Welcome to Cusop

Welcome to Cusop

Cusop is a small village(population approx.380 living in approx. 170 households) located in the far west corner of Herefordshire on the Welsh border some 20 miles from Hereford and a similar distance from Brecon and the beautiful Brecon Beacons. It is on the edge of Hay-on-Wye, a small town famous for its many bookshops and annual Festival of Literature.The parish is approx. 5.5km by 2.5km at its extremities and is in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The land is largely pastoral with several areas of woodland and it is well supplied with footpaths giving access to local walks and to the Brecon Beacons National Park.A section of the Wye Valley Walk passes through Cusop and the Offa’s Dyke Path passes very close to the parish boundary.Although Cusop has few amenities ,  Hay-on-Wye with its shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants is only a few minutes walk away.

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A Brief History

Cusop has changed dramatically in the past two centuries, having once been a hive of industrial activity. It had five working mills driven by the Dulas brook which forms a long western boundary with Wales.There were several stone quarries and the remains of  limekilns can still be seen above the brook. From 1864 until the 1960’s Cusop also had a railway service, with Hay station actually being situated in the parish. In 1901 the population of the parish was 12% higher than today but with half as many dwellings.The parish also had an inn, a cider house and a school-all, sadly, long gone.

Accommodation

There are several B & B’s in Cusop – see  details under 'Traders'

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