There is something undeniably magical about stepping away from the rush of everyday life, slowing your pace and becoming absorbed in a good book. Reading can carry you into another world, spark the imagination or hold you in the breathless suspense of a page-turning thriller.

At Henbont Holidays, every detail invites you to embrace that quiet joy. Settle into the cosy snug at Coed Yr Henbont Cabin with a warm mug in hand, curl up beside the wood burner or sway gently in a hammock as the breeze moves through the leaves. Hidden within private ancient woodland beneath the Black Mountain, this off-grid retreat offers book lovers a peaceful place to unplug, breathe and read without hurry.

Beyond the cabin porch, the literary trail continues. Llandeilo and Llandovery are home to welcoming independent bookshops, while festivals across the region celebrate Welsh and English writing, storytelling, nature and creative ideas. Browse for a new favourite, listen to writers in conversation, then bring your book back to the woods and make reading part of the escape.

Independent Bookshops to Explore

Noisy Newt Books, Llandeilo

This independent, family-run bookshop offers a lovely mix of new and second-hand books for all ages. Browse Welsh and English writing, fiction, poetry, children's books and nature titles before choosing a new companion for your woodland stay.

Books at the Dragon’s Garden, Llandovery

Discover an eclectic selection of books in English and Welsh, including nature writing, folklore, gardening, art, travel, children's books and contemporary fiction. Take your time browsing and ask for a local recommendation.

Literary Festivals Worth the Journey

Gŵyl Lên Llandeilo Literature Festival

Spread across welcoming venues in the heart of Llandeilo, this community festival celebrates the many voices of Wales. Its bilingual programme brings together novelists, poets, historians, broadcasters and emerging writers for conversations, readings, performances and workshops. A dedicated children’s festival adds lively storytelling and creative sessions for younger readers, while music and events around town give the weekend a warm, sociable atmosphere. It is an ideal choice if you enjoy discovering contemporary Welsh writing alongside wider conversations about culture, identity and place.

Reading the Wild / Darllen y Gwyllt, Llandovery

Reading the Wild is shaped by the landscapes surrounding Llandovery and is devoted to books, ideas and creativity inspired by the natural world. The programme ranges across nature writing, conservation, ecology, rewilding, folklore, food heritage, illustration and children’s literature, bringing Welsh voices together with established writers and environmental thinkers. It also moves beyond the page: visitors may find guided wildflower walks, foraging, forest bathing, nature journaling and other outdoor workshops alongside talks and book launches. With events taking place around the town, it feels intimate, community-led and perfectly matched to a woodland stay.

Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye

For a larger literary adventure, make the journey to Hay-on-Wye, the celebrated Town of Books. The spring festival fills 11 days with hundreds of events, drawing writers, performers, scientists, historians, artists and leading thinkers from around the world. Alongside new fiction and non-fiction, the programme spans poetry, politics, cultural debate, comedy, music, food, film and family activities, with conversations ranging from intimate author interviews to headline events in the festival tents.

Allow time to browse the Festival Bookshop, enjoy pop-up performances and food between sessions, and explore Hay’s famous independent bookshops. The scale can feel wonderfully bustling, but there are still opportunities to slow down - perhaps with a newly signed book beside the River Wye - before returning to the quiet of the cabin.

Guests’ Recommended Reads

For a little suspense and trills

• The Exorcist - William Peter Blatty
• Those Who Lie - Diane Jeffrey
• The Cabin in the Woods - Sarah Alderson

For Welsh landscape and local history

• When Men and Mountains Meet - The Story of the Black Mountain Road - H. W. “Bill” Tilman (The famous Top Gear Road)
• Moulded in Earth - Richard Vaughan (set in Llanddeusant)
• Brown Waters - Mike Todd and Sarla Mehta
• The Sky Over Wales - Siân James
• Us – Ruth Jones

For classic adventures

• Black Beauty - Anna Sewell
• The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien
• The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
• Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens

For slowing down

• Wild - Cheryl Strayed
• Botanical Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland - Lisa Schneidau
• The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down - Haemin Sunim
• Starling - Sarah Jane Butler

Bring Your Book Back to the Woods

After exploring local bookshops and festivals, return to Coed Yr Henbont and enjoy the simple pleasure of reading among ancient trees.

Whether you're planning a romantic break, a solo reading retreat or a family escape, Henbont Holidays offers the perfect place to slow down, discover new stories and enjoy your next chapter.

Plan your woodland escape at Henbont Holidays.