My Day in Hay-on-Wye 'Book town' - plus a book haul!

Last week I had few days in Wales - and a day in the UK's 'book town', Hay-on-Wye' - with Tilly of course! This is a little video about Hay, a video put together from my visit to Hay, and a description of the books I bought. By the way - don't expect anything hi-tech - recording in crowded streets with a phone camera, and a dog pulling on your other arm is not exactly easy! But for those of you who have never been to Hay, I hope this inspires you to visit the town and the area.
Get my FREE book here: www.rosamundebott.com/list-oot/
More books on my Amazon page: amzn.to/3zUp2Id
For more information about me and my books: www.rosamundebott.com
Follow my Facebook page here: / writerros
Follow me on Twitter: / writerros
Thinking about writing a book? I have produced a course on how to write your first novel: www.udemy.com/course/how-to-w...

[@inlaterdays]

Books, a castle, and beautiful countryside...Hay looks idyllic! Thank you for the video; I really enjoyed it.

[@starlasell5698]

Thank you for sharing your trip. What a beautiful town and countryside! It looked like you and Tilly had a fantastic time. Castle and books, a dream vacation.

[@pattypage6723]

What a fun adventure! Thanks for sharing it. I would so love to wander about there. And a castle to boot.. Perfect place in my mind. Appreciate you taking us along👍💚

[@JanicePiggott-qi3ui]

I remember our trip to Hay on Wye with my late Husband and dear late dog Billy. It was wonderful v😊

[@aadamtx]

A friend and I spent two days in Hay-on-Wye about twenty years ago, after the book festival (rooms are impossible to get during that week unless you book a year in advance). Stayed at a lovely inn in town but don't recall the name. I remember the castle well - nothing like going through books amid the ruins. I also remember a bookstore devoted solely to boxing books and memorabilia and another store devoted solely to jigsaw puzzles. Love to get back there sometime!

[@hanlieingels6634]

I enjoyed this video immensely, thank you. I live in Namibia in a small rural town with NO bookshops. Many years ago, I visited my brother in the UK and he and his family took me to Hay-on-Wye, and I thought I had landed in heaven! I was also drooling and very sad I had to watch the weight of my luggage to get home. Oh, what torture that was!!!

[@BobbyBrown90210]

I adored this video! Thank you for taking us yours and tilly's adventure 😊 I would love to see you and tilly visit more places like this! ❤

[@NadineTouzet]

I’ve always dreamed of visiting Hay on Wye, so it was nice to see it vicariously. Your book haul seemed reasonable, considering all the temptations!

[@josephcossey1811]

Spent a week in Hay On Wye a few years ago and it wasn't nearly long enough to fully explore all the literary delights on offer!

[@pamelamcarthur5131]

Such a beautiful place thank you for sharing it with us!

[@BrentDavis75]

I have Welsh ancestry. I'd love to visit Wales before I pop my clogs... Hay-on-Wye certainly seems like my kind of town.

[@joysedgwick812]

I enjoyed seeing Hay again, I can't remember when I first visited but there was a cinema full of books and lots of outdoor spaces where there was no fixed price, just the honesty box! Last time I went the prices were certainly not as easily affordable. I laughed when you said you needed more time to read…..my problem is that I spend too much time watching interesting people like you talking about books I might like to read 😂.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

😂

[@neens1369]

Those Jane Austen's books are so beautiful

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

I know - it was difficult to walk away!

[@Ra-lb6io]

Wow - I had no idea a place like that existed! I'll go sometime with friends for sure, thanks for sharing your trip with us :)

[@deblawrence8341]

Thank you for sharing your lovely trip with us! 🥰

[@user-xs3bm8wg5c]

That was a great video. Thanks for sharing your trip with us. Tilly obviously had a great time too! Wish I had a place like Hay here where I love in the US.

[@lizzieh5284]

I agree with you about Ben Elton. He is underrated as an author. His novel 'Two Brothers'is brilliant.😊

[@AaronR.Williams]

Wonderful episode!

[@meryle.hawkins880]

Loved this video. Ian McEwen is probably my favourite writer. I read Saturday when it first came out and got more out of it on a second reading. I tend to read his books slowly as he uses language so beautifully and I don’t want to miss any. Atonement was my favourite and the TV movie was just as good. I love your videos and Tilly is gorgeous

[@paulijooste3010]

YAY - so glad you and Tilly went to Hay :) I lived in UK for 10 years now back in SouthAfrica - I miss UK so very much and very HIGH on my list is Hay. It was always my favorite outing - walking around the town of books then out to the castle and the moment the people got to much - books never a problem but people and noise :( then I could head off into the countryside - LOVED VERY MOMENT OF EVERY TRIP.

[@patricialux6197]

OMG it's Book Narnia!!! ~~AND with a castle! What a beautiful place, i sort of had an adrenaline rush and palpitations 😅 . Delightful place, thanks for sharing that. I want those Jane Austen books, what lovely covers. And as always, Tilly simply makes me smile out loud, that face! 😊 the blue scarf was great for you and you looked so happy, yes, a special day. And you got a beautiful sky (& an ice cream cone!)...and glad to hear youre a vegetarian, too!!! 🤍🕊🐶📚

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Book Narnia! 😂 Love it! Thanks for all your lovely comments 🙂

[@JacquelineCaron]

thanks for sharing your holiday trip with us - love seeing posts of Hay-on-Wye and Tilly seemed quite happy too! glad you found a few books to take away with you 😊

[@linbourne8731]

Although I live on the Gloucestershire/Herefordshire border, only about an hour from Hay I have only visited once and that was on a walking weekend, so we didn't really get any shopping time in the town. I really should make the effort to return and do a bit of book browsing 🤔

[@orglancs]

How right you are Rosamunde! I, too, spent a few days in Hay some years ago now, when I was working and had more money to spend on books. Like you, and anyone else interested in books, I had heard and kept on hearing about Hay and its wonders and eventually decided 'to get round to' a visit. I was certainly not disappointed, in fact, felt I was in heaven. I spent all day, every day, for several days doing nothing but browsing through the many bookshops there. I especially remmeber the enormous stock in the old cinema. I wonder if it's still there. I went down on the train with two rucsacs, one containing my personal effects, the other quite empty, and brought it back bursting at the seams. My book interests are obviously very different to yours, and I still found plenty to look at. The town's shops cover almost any field that you can imagine. I am interested in history, but I was so taken up with the books that I didn't even notice the castle! There are also some wonderful cafes there, and also some magnificent walks. I particularly remember one along the River Wye. Doubtless, during the festival it's an expensive place, but I went out of season and found everything quite reasonable. Thank you for your account. You make the place sound so tempting that I am beginning to think I will just have to visit again, onemore time, while I can still put one foot in front of the other, which I am very capable of doing, when it comes to books. I recommend the York Book Fair as a similar experience, something you can do in a day. It's very conveniently run. There is a regular free bus-service from close to the railway station. Admission £2 for the day, when I last went, and you can get a free ticket from the organisers via their website. I'm glad to see this is getting;lots of views. They have been clicking away while I have been writing this. Regards, Peter.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thank you! I might put York book fair on my list of places to go - possibly combined with a trip to the Dales... Bronte country... also many of my ancestors were from that area. Needs more than a few days I think 🙂

[@orglancs]

@@booksfrommybookshelf Yes, if you haven't already been, the BronteMuseum is a 'must', utterly atmospheric and full of their presence. They seemed so close that I really would not have been surprised if one of the great sisters had strolled through the door and said 'hello'!

[@maryfilippou6667]

I read The Hideous Strength first and the rest of the trilogy back and forth on the train last year. 'Strength' is quite tense and treacherous and shows how susceptible a normal, 'decent' person can become to blandishments and the control of powerful, evil men. The books are first-rate, though scientifically simplistic as we now know.

[@lizzieh5284]

Tilly reminds ne so much of a Yorkie I used to have. Brings back lovely memories watching her. Thank you and thank you for sharing your trip to Hay-on-Wye. 😊❤

[@thomasceneri867]

If you like Ian McEwan, I highly recommend his, I believe, latest novel, The Pole. It's very slim, and I was deeply moved by it. I found it devastating, as Atonement is, in the best way.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[@mariannaalbek679]

Thank you very much for the videos! This place is on my bucket list. It was nice to have a glance.

[@SusanneWolfle-Fischer]

thank you for the charming video. Unfortunable I have not been in Hay-on-Wye yet. We have one booktown in Germany as well. It was foundet in 1998 in Wünsdorf (Brandenburg). William Booth was there for the opening. My husband and I are there very often, that`s why we have so many unread books. It' s not easy to resist.

[@josephcossey1811]

Think it was former U.S. president Bill Clinton who once referred to the Hay festival as "The Woodstock of the mind".

[@zena-knittingbeans7973]

What a great visit with you. Book heaven 📖😃🙏🏻

[@AnnaD791]

Thank you for another wonderful video. It was lovely to see you and Tilly out and about. My family and I visited Hay for the first time last year and had a great day. While we were in the area we also visited Arthur's Stone a neolithic burial site which inspired CS Lewis to write the scene with Aslan and the stone slab.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Oh, I had intended to go to Arthur's Stone, but I just ran out of time, and the weather wasn't great. I'll have to go back now!

[@bronwenryan416]

Lovely video, beautiful Tilly 📚

[@DaisyDreamer72]

I don't live a huge distance from Hay but have never been! I have, however, been to Wigtown which is Scotland's book town. I love it there.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thanks - I'd love to go to Wigtown! I love Scotland, but I've never visited that Western part, which must be wonderful. Another trip to consider!

[@louiseonofrio-mills48]

What a lovely video🌿 Hay has been on my list for a while, I think this has knocked it up a notch or two now!📚xx

[@Idela905]

Thank you for sharing. What a lovely place !! I hope one day to visit 🙏🏻

[@missstarbuck]

Lovely video! And gorgeous looking books! . I am not from the UK, but would love to go there someday. It looks awesome! Very beautiful!

[@cassandra3399]

Hello, I just enjoyed that so very much and thank you! 😊😊😊❤❤❤

[@constancecampbell4610]

Lovely video. I really enjoyed Screwtape way back in college. Thanks for reminding me of it. 🦋🏳️‍🌈

[@cherylann933]

Loved this video! I’ve never ventured outside the USA but I’d love to see Wales and especially that quaint little town! And Rosamunde, we have a couple things in common. First, my cousin shares your unique name but spells it Rosemond😊. Second, I’ve owned four yorkies. They were so lovable and very special. They crossed the rainbow bridge a few years ago and it’s still difficult to talk about it. Please give Milly a hug and kiss for me!😊🐶

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thank you! Yes, Yorkies are so cuddly and fun aren't they? It's so difficult when our furry companions pass - I've had three Westies in the past, and it's heartbreaking when they go. It took me four years before I was ready to get another... but Tilly was worth the wait!

[@lisanelson3415]

What a joy!! Thankyou for taking us along with would love to go !! Ive tried to watch cloud atlas twice really struggled to make head nor tail of it not tried the book though

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

I loved the film of Cloud Atlas - but I can understand that it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. I'll keep perusing the second hand shops for a copy!

[@illgetmycoat1254]

Loved seeing you out and about, always fancied going there, do you know how doable it is via train, it looks like it's a taxi ride from station which has put me off in the past.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

There's no train station at Hay - I think the nearest is Cilmeri on the Welsh side, or Hereford on the English side - so rather an expensive taxi ride! There is a coach stop at Talgarth, which might be an option? Talgarth is about 10 miles from Hay.

[@mtngrl5859]

First time I've been on your channel & I just subscribed! Hay looks like a lovely village & you and Tilly had a nice visit. Btw, is Tilly a Norwich Terrier, she's so cute! I've only seen Hay Festival on video before.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

Thank you! Tilly is actually a Yorkshire Terrier - one of the larger ones! But they do certainly have similarities with the Norwich Terrier :)

[@mtngrl5859]

@@booksfrommybookshelf Thanks for your reply! That's interbeing that Tilly is that breed, she is quite different looking than Yorkies we have in the US. I'm a huge fan of the Crufts Dog shows, you have so many breeds we seldom see in the US. I love your smooth Collie's, we usually only have the rough or long haired collie's.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

@@mtngrl5859 Many people think of Yorkies as quite small - with the long Crufts cut hairdo! But they come in different sizes, and I prefer to have the shorter cut. I love Crufts too!

[@carolbresnahan1244]

I would love to visit there. How accomodating are the shops, restaurants and accommodation for dogs? Looks like you both had a great time 🌻

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

It's extremely dog-friendly. I asked every time I entered a bookshop - but everyone was happy for me to take Tilly in - and I think all the cafes were probably the same. I find that there is much more dog-friendly accommodation across the UK these days than there used to be. I tend to rent self-accommodation cottages, as it makes it a lot easier with a dog - and there are plenty in the area.

[@carolbresnahan1244]

Thank you, I will definitely take a trip there. 🌻

[@thomasceneri867]

I would LOVE to go to Hay-on-Wye! I am a big Anglophile and have been to England many times, but never there. One of my favorite places in the UK and the world is the Scilly Islands. Have you been?

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

No, I've not been to the Scilly Isles. Definitely somewhere I'd consider!

[@lizdorrington2851]

I loved this video Rosamunde as Hay-On -Wye is on my bucketlist. You got some great books on your visit. Ian Mc Ewan is an interesting writer, have you read The Cockroach? I think that's what it's called.

[@booksfrommybookshelf]

No I haven't but I will always look out for McEwan books, so I hope to.

[@meryle.hawkins880]

Ian McEwan. With an a not an e Finger poking gone wrong