This is one of Hay on Wye’s great attractions and is perfect for a family day out, or a romantic drift down the river a deux. The River Wye is the UK's premiere canoeing river and from Glasbury down provides ideal trips for the beginner and more experienced canoeist from March through to October.

The scenery is fantastic, and you will be blown away by the birdlife and the tranquillity of the day. Most companies offer something similar with guides and a Canadian style canoe which won’t tip over. No real skill is needed, and seeing as you are going down river, pretty minimal effort. It would take an act of supreme daftness to fall in.

http://www.wyevalleycanoes.co.uk/ offer an excellent range of 1 day, 2 or 3 day experiences starting just 2 miles upriver at Glasbury, but going through the town of Hay on Wye

www.blackmountain.co.uk at the town of Three Cocks, about 3 miles south of Hay on Wye

www.celticcanoes.co.uk are based in Glasbury again, just a couple of miles upstream from Hay and Wye. They offer everything, including up to 5 day canoe treks.

www.paddlesandpedals.co.uk are based in Hay on Wye itself, and can offer you bicycle hire too.

Hard to categorise, but there are at least a couple of companies who specialise in everything from potholing, leadership, kayaking to corporate teambuilding. Some offer self catering accommodation of their own. We say, give yourself a break and come home to luxury at Swynnerton afterwards. Amongst them are:

www.interactivities-uk.com based in Glasbury, around 2 miles south of Hay on Wye. They will teach you how to survive post apocalypse by building a raft from a fairy liquid bottle and offer a range of delicious tree bark recipes. I exaggerate. Their site looks fantastic and I am keen to have a go.

www.training-activities.co.uk offer a range of activities in Hay on Wye on Wye like Archery, canoeing, teambuilding & bushcraft to high adrenaline climbing, abseiling & gorge walking in the Brecon Beacons.

The Rally is held near Hay on Wye-on-Wye in August in a beautiful setting overlooking the Wye Valley and with views of the Black Mountains. Weather permitting you can take a helicopter ride to appreciate it all. There will be one of the biggest turnouts of large Steam Traction Engines to be seen at a one day Show. These are supported by cars, commercial vehicles, tractors, stationary engines and motor and pedal cycles. Fair Organs will be playing and there will be numerous trade stands including auto jumble. Displays and craft demonstrations will be in the marquee.

Again, this is a website on its own. No introduction needs to be made to the formidable walking of the Black Mountains or the Brecon Beacons, plus you have the Offa’s Dyke path. We would rate the view from the top of the path at the old priory of Llantony as one of the best in the UK. Go to the various park websites and the ordinance survey maps for details.

Serious walking is just minutes away up the single track lane to Capel y Finn from the centre of Hay on Wye. Soon you will see the remarkable views from the top of Hay Bluff along Gospel Pass, which serve as the opening sequence to the BBC’s Antique Roadshow. For those sick of getting into their cars, within 15 minutes you can get out of Hay on Wye on foot and get into some quite stiff hill walking around the town. At Swynnerton we keep a list of ten alternative circular walks around the house that will be more than enough for a 3 – 5 hour walk. The point is to get out come rain or shine – only then will you have earned your luxury bath and evening’s relaxation in front of the coal fire.

Best to look up the specialist pages of the national parks’ information. There are literally hundreds of routes you can take, and within minutes you will be fantastic scenery around Hay on Wye. There are scores of back routes where your only company will be the sheep or a grizzled local farmer, or you can go on the more technically changing off road routes across the mountains.

www.ctc-wales.org.uk

I’m a motorcycle fanatic and this area offers just about the best roads in the UK bar none. Let me know whether you are into on road or off road and I’ll let you have plenty of tips on where to go.

Top of our places to visit in Hay on Wye would be the Globe in Newport Street. Not only is it a great place in which to eat, but there’s always something entertaining going on. Toddlers and small children find it endlessly fascinating while we drink good coffee and read the papers. It’s home to the Institute of New Ideas which aims to host a range of art, political, musical or philosophical events which challenge orthodoxy and the way in which we conventionally view our world. Or if that puts you off, it also does film nights and doubles as a night club venue with visiting DJs. Check out www.globeathayonwye.org/

We thought we’d made a bit of a discovery this year when we found a riverside beach (of stones), which only later did we realize had its own website and supporters club. Head down the road to the side of the Swan Hotel, past Hay on Wye Church as far as the road narrows, then park. There’s a public footpath to the right which leads into a glorious riverside meadow. On a hot day it’s great to picnic and swim.

The Famous Old Black Lion

Run by the wonderful Dolan Leighton, this is the pub closest to the house, and probably best if you are in a hurry to get a drink before closing time. We’ve always eaten well there, but have noticed a visitor or two who haven’t. This is a fully carpeted place with low timbered ceilings, which is great in winter but for summer days like a lot of old buildings there’s not a lot of natural light.

Kilvert’s Hotel (The Bull Ring)

If you have 5 minutes more the walk to Kilvert’s is worth it. My personal favourite, this is a lively place with good beer and generous good quality non micro waved food. Good in the summer for the outside bit, and in the winter for its fires.

Blue Boar (Castle Street)

I’ve always liked a drink here, but it has attracted a fair bit of controversy from those who have tried eating. Suffice to say it’s an elegant building with some welcoming coal fires, and I’ve always enjoyed it. Google it, read the ratings and make up your own mind.

The Three Tuns (Broad Street)

Has some strange opening hours, but if you are lucky enough to pass when it’s open give it a go. More of a Stoke Newington gastro feel to it, but genuine enough none the less. Good solid food and if you can bag the leather sofa there are worse ways of passing a Sunday lunchtime with the papers.

Wheatsheaf (Lion Street)

This is more of a thumping local for a younger crowd. In fact when I once went in to try and get a beer I apparently changed into a form of dark matter. It was resolved by walking across the road to Kilvert’s where I instantly rematerialized and was served.

Take your pick. We like The Granary, which can be relied upon for a good breakfast (open at 9am) and a solid hearty meal anytime of the day. Oscars has more of a steamy and crowded feel to it, and the food is OK but we’ve never really warmed to the place. Shepherd’s is unbeatable for coffee and ice cream, and the chance to sit outside and listen to visiting mariachis in the square. Others we haven’t tried are Café Hay on Wye near the car park and the Old Tea Stables, which if you believe its publicity offers the ultimate cuppa. Pity really as it’s a bugger to find.