Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Sound Walk to Hay-on-Wye

Horatio Clare presents an immersive 'slow radio' experience of the British countryside, with a recording of a walk along Offa's Dyke, skirting the Black Mountains.

An immersive, "slow radio" experience of the British countryside, for this Friday Bank Holiday. At a time of lockdown when walks are restricted, a chance to experience a virtual walk with Radio 3 and the writer Horatio Clare.

First broadcast in 2017, this 4 hour walk covers ten miles along part of Offa's Dyke, skirting the Black Mountains, travelling North and ending up in Hay-on-Wye at the time of that year's Hay Festival.

Horatio Clare is walking and meditating on the landscape. His route takes him over a babbling stream near the chapel of Capel-y-Ffin, then through fields of bleating sheep and woodland rich in birdsong, (including a cuckoo) before climbing the steep hillside to the ridge. This Black Mountain ridge is where Offa's Dyke path runs along the Welsh/English border. He sees spectacular views of the craggy Brecon Beacons to the West, and the lush fields of Herefordshire to the East. On the high ridge there is much lark song, and an occasional whinny from wild ponies. When the route descends again at Hay Bluff, there are more woodland sounds approaching Hay. Interspersed through the programme are pure soundscape recordings of some of these landscapes.
You will also hear the voices of local artists and writers musing on the inspirations they find in this landscape (poet Christopher Meredith, artist Susan Milne, folk singer Sam Lee and novelist Tom Bullough), as well as orchestral music by Welsh symphonists William Mathias and Alun Hoddinott. And Alex Clatworthy reads from literature about the region.
Horatio Clare is a multi award-winning author, broadcaster and journalist who spent his childhood on a farm in the Black Mountains.
This unusual programme is a chance to step back and engage with natural sounds and meditative thoughts inspired by the gentle rhythm of walking in one of the most beautiful landscapes in Britain.

William Mathias: Symphony no.1 (Op.31), 3rd movement
91热爆 Welsh Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Mathias

Alun Hoddinott: Four Welsh Dances (Op.15) no.3
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Charles Groves

Alun Hoddinott: Folksong Suite
Royal Ballet Sinfonia

Orlando Gough: Berbers (from The World Encompassed)
Fretwork

Olivier Messiaen: Des Canyons aux Etoiles, 8th movement 鈥渢he Resurrected鈥︹
SWR Symphony Orchestra Baden-Baden und Freiburg
Conducted by Sylvain Cambreling

Augusta Read Thomas: Prayer and Celebration
New Haven Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by William Boughton

Trad: Bugeilior Gwenith Gwyn
Catrin Finch (harp)

Ligeti: 6 Bagatelles no.1
Barry Tuckwell Wind Quintet

Trad, arr. Robin Huw Bowen: Clychau Aberdyfi
Robin Huw Bowen (harp)

Trad: Tros y Garreg
Cor Caerdydd
Catrin Finch (harp)

Gy枚rgy Ligeti: 6 Bagatelles, no.3
Barry Tuckwell Wind Quintet

Howard Skempton: Ben Somewhen
BCMG conducted by James Weeks

Olivier Messiaen: Des Canyons aux Etoiles, 8th movement, 鈥渢he Resurrected鈥︹
SWR Symphony Orchestra Baden-Baden und Freiburg
Conducted by Sylvain Cambreling

Olivier Messiaen: Des Canyons aux Etoiles 10th movement, The Wood Thrush
SWR Symphony Orchestra Baden-Baden und Freiburg
Conducted by Sylvain Cambreling

Howard Skempton: Three Preludes, no.2
Lucy Wakeford (harp)

Ludovico Einaudi: Passaggio
Lavinia Meijer (harp)

Howard Skempton: Clarinet Quintet, 1st movement
BCMG conducted by James Weeks

Ludovico Einaudi: Passaggio
Lavinia Meijer (harp)

Howard Skempton: Three Preludes, no.1
Lucy Wakeford (harp)

Howard Skempton: Three Preludes, no3
Lucy Wakeford (harp)

Trad: Cobbler鈥檚 Hornpipe
Eliza Carthy (Fiddle) Jon Boden (fiddle) John Spiers (melodeon)

Trad: It was in the month of May
Sam Lee (vocal)

Trad: Come all you lads
Sam Lee (vocal)

Trad: If I were a blackbird
Sam Lee (vocal)

Trad: I鈥檝e always wanted to be a barrow boy
Sam Lee (vocal)

Gy枚rgy Ligeti: 6 Bagatelles, no.4
Barry Tuckwell Wind Quintet

Messiaen: Des Canyons aux Etoiles, 8th movement, 鈥渢he Resurrected鈥︹
SWR Symphony Orchestra Baden-Baden und Freiburg
Conducted by Sylvain Cambreling

Trad: It was in the month of May
Sam Lee (vocal)

Arthur Honegger: Pastorale d鈥櫭塼茅
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

William Mathias: Symphony no.1 (Op.31), 3rd movement
91热爆 Welsh Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Mathias

4 hours

Last on

Fri 8 May 2020 13:00

Music Played

  • Alun Hoddinott

    Four Welsh Dances - Op. 15 No. 3

    Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Charles Groves.
    • LYRITA : SRCD334.
    • LYRITA.
    • 3.
  • Alun Hoddinott

    Folk-Song Suite

    Orchestra: Royal Ballet Sinfonia. Conductor: Andrew Penny.
    • Marco Polo 8.225048.
    • Marco Polo.
    • 7.
  • Orlando Gough

    The World Encompassed - Berbers

    Ensemble: Fretwork.
    • Signum : SIGCD 453.
    • Signum.
    • 6.
  • Catrin Finch

    Bugeilior Gwenith Gwyn

    • Kissan : KISSANCD023.
    • Kissan.
    • 6.
  • Gy枚rgy Ligeti

    6 Bagatelles For Wind Quintet - No. 1

    Performer: Tuckwell Wind Quintet.
    • EMI : 6279052.
    • EMI.
    • 19.
  • Wales.Traditional

    Clychau Aberdyfi

    Performer: Robin Huw Bowen.
    • SAIN : SCD2006.
    • SAIN.
    • 12.
  • Catrin Finch

    Tros Y Garreg

    • Ty Cerdd : CD.
    • Ty Cerdd.
    • 1.
  • Gy枚rgy Ligeti

    6 Bagatelles For Wind Quintet - No. 3

    Performer: Tuckwell Wind Quintet.
    • EMI : 6279052.
    • EMI.
    • 21.
  • Howard Skempton

    Ben Somewhen

    Ensemble: Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. Conductor: James Weeks.
    • NMC : NMCD135.
    • NMC.
    • 21.
  • Olivier Messiaen

    Des Canyons Aux Etoiles - The Wood Thrush

    Orchestra: Swr Symphony Orchestra Baden-Baden Und Freiburg. Conductor: Sylvain Cambreling.
    • Hanssler Classic : CD93225.
    • Hanssler Classic.
    • 1.
  • Howard Skempton

    Three Preludes (1989) no.2

    Performer: Lucy Wakeford.
    • ASC : ASCCSCD51.
    • ASC.
    • 5.
  • Howard Skempton

    Clarinet Quintet - 1st mvt

    Ensemble: Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. Conductor: James Weeks.
    • NMC : NMCD135.
    • NMC.
    • 5.
  • Lavinia Meijer

    Passaggio

    • Sony Classical : 888837684082.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 9.
  • Lavinia Meijer

    Passaggio

    • Sony Classical : 888837684082.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 9.
  • Howard Skempton

    Three Preludes (1989) no.1

    Performer: Lucy Wakeford.
    • ASC : ASCCSCD51.
    • ASC.
    • 4.
  • Howard Skempton

    Three Preludes (1989) no.3

    Performer: Lucy Wakeford.
    • ASC : ASCCSCD51.
    • ASC.
    • 6.
  • Eliza Carthy, Jon Boden & John Spiers

    Cobbler's Hornpipe

    • Topic : TSCD554.
    • Topic.
    • 3.
  • Gy枚rgy Ligeti

    6 Bagatelles For Wind Quintet - No. 4

    Performer: Tuckwell Wind Quintet.
    • EMI : 6279052.
    • EMI.
    • 21.
  • Olivier Messiaen

    Des Canyons Aux Etoiles - The Resurrected

    Orchestra: Swr Symphony Orchestra Baden-Baden Und Freiburg. Conductor: Sylvain Cambreling.
    • Hanssler Classic : CD93225.
    • Hanssler Classic.
    • 1.
  • Arthur Honegger

    Pastorale d'Ete

    Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Dutoit.
    • Erato : ECD88171.
    • Erato.
    • 4.
  • William Mathias

    Symphony No. 1 - 3rd Mvt.

    Orchestra: 91热爆 Welsh S O. Conductor: William Mathias.
    • Nimbus : N15260.
    • Nimbus.
    • 3.

Broadcasts

  • Mon 29 May 2017 14:00
  • Fri 8 May 2020 13:00

The route: Capel-y-ffin to Hay-on-Wye

Use this map to trace Horatio Clare's footsteps

19 thoughts that everyone experiences during a country walk

鈥淪trangers! I鈥檓 going to greet them warmly, even though I would never normally do this.鈥

Six Great British walks

Feel inspired to take on a few of Britain's 150,000 miles of footpaths? Here's a guide.