Exploring Mid Wales...
The River Wye & The Upper
Wye Valley
One of the major rivers of Wales, designated as a
special area of conservation and renowned for its variety of wildlife,
white water kayaking and Canadian canoeing.
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Upper Wye Valley north of Erwood |
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River Wye near Trericket Mill |
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Brechfa Pool above Trericket Mill (Black Mountains
in background) |
The Brecon
Beacons National Park
The National Park covers 520 square miles and includes
the Brecon Beacons mountain range, the Black Mountains and Llangorse
Lake (the largest natural lake in Wales).
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Llangorse Lake, with crannog island
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Brecon Beacons in winter
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Stone circle
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Hay-on-Wye
– "Town Of Books"
This small market town on the border between Wales and
England is famous as the "Town of Books". Richard Booth
opened his first second-hand bookshop here in 1961, now there are
some 30 bookshops in the town.
Hay-on-Wye gained much notoriety in 1977 when Richard
Booth and some of his friends decided (over a few pints in the pub)
to declare U.D.I. A parliament was formed (although some ministers
were too drunk to remember which was their ministry), 98p bank notes
printed (on rice paper, so at least you could eat them), passports
issued and titles sold (Earldoms cost £5, including a free T-shirt).
Richard Booth was crowned king on April 1st 1977. He gave a speech
from the battlements of his castle and the local school children sang
the Hay national anthem. In 1984 a referendum, organised by Booth's
arch rival, Leon Morelli, in which 25% of the townsfolk voted (mainly
due to the offer of a free glass of wine provided by Mr Morelli) ended
the reign of good King Richard. Booth never acknowledged the validity
of the referendum, but the Duchess of Hay and Offa's Dyke,
April Ashley (Britain's first sex change), sought exile in Hollywood!
Every summer the Guardian's Hay
Festival is held, which attracts such notaries as Bill Clinton
and Melvyn Bragg. The 2008 dates are Thursday 22 May to Sunday 1 June.
Hay-on-Wye is Y-Gelli in Welsh.
- Hay-on-Wye
- The famous second-hand book town. 8 miles
- Booktown
- Information about Hay-on-Wye and its specialist bookshops.
- Booth
Books - Europe's largest second-hand bookshop.
- The Hay Makers
- Co-operative of designer-makers selling pottery, wood, glass,
stone, silk and books.
The Radnor
Hills
 You
can walk in the local Radnor Hills on the opposite side of the valley
without meeting another soul. Behind the craggy outcrops of Aberedw
Rocks, Prince Llewellyn (the last true prince of Wales) hid in a cave
from Norman soldiers, and a local farrier shod his horse backwards
to throw his pursuers off the scent. Sadly he was caught and murdered
at Cilmery west of Builth Wells where his memorial stone (photo left)
can be visited.
Places
To Visit
Distances from Trericket
Mill are shown at the end of each link.
Links open in a new window.
- Erwood
Station Craft Centre & Gallery. - Local arts and crafts
for sale, resident wood turner and regular exhibitions in the old
railway carriages. Also tea room, picnic site and river walk.
3 miles
- Elan Valley
- Impressive Victorian dams and reservoirs. Near Rhayader. 19
miles
- Black
Mountains Pottery - Small pottery in the heart of the Black
Mountains. 10 miles
- Tretower
Court - Restored 15th century house and gardens with 13th century
stone keep. Near Abergavenny. 15 miles
- Centre for Alternative
Technology - 7 acres of exciting interactive displays demonstrating
alternative energy, environmentally responsible buildings, energy
conservation, organic growing and composting. Fantastic organic
cafe on site! Near Machynlleth. 57
miles
- Big
Pit - Go 300 feet underground with a real miner and see what
life was like for the thousands of men who worked at the coal face.
At Blaenavon, near Abergavenny. 30 miles
- The
Museum of Welsh Life - 100-acre site with over 40 orginal buildings
re-erected from all over Wales, showing Welsh life through history.
At St. Fagans, near Cardiff. 54 miles
- Aberglasney
Gardens - Glorious 15th century house and gardens undergoing
restoration. Near Llandeilo. 48 miles
- National
Botanic Garden of Wales - Near Carmarthen. 54
miles
- Welsh Castles
- Comprehensive guide to all the Welsh castles.
Local Events
Distances from Trericket
Mill are shown at the end of each link.
Links open in a new window.
- Hay
Literary Festival - The Guardian newspaper's literary festival
with an international reputation, takes place in Hay-on-Wye over
the late spring bank holiday. The 2008 dates are Thursday 22 May to
Sunday 1 June (see above). 8 miles
- Brecon Jazz
Festival - International summer jazz festival (August). 12
miles
- Llandrindod
Wells Victorian Festival - Celebrates the town's Victorian past.
15 miles
- Royal Welsh Show
Ground - Hosts the Royal Welsh Show, the biggest agricultural
show in Britain. Usually takes place over 3 days during the 3rd
week of July. If you are coming to the area for peace and quiet,
avoid this week. Also hosts numerous other events, including the
Smallholder and Garden Festival, Pony Sales, Antique Fairs, and
Wales Camping and Outdoor Leisure Show. 8
miles
Other Tourist Information
Links open in a new
window.
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- Powys
Tourism - Powys is the largest county in Wales. A useful site
with lots of links to tourism and travel in the county.
- Notes
for Visitors to Wales - Currency, health, weather, maps, etc.
- Pronouncing
Welsh Place Names - Just a little understanding of Welsh place
names will bring your map to life, especially as most Welsh place
names are largely descriptive.
- Tales
Of Wales - During the Victorian era the diarist Reverend Francis
Kilvert was curate of Clyro, near Hay-on-Wye. He spent much of his
time walking over the Radnor Hills. On one such walk he came across
one of Mid Wales' most eccentric characters – the Reverend
John Price.
- Cymru Pics
- The beauty of Wales in photographs.
- Cycling
Sideways - Lots more info about Wales and the Welsh Borders.
- The
Weather Forecast - Type in our postcode, LD2 3TQ.
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Trericket Mill Vegetarian Bed
and Breakfast, Bunkhouse & Camping
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Nicky & Alistair Legge,
Trericket Mill, Erwood, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3TQ, Wales,
UK.
Phone: 01982 560312 (International: +44 1982 560312)
www.trericket.co.uk mail@trericket.co.uk
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