There is SO much to do in Hay-on-Wye. It’s a vibrant market town bursting at the seams with independent shops, pubs and cafes but if you are after more than shopping and dining then there’s plenty on offer.

ALL YEAR ROUND

Spend days mooching around the independent shops that Hay has aplenty. Some personal favourites:

The Old Electric Shop offers visitors not only a wonderful (and rather large) shopping opportunity but a vegetarian cafe serving tasty lunches until 3pm. Dog friendly.

Bartrums is a rare treat. An independent stationery shop with an impressive range of wonderful pens and carefully selected stationery. Don’t miss to visit downstairs.

The Bain & Murrin Emporium visit this shop even if its just to take in the most spectacular window displays. Enjoy rummaging the rails for that one off piece.

Booths Bookshop is one of those shops that you could spend a day in. Browse the shelves, pick a book and settle in a comfy sofa. Need lunch? There’s a cafe and, if you fancy, there’s a really nice cinema just next door too.

Golesworthy’s is a shop that’s been a family run outfitters since 1877. If you find yourself holidaying a ‘waterproof short’ then this is the shop for you. Also check out Rohan and PSM Outdoors. All sell garments suitable for our glorious changeable weather. PSM also sell canoes….

EAT

The Baskerville Arms is our local. A few minutes walk away and a friendly welcome. Great for food and local beers. Dog friendly.

Tomatitoes is fun, friendly and where most of the locals head after work for a quick tipple. Tapas bar with a very relaxed vibe.

The Blue Boar is a traditional pub, warm with cosy corners. Good food and beer. Dog friendly.

St John’s Place is very special. Friday and Saturday only, booking almost essential.

The River Cafe at Glasbury has been enjoyed by many of our guests. Great all year round but on a Summers day you can enjoy dining ‘al fresco’ and watch the world wash by overlooking the river Wye.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Walking, cycling, canoeing, it’s all here.

Canoes can be hired from Want to Canoe, Wye Valley Canoes, Celtic Canoes to name a few.

Cycle hire is available here at Drovers.

NOTABLES

The infamous Hay Festival happens in May. Nobel Prize-winners and novelists, scientists and politicians, historians and musicians talk with audiences in a dynamic exchange of ideas. Hay Festival’s global conversation shares the latest thinking in the arts and sciences with curious audiences live, in print and digitally. Visited by thousands in the 10 days its on it really is one for the diary!

The great Winter Weekend in Hay is now becoming quite ‘a thing’. It is the accumulation of a number of events that happened independently each year but have been thoughtfully working together the last few years to ensure that visitor satisfaction is guaranteed. Enjoy the ‘Grand Switch on of the Christmas Lights’ on the Friday (the deed fell on the shoulders of Ben Fogle last year), then meet local and Welsh food producers at the Food Festival on the Saturday before Hay Does Vintage moves in on the Sunday. All this happening in our small town AND the Hay Festival Winter Weekend. We really spoil you.

The Globe at Hay is worth keeping an eye on if you’re visiting. An independent arts centre with too many events to mention so visit the site to see what’s on. They also host How the Light Gets In festival in May.

THURSDAY is market day. Find artisan bread, fruit and veg, meats and game, fishmonger, cheese and store cupboard essentials, cakes and pastries and other delights.