Kevin Wilson started creating Bucks Hill many years ago, with the idea of a fine scale layout based on Pontrilas in Wales with a large fiddle yard on which long realistic trains could be run. He says:

“The layout “Holiday Haunts” was inspirational to many; the location at Dawlish on the Devon coast, a full height backscene hiding the operators and a constant flow of quality rolling stock ensured its popularity.

Late on the Sunday afternoon at the annual O gauge Jamboree at Telford, I was leaning on the barrier watching the trains go by, the crowds had long since dissipated, yielding for the first time that weekend some elbow room. An equally appreciative friend Mike Morris interrupted my reverie and we enjoyed the view in silence for a while.

Those moments sowed the seed that eventually became Bucks Hill. I can’t remember the exact year but it must have been in the early to mid 1990’s.

The die was cast, the new project would be a “roundy roundy” and preferably a real place. Mike volunteered to do some research and seek out a few possible locations. ​ ​The main criteria were, twin track main line, predominately GWR and preferably with a branch line. As with many deliberations of this nature a supply of ale from the local hostelry seemed to help, certainly with volume if not common sense.

Eventually, Pontrilas in the Welsh marches was deemed the best option, as it was GWR with LMS running rights, the junction for the Golden Valley line and had attractive buildings etc.”