Hay-on-Wye
My other birthday treat was a trip to Hay-on-Wye. As a book lover, I could quite happily spend days browsing through the books in Hay’s many, many bookshops. However, amazingly, this time I came back without any books. I put it down to the fact that the baby seemed far less interested in browsing than me! I did come back with something equally good though: 2 skeins of wool – and not just any wool, but locally-produced bluefaced leicester pure wool.
It is lovely and soft and I plan on using it to make a scarf for my sister for christmas. I bought the wool from the Wool and Willow Gallery, a co-operative of wool producers, spinners, weavers and dyers and a real treasure trove of beautiful yarns. It is a place which I must limit my visits to – it’ll be fatal for my bank balance otherwise!
The journey there and back was also very special. On the way out we stopped off at Arthur’s Stone, a neolithic chambered tomb near the village of Dorstone, Herefordshire.
Originally, the chambers would have been covered by a mound but this has now mostly eroded away. The tomb comprises nine uprights which support a huge capstone. There is also an interesting curved entrance passage. The tomb rests on a ridge in the Golden Valley area of Herefordshire so there are some impressive views.
On the way home, we decided to go over the mountains which, although a bit of a hairy drive at times, is worth it for the wonderful views. This time we were rewarded with wintery scenes of snow-covered mountains. It was unexpected and very beautiful – a perfect end to a perfect day.
Hey! We live about two minutes from Arthers Stone
Wool and Willow is a fave of mine too!
Wow!!! what gorgeous views!! A reallly nice birthday treat!! And although I am no kniiter the wool looks lovley… I am so inspired with all the creations that can be made from knitting I really want to be able to have a go at knitting myself… my Mum was always clacking away with the needles but it just did not rub off on to me….
Lovely pictures and post….
Love Jane xxx
mamauk – lucky you – it’s a beautiful part of the world! We hope to move back to ‘the shire’ someday. At the moment it’s probably a good thing that I’m not too close to Wool and Willow – I’d be likely to blow the housekeeping money on yarn otherwise!
Jane – thank you. I too hope to be able to knit one day. I’m trying to learn but its slow going! At the moment I crochet which I find a million times easier than knitting but there are such gorgeous knitting patterns out there that I really want to learn!
Blue- faced Leicester – one of my very favourites. Lovely wool!
I like the mountain picture too.
MrsL
xx
MrsL – thanks – I’m looking forward to using it but I’m making myself finish off some projects that have been dragging first though…..