Page 6 - ESL Herefordshire Ultimate Guide 2024.indd
P. 6
Herefordshire, The Wye Valley
and The Marches
Hereford beef • Cider • Countryside • Walking • foodie •
Festivals • History • River Wye • national landscapes
Welcome to these three stunning regions, which overlap and entwine with seamless
landscapes and scenery. Walk the border mountain ranges, explore unique market
towns, discover hidden history, and enjoy current shows and festivals.
The fifth longest river in the UK, the River Wye, dips in out of the English and Welsh
borders as it stretches the 134-mile journey from Mid Wales down through The
Marches, Herefordshire and the Wye Valley National Landscape. Along its route
you will find wonderful wildlife, spectacular views, gorgeous gardens, enchanting
castles, country houses, ancient landmarks and culture as well as picturesque
villages, vibrant towns and gastronomic excellence.
With almost 2000 listed buildings, over Mountains, and the Brecon Beacons are
20 castles (not all accessible), 178 bridges also in plain view. Magnificent countryside
and 77 Sites of Special Scientific Interest connects The Golden Valley in the south-
there will always be something to see and west, Mortimer Country and the Black and
do. Walking and cycling are hugely popular White Village Trail to the north, and the
around the stunning countryside and Wye Valley to the south. Renowned for its
bordering mountain ranges. plentiful canoeing routes and salmon fishing,
five more attractive rivers also flow through
Hereford City is right at the beating heart the county including the Lugg, the Frome,
of Herefordshire, the five market towns of the Arrow, the Leadon and the Dore.
Kington, Leominster, Bromyard, Ledbury
and Ross-on-Wye roll off like the spokes of Herefordshire revels in its laid-back
a cartwheel, taking in half of Hay-on-Wye lifestyle; sparsely populated, heavily
as it straddles the Welsh border. To the east agricultural and famed for living life in
lie the Malvern Hills, to the west the Black the ‘slow lane’. Marvel at the creative
4 The ULTIMATE Guide to Herefordshire, The Wye Valley & The Marches