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jewellery and more in the many galleries and studios tucked away, with new generations nurtured by an excellent Art College.
With properties dating to the Doomsday Book, vibrant communities ensure the county’s culture, history and traditions are celebrated vigorously by locals and visitors alike. There are festivals for everything; food, flying, scarecrows, music, art, you simply MUST experience a Wassail! and a country fair or show around each of Herefordshire’s five market towns of Kington, Leominster, Bromyard, Ledbury and Ross-on-Wye. Discover the enchanting gardens, castles, country houses, many still privately owned through their generations. Herefordshire is full of hidden treasures, and this little book helps you to find them.
The Marches
In very simple terms, because by ‘eck it’s complicated, the modern-day Marches or Welsh Marches region is the undefined stretch from south Shropshire along the west Herefordshire border, right down into Monmouthshire and nosing into south Gloucestershire; although, more commonly the lower half is known as the Wye Valley.
The term ‘March’ is derived from the Anglo-Saxon ‘mearc’ meaning ‘boundary’, and it is this Welsh/English divide that was the
turf war of the Marcher Lords. In this book we introduce you to the thriving Marches towns of Ludlow in Shropshire, Hay-on-Wye, Presteigne and Knighton in Powys. Their beauty, charm and sometimes sheer simplicity will let you respect their origins while supporting their ongoing strides to remain proudly unique.
River Wye
A spectacularly beautiful feature of Herefordshire and The Marches is the River Wye. Meandering in and out of the borders, it is the fifth longest river in the UK. It runs from mid Wales to the Severn estuary, covering 134 miles and attracting an abundance of anglers with its superb salmon fishing. Ramblers can enjoy a variety of walks, including the much loved Wye Valley Walk with its stunning panoramic views and wildlife havens.
Canoeing is extremely popular along this remarkable waterway and it is a great way to see the riverside villages and notable landmarks.The region’s numerous rivers remain hugely integral to the picturesque communities built along them. Make the Rivers Teme, Arrow, Lugg, Dore, Leadon and Frome part of your next visit to the area.
Read on to find out more detail about all the landmarks, market towns, events and the wonderful places to eat, sleep and live life to the full in this vibrant county...
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