Independent Kingdom of Hay

We decided to get away for a couple of days and went to Hay on Wye. Relentlessly hot, but still nice to change the scenery for a while. 
Hay is most famous as the world's first book town. Richard Booth (self-proclaimed "King of Hay"), was almost single-handedly responsible for making the town what it is today, a cultural centre with the annual Hay Festival of Literature and Arts. Although home to only 2000 or so residents, the town has more than two dozen book shops. I have been visiting the town and festival for more than 30 years and it is just about my favourite place (outside the Lake District). Something I found for the first time this weekend is the Wye River Walk, a shaded footpath that links the town centre to the River Wye. Along the path there are a large number of carved animals (see extra). A truly lovely place.