Hay was a quiet run down market town in 1962, when Richard Booth opened his first bookshop. Ten years and 40 bookshops later, the town became a Mecca for book lovers the whole world over. On 1st April 1977 (All Fools’ Day) Richard declared Hay an Independent Kingdom and the town has been in the public eye ever since. The twinning with Timbuktu and [the] annual Literary Festival have helped.*
*From tourist information leaflet.
A place after my heart . . . in the low season.
It was rather busy on the Saturday, but nice and calm on Sunday.