Hay-on-Wye wishing

The Wishing Steps in Hay-on-Wye sit tucked away from the town's bustle, and they're exactly the sort of place that rewards you for bothering to look. A set of Victorian steps leading down to the River Wye, this spot carries the local legend that if you skip down all thirteen steps without touching the sides or stopping, your wish comes true. Sounds daft when you read it, but there's something oddly compelling about it when you're actually there.

It's a brief diversion rather than a destination in itself - ten minutes maximum, less if you're not the wishing type. Families with younger kids tend to enjoy the ritual of it; teenagers will probably smirk and take photos. The steps themselves are a bit worn and the surrounding woodland gives it a genuine, unmaintained feel - no visitor centre, no gift shop, which is rather nice.

The town of Hay sits just above, so you're never far from a proper bookshop or a decent café if this feels like a slight dead-end. Worth combining with a walk along the Wye Valley or a potter through the town's famous secondhand bookshops. If you're camping nearby - By the Wye Glamping is practically on your doorstep - it makes an easy evening leg-stretch. There's no charge to visit, and it doesn't pretend to be more than what it is: a quirky local spot with a bit of history and a nice river view. Exactly the type of thing that makes a holiday memorable, even if your wish doesn't come true.