Hay-On -Wye
The Official Magazine Britain|November - December 2017

With dozens of book and antiques shops, cosy pubs and riverside walks, this Welsh town takes life at a leisurely pace

Siobhan Dowd
Hay-On -Wye
Located at the northern most point of the Brecon Beacons and to the east of the Black Mountains, the little Marches town of Hay-on-Wye would have been hard pushed to have found a prettier location.

But the endearing town, which has become something of a Mecca for bibliophiles all over the world, hasn’t always been a place of such quiet reflection.

The magnificent Hay Castle has loomed over the narrow streets for more than 800 years – a reminder of the unrest that this border town has experienced throughout its history.

The castle was built around 1200 AD by William de Braose, a Norman Lord known as the ‘Ogre of Abergavenny’, and his fearsome wife Maud de Braose, or Moll Walbee to the Welsh.

Some believed Maud was a supernatural being. Local legend has it that she built the castle single-handedly one night, carrying stones in her apron. When one fell out, she threw it with such force that it landed across the River Wye in St Meilig’s churchyard, Llowes. The ancient cross carved into a standing stone inside the church is supposedly the discarded stone.

The position of Hay Castle, close to the Welsh/English border, meant that it was attacked by everyone, from Welsh patriots to English barons and reigning monarchs.

In 1231, it was even burned down by Llywelyn the Great before being rebuilt by King Henry III.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November - December 2017 من The Official Magazine Britain.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November - December 2017 من The Official Magazine Britain.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE BRITAIN مشاهدة الكل
Take The High Road
The Official Magazine Britain

Take The High Road

The North Coast 500 is an epic route that takes you past some of the country’s most spellbinding scenery

time-read
5 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Where To Stay In 2021
The Official Magazine Britain

Where To Stay In 2021

Whether it’s a country house escape, a rustic bolthole or a sophisticated city stay, you’ll find your perfect getaway on these pages

time-read
10+ mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
The EMPEROR'S ISLE
The Official Magazine Britain

The EMPEROR'S ISLE

Tresco was once a treeless and windswept island, the haunt of smugglers. Dramatically transformed by one man’s vision, it is now one of Britain’s most beautiful spots

time-read
6 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Hidden Cornwall
The Official Magazine Britain

Hidden Cornwall

Discover the beautiful, beguiling and rugged land of West Penwith in the far reaches of Cornwall

time-read
6 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Wonders of Wales
The Official Magazine Britain

Wonders of Wales

With its wild cliffs, pretty coves and puffins galore, St Brides Bay holds the best of Pembrokeshire

time-read
5 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Yorkshire's MOORS & SHORES
The Official Magazine Britain

Yorkshire's MOORS & SHORES

Equal parts mystical moor and secluded seashore, the Yorkshire coast beats some of Britain’s more traditional summer destinations hands down

time-read
5 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
PEAK PERFORMANCE
The Official Magazine Britain

PEAK PERFORMANCE

From heathery moors to rolling hills and underground caverns, the Peak District is home to some of the most majestic landscapes in the country

time-read
5 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
Culture CAPITAL
The Official Magazine Britain

Culture CAPITAL

After a year of stop-start openings, London's museums are welcoming visitors back in 2021 with an array of blockbuster exhibitions

time-read
4 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
HISTORIC NORFOLK
The Official Magazine Britain

HISTORIC NORFOLK

Spend time exploring this peaceful county, whose stately homes are a grand counterpoint to its unadorned rural landscapes

time-read
6 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide
1066 COUNTRY
The Official Magazine Britain

1066 COUNTRY

England’s sunny south coast has a rich heritage, harbouring ancient castles and evocative landscapes that tell the story of the Battle of Hastings and beyond

time-read
7 mins  |
Britain 2021 Guide