Hay Festival and a Stay in the Welsh Hills. A Very Good Combination
There’s a certain feeling that settles over Hay-on-Wye every May.
The tents appear, the cafes get busier, people start carrying tote bags full of books, and suddenly the whole town feels as though it’s humming with conversation.
The Hay Festival is nearly here again, running from 21st to 31st May, and for anyone who loves books, ideas, storytelling, comedy, music, or simply being around people who are curious about the world, it really is a lovely thing to experience.
And the best part?
Llanthony Castaway is only around half an hour away, tucked over the hill in the quiet of the valley.
What Is Hay Festival?
For anyone who has never been before, Hay Festival is difficult to describe properly because it somehow manages to be lots of things all at once.
Part literary festival, part village atmosphere, part giant gathering of people who love learning things.
You’ll find bestselling authors, comedians, journalists, poets, historians, actors, scientists, politicians, musicians and chefs all sharing stories and conversations across the festival site.
Though it never feels overly serious.
One minute you’re listening to a thought provoking debate, the next you’re eating cake in the sunshine while somebody nearby excitedly tells their friend they just spotted their favourite author near the coffee stand.
That’s very much the energy of Hay.
More Than Just Books
People often assume Hay Festival is only for serious readers.
It really isn’t.
Yes, there are talks and book signings, though there are also yoga sessions, live music, food stalls, comedy events, family activities, cafes, bars and plenty of space to simply wander around soaking up the atmosphere.
Some people arrive with spreadsheets and carefully booked tickets for every event.
Others turn up with no plan at all and have just as good a time.
Honestly, even sitting with a coffee watching the festival move around you feels quite fun.
Staying Near Hay Festival
One of the nicest ways to experience the festival is to stay slightly outside the busyness of it all.
Hay itself becomes wonderfully lively during festival time, though after a full day of people, conversations and events, returning to the quiet of Llanthony feels very appealing.
The drive back over the hill is beautiful in the evening light. Hills rolling away in every direction, sheep grazing quietly, the valley gradually settling down for the night.
Then you arrive back at Castaway.
Firepit lit, shoes off and the stars overhead.
It balances things out rather nicely.
A Lovely Time of Year in Wales
Late May is one of the prettiest times to be in this part of Wales.
The valley is bright green, the hedgerows are full, lambs are still bouncing around the fields, and the evenings stretch out long enough for proper slow evenings outside.
Guests often combine a festival visit with walks around the Black Mountains, pub lunches, or lazy mornings recovering from slightly too much festival wandering the day before.
It makes for a very easy sort of getaway.
Things I Recommend at Hay Festival
Personally, I think part of the fun is keeping things relaxed.
Book a couple of talks you really want to see, then leave space for wandering. Some of the nicest moments happen by accident.
A few things I always enjoy:
- Author spotting while pretending not to author spot
- Eating strawberries sitting in the grass
- Browsing books you absolutely do not need
- Accidentally staying far longer than planned
- A cheeky afternoon glass of fizz in the sunshine
The children love it too. There’s a lovely atmosphere for families and plenty going on throughout the festival.
Planning Your Hay Festival Stay
If you’re thinking about visiting Hay Festival 2026, Llanthony Castaway makes a very peaceful base nearby.
You can spend the day surrounded by books, conversation and festival atmosphere, then retreat back into the hills afterwards for quiet evenings and dark skies.
A pretty perfect combination really.
There is still some availability around festival time (or get yourself booked in for next year!), and if the dates you want do not quite fit the website, feel free to get in touch. I’ll always see what I can do.
You can also browse festival events and tickets via the official Hay Festival box office.
Stay Wild!