The Golden Valley ....
The Golden Valley is one of the most scenic and unspoilt areas in Britain, wide and tranquil with gentle wooded slopes on either side of the River Dore. The name probably came from an old confusion between the Welsh word dwr for water and the French d'or meaning golden.
Famous visitors include C.S. Lewis, recorded in the film ‘Shadowlands' and Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland, who often visited his brother, then vicar at Vowchurch.
From Hay on Wye in the north to Pontrilas in the south, quiet lanes, footpaths and bridleways lead through patchwork fields to traditional farms and the wide open spaces of the Black Mountains. Small, friendly villages dot the routes and there's always a church or historic site to explore.
No less friendly are the many places to stay, whether bed and breakfast or self-catering and the local produce is superb.