superb views. (a favourite with us) 

• the Lion Hotel, Llanbister (8.5 miles), A traditional country pub, with great atmosphere, and fantastic curries (the have contacts with India, and good supplies of the best spices!). Good family cuisine at affordable prices. Recommended.

• The Severn Arms, Penybont (4 miles) - Old coaching inn, offering simple meals in pleasant surroundings. Garden slopes down to river Ithon.

• Horse and Jockey, Knighton (10 miles) - Originally a 14th Century Coaching Inn, this old-world pub offers a good range of food, and good beer. (currently closed).

• The Banc, Knighton (10 miles) 5 Broad St, Knighton LD7 1BW - this ex-bank eatery is new and not yet tested by us. Reports so far are very good. 01547 520009.

• Crocketts, Presteigne (11 miles) is a small, family-run Bistro serving eclectic, colourful, global plates, tapas, desserts, brunch and more. open Thursday to Sunday.

• The Lion, Leintwardine (18 miles) - great riverside location. Great food and surroundings. 

• The Riverside Inn, Aymestery (22 miles) – its title describes its location. Great food and good beer.

• Bradleys, Llandrindod Wells. This recently opened cafe-bar offers a range of European dishes, and has a good reputation. Closed Wednesdays.

• The Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells is a well-established hotel with two eateries - the Spenser Bar and Brasserie, and the Radnor and Miles Restaurant.

  Cafés

• The Tower House Gallery, Knighton - Our favourite for an excellent range of coffees, teas, hot chocolate, light wholesome lunches and fascinating gifts and books Open only at weekends and Mondays - check website for times. 

• The Herb Garden, Llandrindod Wells. Bright, friendly community-owned cafe offering freshly made, home-cooked food, hot drinks and snacks, locally sourced and fairly traded where possible, with a menu catering for a wide range of tastes including Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-free - fully licensed too.

• The Workhouse, Presteigne (11 miles) is a great place to have a coffee, eat, and browse their cornucopia of products for sale, including an oriental rug and carpet shop. Open Tuesdays to Saturdays.

Finding Local Food

Our two nearest towns are still reasonably well stocked with small independent shops including for meat and vegetables.

In Knighton, ‘The Old Garage’ at the top of the town, stocks produce from their own local market garden. Mick and Alice grow vegetables which are sold in their shop - along with a huge range of sustainably sourced products, including chocolate and alcohol! You can also order a vegetable box through their website. They are open Wednesday to Friday and Saturday morning.

Tom Pugh has recently relocated his butchers shop to the main street. Tom and his family are no strangers to butchery. He and his father Andrew look after their two shops, the other being in Bishops Castle. The meat is sourced from known farm locally , including Tom’s uncle Clive. The family recently won a Great Taste Award for their wonderful haggis.

Knighton offers a local food market every Saturday morning at the Community Centre.

In the main street of Llandrindod Wells, Van’s Good Food shop offers a range of local and wholefoods, including organic vegetables.

Llandrindod has a ‘Country Market’ every Friday morning.

Local Cultural attractions

Culturally, there is a wealth of music and the arts as well as museums and other attractions available near Drovers Retreat.

Both nearby towns of Llandrinodod Wells and Knighton have fascinating museums about the local area, and the National Cycle Museum is also located in Llandrindod Wells. There are local museums in both Knighton and Llandrindod Wells

The monthly free Broad Sheep magazine lists the many cultural events in the local area.

The Wyeside Arts Centre at Builth Wells (13 miles) have films, plays and a range of art activities.

For six days around the August Bank Holiday, the Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts, has been held annually for 30 years. Also regular events take place at Presteigne Assembly Rooms. 

The Hay Festival is a huge local attraction, held at the end of June, and is around 45 minutes away. Apart from the Festival, the attractive town town is said to have the world's greatest concentration of second-hand bookshops.

The Village Hall at Dolau (1.5 miles away) holds occasional events.