We had to go to Brecon yesterday, so decided to go on the extra 15 miles or so to Hay-on-Wye and have a day out. I was trying to capture the Autumn colours on the way, but failed miserably. You really need to be on foot and not in a car on a bumpy road! The best colours were around the roundabout as you come into Brecon, as they have planted it with Field Maples and Cherry Trees and it is gorgeous, but the photo I took there was just a blur and only a tiny bit of tree in that blur! This is the road just past Trecastle.
An ill-timed photo with the flat-topped peaks of Pen-y-Fan in the distance.
A little colour in the hillside trees.
A brief glimpse of sunshine up on the top of Hay Bluff.
Arrival - the view from the car park in Hay.
Local apples. Named English varieties with the flavour and crispness you just don't get from imported apples which languish half the year in cold storage after being flown half way across the world. I have a small selection of fruit trees which I have planted here, but it's not a good place for apple-growing - the soil is thin and sour and they get scab, bitter-pit and canker. I bought some of the 2nd tray in - Ribston Pippin, which I would like to grow in my orchard. The first ones are King of the Pippins, then there is Blenheim Orange and Mother of All (I think) at the end.
It was market day and earlier on I had bought some Jupiter apples - they are a cross between Cox and Starking Delicious, and very close to a Cox in flavour, but crisper I think.
My orchard is going to have oldies such as Pitmaston Pineapple, D'Arcy Spice, Ashmead's Kernel, Cornish Aromatic, Devonshire Qaurrendon, etc. The little orchard at Glasbury where I took photos on our last trip to Hay was being picked this week and there was a trailer full of apples parked up there.
Just the time for pumpkins. I don't know what price these were, but I was a little surprised to see how cheap they were in Morrisons in Brecon later, where we did our small grocery shop. £1.50 for medium Pumpkins and just 50p for small ones. How can the grower make any profit on those? All those ones being carved out for Halloween will mostly have the centres chucked in the bin, rather than eaten.
This is a lovely shop which always has very unusual things in it. A real eclectic mix.
Across the road, this doorway was crowned by a splendid hanging basket of Fuschias, still in full bloom, as our Indian Summer has kept temperatures mild for the time of year.
In the Ironmonger's, an interesting display - those Mason Jars with straws seem all the rage these days.
This house is on the corner of the road we turn into to reafh the car park. For many years it was a book shop specializing in gardening books, but now it is a private house again.
Next door is this lovely house.
Over the road this Virginia Creeper was colouring up. This was at the side of the building. The header photo, with that amazing blue tint, was at the front.
Until yesterday, I never knew there was a livestock market in Hay. There was a small building set back from the main road, and this was around the back, overlooking the original castle motte.
The motte and bailey date from 1100 AD and if you have ever read Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine, this is where Hay Castle was set - not the "modern" one up above the centre of town, overlooking Backfold (which was the old Shambles for the town, the abattoir.)
A row of cottages down Church Street (and opposite St. Mary's Church, which is next to the Castle).
Peeping through the hotel gates, I caught this little bit of autumn gold.
Back on the main road through Hay now are these pretty cottages. The end one on the left had a little table with produce on - jars of jams and chutneys for sale.
The next row of terraced house. These bright red doors liven things up on a dull grey day.
Opposite are the Alms Houses, which go beyond my photo range.
When I first read this, I read "For the reception of 6 poor, INDIGNANT women"!!!
Heading back up the hill now, and this "turret" is nicely done.
Twr-y-capel - now a private home, with an excellent ironmonger's on the far end, was once the old Trinity Chapel, although the Italianate tower sets it apart from other chapel architecture throughout Wales.
Finally, back to the car park. We had a lovely day, and I managed to get several Christmas presents accounted for, as well as a book for myself to complement what I bought at Woolfest recently, as the book is Art in Felt and Stitch.
Today, it's back to normality, and I have some baking to do - Cranberry and Orange bread - and another batch of Pontack Sauce (receipe to follow).
