By Nick Green
•
04 Jun, 2019
It was this time last year I fell for this beautiful part of the world. And I can't wait for the same long hot summer evenings and lots more exploring. Bring on summer 2019! We're not quite there yet but we will be soon ... This place just lights up when the sun shines. The mountains near Glanhenwye draw you in and call out to be walked. And that's so good for us. There is now clear evidence of the benefits of being outside. We all spend way too much time inside, glued to screens and busy doing loads of stuff. Most of it necessary - it's what makes life tick and it pays the bills. But we also need to get out, smell the fresh air and do different stuff as well. Many parts of the country people flock to are just as busy as the places they are trying to get away from. In this little, relatively unexplored bit of the country you can get outside and get away from everything and everyone really easily - without getting stuck in a traffic jam every day. Start by exploring the National Trust land at The Begwyns or head up to Gospel Pass by bike or explore on foot (and see if you can work out which film used it in the opening scenes). Alternatively, try canoeing on the River Wye. Walk a chunk of Offas Dyk e or head off into the Black Mountains to see why people keep coming back to this area. And when you're done, explore Hay-on-Wye and the many bookshops that have helped make it what it is. It's a fabulous place just waiting to be explored and enjoyed. Come and explore and see what makes this beautiful part of the country so special.