Body Positive

🍂 Autumn... Pontsticill Reservoir, Merthyr Tydfil 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🍁

My favourite season. My favourite place. And the perfect way to welcome the first day of autumn.

A 5-mile loop through Taf Fechan Forest, around the reservoir, trail running through the woods, stopping for a waterfall swim and taking it all in. 🌲🏃‍♀️💦

Re listen to the video you will hear the Brecon steam 🚂 train passing gave me goosebumps whilst I ran feeling free /destressed out in nature.

Right now the forest is still green… but I’m waiting. Waiting for the leaves to turn. 🍁 And visit all of South Wales forests for trail runs..

Save this for your autumn walk/run in South Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

This is my season to reset. 🤎 Let it be yours.
📍 Pontsticill Reservoir
🌲 Taf Fechan Forest
🏃‍♀️ 5-mile loop
💦 Waterfall swim
🍁 Waiting for the leaves…

📚 First time in Hay-on-Wye and I can’t believe I’ve never been before.

Known as the Town of Books, this little Welsh town genuinely feels like stepping into a storybook a bit like Hogsmeade, but Welsh. 🏰📚🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

We came to explore, pick up some history books along the way and, most importantly, fulfil my little girl’s book obsession.

This is officially her favourite place ever. ❤️

And the history here is brilliant.

Hay’s story goes way beyond the books. Hay Castle has medieval roots dating back around 900 years, and the town has been caught up in battles, fires and the turbulent history of the Welsh Marches.

Then in the 1960s, Richard Booth transformed the town’s fortunes by opening a second-hand bookshop and encouraging other booksellers to follow. Hay became the world’s first Book Town and the independent bookshops became the heart of the place.

What I loved is that it still feels properly independent.

You don’t come here to find the usual big high-street chains. The town’s historic character is protected as a conservation area, and its independent shops are a huge part of what makes Hay what it is.

There are bookshops, antiques, little independent shops, galleries, cafés and food spots tucked into these old streets plus the famous gold telephone box

And of course Hay Festival helped take the town’s literary reputation worldwide, bringing huge names from the world of books and culture here, including Stephen Fry.

We also visited Hay Castle where you can access the grounds for free, and it’s right in the centre of town. The castle itself has had quite a life, including being badly damaged by fire and eventually restored for the public.

And for food Oscar’s is definitely worth a visit. 👌

I’m already wondering what this place looks like at Christmas.🎄and will return for sure.

Honestly, if you’ve never been, put Hay-on-Wye on your list.

A little Welsh town full of books, history, independent businesses and so much character.
And I got to experience it with my little bookworm. ❤️📚

Definitely my humble opinion the most beautiful town in South Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿