Cusop to Hay Bluff 16km

From the Doorstep of Elmsleigh

Turn left out of Elmsleigh and left again upon leaving Thirty Acres. Walk up to St. Mary's church and then straight over the road, down a shaded footpath, which takes you down to Cusop Dingle.

Straight across the road again towards Lower House, then up a few steps, through a couple of gates onto Offa's Dyke.

Turn left and follow the Acorn signs, it is mostly uphill all the way to the Bluff.

Follow the Acorns

You will go through a field before coming to a stile onto Forest Road. Turn left onto the road, then shortly after turn right over another stile back into a field to continue up Offa's Dyke.

After about 200m the path crosses the stream under the trees, then carries on up through a couple more fields, past some allotments on the left, before crossing a road.

Steep but Great Views

Now it starts getting steep for a while, with some great views over Hay and the Wye Valley, before the path goes under trees and turns right alongside an occasional stream.

The path comes back into the open, continues steeply, before coming to another stile onto a small rough road. Turn left up the road, through a farm (be aware that there might free running dogs) and, shortly after,  cross a lovely little stream - a perfect canine watering hole.

Carry on up through the woods and exit through a gate over the stream onto the lower part of the moor.

Hay Bluff in Sight

Keep right and follow the stones that periodically mark the Dyke. The Bluff will come into view and you will see the Dyke going up the left-hand side.

There is a little crater to take a break and shelter from the wind about 800m up from the gate. Carry on following the stone markers to the road, turn right up the road. The Dyke exits the road 500m up on the left.

Wild Horses and Spectacular Views

Follow the path up the side of Hay Bluff, look out for wild horses. There are some great picnic spots near the top on this side of the ridge.

The path turns in towards to crest of the ridge before coming to a sort of crossroads, leave Offa's Dyke and turn right towards the Hay Bluff trig point. Keep a look out for gliders and parapenters.

You Deserve an Ice-cream

Walk west towards Pen-y-Fan in the distance, before descending the path on the right, towards the stone circle car park for a well deserved M&M ice-cream on a hot day. It really is a quality cone!

Heading for Hay

Walk down over the back of the car park, taking a route right over the gorse, towards the farm road below on the right.

Take the road that stretches away in front to the right, then just keep right on this road for several kilometres, before the road turns right, then left between some farm buildings. Just afterwards there is stile and a marked footpath that goes down through a field.

The path isn't obvious, it goes down through the field, into a wood and there is a stile in the wood, which you may have to keep an eye out for.  On the other side of the stile the path is still less than clear, but keep going more or less straight downhill and you will eventually exit through a farm and rejoin the road.

Turn right and follow the road until it joins Forest Road, near to Hay.

Time for a Cheeky Pint

Cross the road and turn left onto a foot path that is raised  above the road and has a rail on the side. Follow the path down the back of the Vets and then through a field to bottom of the main Hay-on-Wye car park, next to the school.

There are several places to refresh yourself and several pubs serving a well deserved beverage of your choice.

Back to Elmsleigh

After being suitably refreshed, exit Hay on Lion Street, just after The Black Lion pub. Head away from Hay and then shortly after, take the first right up a little access road to a farm and a few houses.

Go through the farm gate and walk through two fields to a kissing gate. Turn left after the gate and exit the field through another gate, down past a couple of old cottages to a small footbridge over Dulas Brook; this is the Welsh-English border and there is a small waterfall just downstream.

Head up the footpath, turn right as you exit on Cusop Dingle, then immediately left towards St. Mary's Church.

Take a left into Thirty Acres and then Elmsleigh is just around the corner.