Hay-On-Wye

The bustling town of Hay-on-Wye nestles on the banks of the river Wye below the northern edges of the awe-inspiring Brecon Beacons National Park and resides on the welsh side of the border between Wales and England. The welsh name for the town is Y Gelli meaning ‘The Grove’.

The romantic ruin of the castle, the central focus of the town, has been attacked several times throughout history from both sides of the border. It was destroyed by the English King John in 1216, and soon after the Welsh Prince Llewellyn set fire to it. King Offa of Mercia built an enormous earth wall in the second half of the eight century to protect himself from the Welsh. This now forms the line of the Offa's Dyke Footpath, which runs from South to North Wales along the border. Hidden away and unmarked is a second older castle near to St. Mary’s Church.

The town’s location on the road between Hereford and Brecon has given rise to a good many coaching inns and pubs, and a fine tradition of offering food and lodgings to many a weary traveller. The marketplace plays an important part in the town, bringing people in from outlying areas to shop for all their needs.

There are a multitude of things to do and see in Hay. Whether browsing the numerous bookshops and boutiques, watching the world go by from one of the many cafes, navigating the river in a canoe or exploring the majestic countryside that surrounds the town.

Hay has the proud boast of being the world’s first ‘Book Town’ largely due to the vision of local character Richard Booth who opened his first bookshop in the town in 1961. Where he led, others followed and the town now has over 35 secondhand bookshops attracting bibliophiles from all over the world.

In May each year the town plays host to the world famous Hay-on-Wye Literary Festival and in recent years has attracted upwards of 80,000 visitors. Alongside this is the Children's Festival where storytelling, puppetry, and magic occupy children from the ages of 6 - 12 with additional activities for younger children.