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Hay-on-Wye
is the book capital of the world, with over 30 bookshops selling
many specialist subjects. Our FREE booksearch
service searches these bookshops for the titles you are looking for. |
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Large
and small quantities of books, photographs,albums
and
postcards purchased throughout the U.K and around
the
world. |
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Hay-on-Wye,Town of Books
Hay-on-Wye,
the World's first Book Town, lies on the edge of Wales (the County
of Powys) and England (the County of Herefordshire). The ancient
national border passes through the built-up area of the town, which
is dominated by Hay Castle.
Hay
is situated on the River Wye under the edge of the Black Mountains,
part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. There are opportunities for
walking, pony trekking, hang-gliding and other open air sports in the
beautiful country around the town.
In
1961, when Richard Booth founded his Book Town at Hay, the
prosperity and population of this small agricultural town were in
decline. Not long ago there were just two hotels and one Bed-&-Breakfast
provider in the town; now there are over one hundred accommodation
providers, and tourists come from all over the world to buy books in Hay-on-Wye.
Today,
with a population of only about 1,500, Hay has thirty-three bookshops.
The
information provided here is believed to be correct at 12th May
1997. However, we cannot take responsibility for any inaccuracies or
changes in routes, timetables, fares or other travel arrangements.
There
is a unified transport links website which links to the rail journey
planner (but see below) as well as to major airlines, coaches, car
hire companies, etc.
Hay-on-Wye
is about 250 miles (about 400 kilometres) west/northwest from London. |
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By Air to Britain for Hay
Most
international flights arrive at London Heathrow, which is to the
west of London. However, there are also airports at Birmingham,
Cardiff and Bristol, each about 50-60 miles (about 80-100 kilometres)
from Hay, which handle some international flights. Bristol and
Cardiff are on the M4 motorway (see "By Car..." below),
while Birmingham is a motorway hub; all three cities have direct or
indirect rail connections to Hereford (see By Rail
), although not necessarily from their airports. |
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By Car from London to Hay
If
you are hiring a car in London, probably the simplest (although not
necessarily the shortest, quickest or most pleasant) route, using
main roads and avoiding difficult town centres, is to:
1.
take the M4 motorway west out of London or from Heathrow airport (or
from Gatwick airport, take the M23 and M25 to the M4), crossing the
Severn toll bridge (about 7 UK Pounds) into Wales;
2.
At Junction 24 (approaching Newport) leave the M4 and take the A449
dual carriageway northwards to Raglan;
3.
Approaching Raglan, turn LEFT off the A449 onto the A40 dual
carriageway north-west to Abergavenny (see below), and on through Crickhowell;
4.
At the roundabout on the dual carriageway approaching Brecon turn
right off the A40 onto the A470 towards Hereford, which continues
north-east becoming the A438;
5.
At Glasbury or Clyro, turn right for Hay which is then only a mile
or two away.
(Abergavenny
is the only complicated town on this route, although it is quite
small; follow the signposts through Abergavenny for A40/Brecon. On
the double roundabout approaching Abergavenny, the first exit for
Brecon avoids Abergavenny, but this is not the easiest of routes to follow.)
If
you don't like motorways, another way to Hay is to get onto the A40
in London and stay on it until you reach the roundabout before Brecon
(above). However, this is not nearly as simple as it sounds. Local
people, of course, have their own cross-country routes (e.g. via Ross-on-Wye
and Hereford), and you are welcome to work out your own, although a
detailed map is recommended.
Cars
can be hired in the UK from about 20 to 25 UK Pounds per day, plus
sometimes a charge per mile; watch out for extra insurance charges.
Petrol in the UK costs about 75 to 80 pence per litre. (100 UK pence
= 1 UK Pound; about 4.5 litres = 1 gallon.) |
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By Rail from London to
Hereford (for Hay)
The
"local" railway station is at Hereford, about 20 miles (30
kilometres) away.
The
station for Hereford in London is Paddington, which is on the
Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, and Bakerloo underground
lines. For air passengers arriving at Heathrow airport, there are
coach connections from the air terminals to the Hereford trains at
Reading Station, and it may be possible to key Heathrow into the
Internet timetable instead of London as the starting
"railway" station. For air passengers arriving at Gatwick,
there are direct trains to London (Victoria) railway station, which
is on the Circle (and District and Victoria) underground lines, and
also to Reading railway station for the Hereford trains.
The
rail timetable changes on 31 May and in about September each year.
The UK national rail enquiries telephone number is 0345 484950, or
you can find train times on the Internet. The Internet train planner
may suggest that you change trains during the journey, but
connections are not always guaranteed. There are normally one or two
direct trains from London to Hereford every day (currently [12 May
1997] 1048 and 1710 on weekdays), but this is often by a slower
(about 3 hours), if prettier, route.
The
standard-class rail fares from London to Hereford range from about
30 to 35 UK Pounds one-way, and from about 30 to 70 UK Pounds return,
depending on the times of purchase and travel. The normal return fare
is about 40 UK Pounds. |
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By Coach from London to
Hereford (for Hay)
So
far as we know there are no direct scheduled coach services from
London to Hay. There are a few National Express coaches from London
to Hereford each day. The journey takes about 4 hours and costs about
20 to 25 UK Pounds one-way, and up to about 35 UK Pounds return. |
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By Bus from Hereford to Hay
The
local bus companies' telephone numbers are
0345
125436 for local buses
01905
766802 for local transport generally.
Hereford
country bus station is "just up the road" from Hereford
railway station; ask for directions at the railway station. Sunday
bus services to Hay call at Hereford railway station first, but not
weekday ones.
The
timetable can change at any time after only 6 weeks' notice, but the
Hereford to Hay daily service apparently has not changed since 1994.
Buses depart from Hereford for Hay at:
Mondays
to Saturdays (Stagecoach Red & White No. 39): 0830, 1110, 1335,
1600, 1750;
Sundays
(Yeomans Canyon No. 40) 0930, 1300, 1550.
On
Saturdays there is a 1715 service operated by Roy Brown's Coaches
(also at 1600 on Wednesdays and Fridays).
The
journey by bus takes about 1 hour.
Buses
back TO Hereford DEPART from Hay (Oxford Road):
Mondays
to Saturdays: 0725, 1000, 1231, 1447, 1700;
Sundays:
1145, 1410, 1805.
A
Roy Brown's Coaches service DEPARTS from Hay (Broad St Clock Tower)
on Wednesdays and Fridays at 0945 and on Saturdays at 1326.
The
fare from Hereford to Hay is about 4 UK Pounds. |
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By Taxi from Hereford
to Hay
There
should also be taxis available at Hereford railway station or by
phoning from a public telephone. We have been told that the fare
would be about 15 to 20 UK Pounds. It is always sensible to ask the
approximate fare before hiring a taxi for a rural journey.
The
journey by taxi should normally take about half an hour. |
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