Hay lies in the rain shadow of the hills to the west and is drier than much of Wales, though winters are cold. The town is lively all year.
Season by season
Spring (March–May)
Lambs, blossom and the build-up to the festival.
Summer (June–August)
Canoeing season on the Wye and long walking days in the Black Mountains.
Autumn (September–November)
Autumn colour along the river; a smaller winter festival is held in some years.
Winter (December–February)
Quiet streets and cosy pubs. Some shops shorten hours.
Month by month
| Month | Avg high / low | Wet days | Daylight | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7° / 1°C | ≈16 | ≈8.5 h | Quiet & cheap |
| February | 8° / 1°C | ≈13 | ≈10 h | Quiet & cheap |
| March | 10° / 2°C | ≈14 | ≈11.8 h | Good |
| April | 13° / 4°C | ≈12 | ≈13.7 h | Good |
| May | 16° / 6°C | ≈12 | ≈15.3 h | Peak season |
| June | 19° / 9°C | ≈11 | ≈16.2 h | Peak season |
| July | 21° / 11°C | ≈11 | ≈15.7 h | Best |
| August | 21° / 11°C | ≈12 | ≈14.3 h | Best |
| September | 18° / 9°C | ≈12 | ≈12.5 h | Best |
| October | 14° / 6°C | ≈14 | ≈10.7 h | Good |
| November | 10° / 3°C | ≈15 | ≈9 h | Quiet & cheap |
| December | 8° / 2°C | ≈16 | ≈8.1 h | Good |
Approximate long-term averages, rounded; daylight is the approximate time between sunrise and sunset mid-month. Wales is mild but wet, and the mountains are colder, windier and wetter than the coast: pack layers in every season.
Festivals & events
- Late May–early June Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts.
- Thursdays Weekly market in the town centre.
Crowds & booking ahead
The festival transforms the town for ten days. The rest of the year, Hay is busiest on summer weekends and bank holidays.
