For shopping our only supermarket is the Co-Op which is just outside Hay on
the Clifford road. Keep straight down the hill past the Clock Tower and
continue past the Hay and Brecon Farmers and it is on the left with plenty of
parking. It is also open late and open on Sundays after 10.30 am.
There is a large car park opposite the Castle Gate way and charges around £2.50 for
2 hours. You can park in most of the streets free for one hour.
There are no banks in Hay and the post office is now in a shop called County Supplies, which is opposite the zebra crossing leading from the car park. There is a cash point in the Co-Op and
also near the public toilets at the top of the Car park.
There are a good selection of shops in Castle Street. A very good greengrocer
who also sells local apple brandy when in stock, and a good butchers
opposite. The local chemist is also in this street. There is another fantastic
butcher just past the clock tower. There is also Health Food Shop just near
Booths book shop – this has good delicatessen type food with plenty of
local produce. Market day is Thursday which is usually lively and bountiful
with a very good fish lorry.
There are plenty of pubs for drinking and eating. The Felinfach Griffin on the
way to Brecon is good but advisable to book. The Bulls Head at Craswell is a
delightful rustic pub and the drive is beautiful, but not advisable with drink late
at night! Tel 01981 510616. The Black Lion is good both for food and drink
with an outside area and very dog friendly. There is also the Three Tuns and
the Blue Boar.
The book shops are all interesting, however Booths has comfortable sofas and
chairs to sit on while you browse. The Cinema Book shop has a very extensive stock, and has its own parking.
There are guidebooks in the sitting room coffee table and numerous beautiful
walk to explore. If you cross the bridge opposite The Mill, go up towards Lower
House and turn right at the top of the drive, up some steps you reach Offa’s
Dyke path. This leads up to the Black Mountains or to Hay in the opposite
direction. It takes about 20 minutes to walk to the town.
The stream is actually the boundary between England and Wales.
There are adventures centres for rock climbing etc. just past Glasbury in
Three Cocks and there are several centres for pony trekking and canoes on
the Wye.
