Cute, quirky and distinctly bookish, Hay-on-Wye is a delightful place to visit for anyone who finds themselves in the Powys area. Perhaps the ultimate headline grabber is the Welsh town’s definitive literature festival each summer. It’s just as pretty the rest of the year, however, whether you visit as an avid foodie, an arts fan or just someone who loves a good browse. Here are six Hay highlights not to miss…
Searching for a little romance far from those increasingly maddening crowds this year? Whether it is to mark St Valentine’s Day 2017, the Welsh equivalent of St Dwynwen’s Day, or just to treat your partner to a well-deserved break, mid Wales provides some idyllic places for couples to spark their romantic side. Here are just some of the locations and activities to stir the heart on your next visit:
Duller days and early nights; dropping temperatures and drizzle; that feeling of not quite wanting to leave the cosiness of your bed. Whichever way you look at it, most of us will feel an annual touch of the winter doldrums to some extent. So what is the answer to the winter blues? From getting into the outdoors to celebrating the positives of winter, there are various activities and, yes, attitudes we can embrace to make those cooler months pass more joyfully. Here are just some of the ways to survive winter and keep smiling.
Enjoy Christmas shopping at your own pace. Vouchers, historic market town and more....
Do you have any big plans for 2018? Before the season of excess comes to a close, many of us will already be planning some new adventures and time away in the New Year. It could be a spot of relaxation or adventure; a new destination or an entire new hobby. If we had to recommend a shortlist of things to see, try or have a go at in the coming year though, the following would all come highly recommended:
Whether it's a birthday, Valentine's Day or any special occasion, there are so many ways to spoil your partner these days. But if we had to pick something straight from the heart here in Mid Wales, where would we start? Gift ideas might start with his or her tastes, not to mention your budget. You could pick something small but personalised, or go for a full blown break or gift experience to mark that special occasion such as an anniversary. Here are some of our favourite, distinctly Welsh Valentine’s gifts and ideas:
So clearly a different approach is needed. Now that the worst of winter is behind us, we can shrug off those January blues and start thinking about more realistic ways to nurture and inspire the best version of ourselves – which, we accept, will never be perfect but will be all the better for it!
Wales is thought to have more historic castles per square mile than anywhere else in the World. And, surpisingly, four times more sheep than people. It's a wonderful, beautiful, eccentric place; worth your time and camera lens.
If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that the coronavirus lockdown is becoming tedious. Through the long dark of winter, we’ve been mostly cooped up indoors, unable to properly see family and friends. We’re now desperate for the sun to return and to get out and about. Back to normality.