Hay, stay and play… 

By Hems Du Winter

Brecon and its surrounding areas is a place I’ve only just  discovered, it boastfully promotes itself as one of the UK’s leading adventure playgrounds, well who’d have known. 

The imposing black mountains as I drive from cheshire host several adventure centres hosting water sports, fishing, canoeing, pony trekking, and epic walking with amazing views and of course the area is a cyclist’s dream!  

I’m here for something else the world famous Hay Book Festival, it was so famous that this was my second first time visiting. For those not yet attended it is an annual eleven-day event straddling 27th May to 6th of June which plans to return to its pre-Corvid glory in 2021.

Is the Hay Festival just an event for literary luvvies?

Far from it! But before we get into the detail, you may be one of these people, admittedly like I, who have heard of it but don’t know much else and would never even consider going.  In a nutshell, it’s one of the world’s biggest and best literary festivals and it takes place every summer in the little borders town of Hay on Wye in Powys.

For over 30 years Hay has brought readers and writers together to share stories and ideas in live sustainable events around the world, the festivals wants to inspire, examine and entertain.

The first Hay Festival 30 years ago was held in the modest surroundings of a pub garden. These days it attracts 100,000-plus visitors over 11 days who engage with 700 speakers and attend over 800 events that feature the world’s great writers, poets, philosophers, historians, adventurers, storytellers, scientists, comedians and musicians. 

It’s moved to a large tented village on the outskirts of town with ten venues, pop-up cafes, shops and restaurants and its brilliant.

The sessions I visited I’d booked before arriving

 I new there would be only so many seats for Stephen Fry. Although the various seated auditoriums are pretty big and can accommodate hundreds of people, it’s always best to book in advance to make sure you get to see the people you really want to see. The popular events, talks and interviews get booked up pretty quickly although there is an office on-site where unsold tickets and return can be bought o the day. The organisation is superb, both online and on site and the Hay website is just fantastic.

Did you know for just £10, you can access Hay on line where you can see as many of the talks and events you like from the last few years.  Wonderful value. We saw a range of talks including a very emotionally-charged interview with yachtsman Robin Knox-Jonson, a wonderful talk from authorises Raynor Winn (if you haven’t yet read her awesome book, The Salt Path, do so immediately) and TV journalists Emily Maitliss and John Sopel.

One of the highlights has to have been former NHS doctor Adam Kay whose book, This is Going to Hurt has been in the Tines best seller list for years!! I ached with laugher. The audiences represent all ages and all backgrounds and there’s usually an opportunity to ask questions after the talks. Authors then move to the amazing bookshop where if you want, they will autograph a copy of their books.  

Friends and I relaxed in deckchairs on the village green, browsed the stalls and visited a festival bookshop which stocks 55,000 titles by visiting speakers. We enjoyed the evenings as they are devoted to music, comedy and film, just superb.

A cliche perhaps but there really is something for everyone, of every age, interest and inclination.   

Pretentious they say? It’s a rollercoaster of the senses.

The atmosphere is superb, there’s nothing at all pretentious about it and in one day attending talks and interviews you’ll experience the full gamut of emotions. It is a rollercoaster for the senses. And it’s just so civilised and relaxed!

I..we didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as we did and went back again in a large group the year after.  We would have returned a third time this year had it not been for the pandemic.

It’s fun going in a group of 14. You attend the talks and events you want during the day and get together in the evening over the dinner table to swap experiences. Brilliant.

Accommodation

Both years we stayed in the 17th century converted mill that is Trebarried Mill in Llanfilo, Brecon, a fifteen-minute drive to the festival site. The Mill has 7 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms enough to fit us all in. Spacious accommodation including two reception rooms, a ‘snug’ dating back to the 17th century with original beams, inglenook fireplace and toasty wood burner. The main living area is split into two. One part has a large dining table (seats 14+) and the other section has ample comfy seating, pub sized pool table, TV and music system and numerous sleeping options with a choice of bedrooms including two large family rooms. Beds include super kings, kings, doubles and a selection of single beds (max 16 -18 beds in total). One of the family bedrooms even has a balcony overlooking the stream!

Obviously Trebarried Mill isn’t just for Hay!  Click here to find places to stay during the festival. Where to Stay | Hay-on-Wye, Hereford
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