| Coordinates: | 52.063, -3.114 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | SO 23 41 |
| Dialling code: | 01497 |
Hay-on-Wye in Powys, Wales is a small market town on the banks of the River Wye, right on the English border near Herefordshire, with the rolling hills of the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains close by - a scenic base for walking, canoeing and countryside tourism.
Renowned as a "town of books", its many independent and second‑hand bookshops and the internationally known Hay Festival have transformed the local economy and cultural life; the town’s quirky modern identity owes much to bookseller Richard Booth’s publicity stunts (including a self‑styled "Kingdom of Hay"), while historic features such as Hay Castle and its marcher‑town past underline a long and interesting history.