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HAY-ON-WYE / BRECON BEACONS - 01/10/08

A short visit on Wednesday 1st October to the Brecon Beacons and Hay-on-Wye in Wales is featured in this page of photographs.

Hay-on-Wye on the Welsh/English border is best known for its many bookshops with around 35 in the town selling a variety of books ranging from rare first editions to new. The town holds a literary festival every year which attracts many famous writers and performers and a estimated 80,000 visitors to the town over the 10 day event; next years festival is scheduled to take place from the 21st - 31st May 2009 - click here for an external link to the festival website.
The  town which lies on the banks of the River Wye is also a popular destination for tourists thanks to its ancient architecture including two Norman castles and a number of galleries, antique, gift and clothes shops. Hay Castle is itself home to a large bookshop in the mansion wing built in the 1660's, (photos in top row above).
Much of the popularity of Hay-on-Wye as an international destination for bibliophiles is said to be thanks to the self proclaimed King of Hay, Richard Booth who opened his first bookshop in the town in 1961 with the dream of creating the largest book-selling centre in the world.
Hay-on Wye is located within the Brecon Beacons National Park at its north-eastern edge. The photos here merely offer a taste of the rolling hills, lakes and villages of the National Park which covers around 520 square miles. As well as a popular destination for walkers the park is popular for cycling, canoeing and boating, wildlife and horse riding with 11 trekking and riding centres.
More photos of the rivers and reservoirs in the Brecon Beacons and a viaduct near Pontsticill just to the north of Merthyr Tydfil.