For 3 days in August the town of Brecon bristles with beards, berets and beatniks from all over the sometimes impenetrable world of modern jazz. Each year the event grows with a wonderful mix of Great Brits and legendary Jazz stars from across the African continent in 50 concerts over 3 days. It almost didn’t happen in 2009, but when it did, it was more successful than ever.

A terrific weekend and a chance to see some of the world’s best musicians.

Ludlow is about an hour’s drive to the north through rural Herefordshire and Shropshire. There are a number of interesting stopping places en route. In fact there’s a good chance you will never arrive.

Ludlow is the UK centre of the Slow Food Movement and the festival has become the most important in the calendar for those interested in local produce farmed using responsible methods. But it’s more than that: the festival is a celebration of what is best in traditional British food with an emphasis upon an appreciation of production methods and origins. It’s also a great place to eat, try something new or to get ideas.

The area is rich in food. Abergavenny (around 30 mins drive across the Black Mountains) has become one of the UK’s top food destinations all year round with a number of nationally rated local restaurants gaining a reputation. Check out:

www.thewalnuttreeinn.com

www.skenfrith.co.uk

www.angelhotelabergavenny.com

In September the towns hosts a food festival over two days with a subtly different flavour to Ludlow. Not better or worse, just different. There’s something more eccentric about Abergavenny which is full of charm. No big name corporate sponsors here, but a dynamic and eclectic mix of small producers, innovators and street attractions. You can spend all day slowly browsing around or chatting in this friendly crowd, and you are guaranteed to learn something or be inspired.

www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com

The various sheds of this venue are crammed with higher value furniture and art, or you may prefer rummaging through the less formal outside stalls throughout this enormous site.

Beware, whether you set out to buy anything or not, you inevitably will. Consider bringing a van. I’ve been to a few including similar in Newark and Alexandra Palace, but neither have a patch on Builth.

The Winter Fair is livestock focussed with very lively auctions. It’s an important event in the calendar for Welsh farmers and a chance to get talking to a range of interesting folk not found on the streets of Islington; shepherds, bull breeders, smallholders and food producers.

The Winter Fair has a nice Christmas feel to it, and is a good chance to buy something special for the table. Chances are the person selling to you will be able to tell you all about the field it lived in and its life story.

www.rwas.co.uk

Hay on Wye gets a very special buzz about it with the community coming out to celebrate Halloween, Bonfire Night, and a general excuse to have a lot of fire themed fun.

The week is very community and children focussed, with parades and displays, various workshops, a procession through town with lanterns, giants, live music, dancers and street performers. The week culminates in the fireman’s ball, to which everyone is welcome with some terrific live music.

www.hayonwyefestival.com/hayonwyeonfire

New from the organisers of the Hay on Wye festival, the winter weekend is more laid back and low key affair, full of seasonal atmosphere and a focus on cosy storytelling, mulled wine etc. in a more intimate setting than the main summer event. A good chance to listen to some of Britain’s favourite authors.

The town looks terrific this time of year with the Christmas decorations out. Go see the bleakly beautiful winter perspective of the mountains too. It won’t be warm, but there’s nothing like the stirring sight of the view from Hay on Wye Bluff on a clear and frosty morning.

www.hayonwyefestival.com/winterweekend