Welsh Marches

Straddling the border between England and Wales, this land of forgotten valleys, ancient paths and medieval towns is rich in legend and folklore.

- Words: Sara Crossley

Deriving its name from a Middle English word meaning ‘borderland’, the Welsh Marches’ identity has been moulded by the fact that it straddles the England-Wales border.

It's loosely described as the area surrounding the 177-mile Offa's Dyke — a centuries-old path tracing the boundary between the two countries — and those who visit today discover an eclectic spirit and thriving rural communities. One of the UK's lesser-known pockets, it incorporates parts of Shropshire and Herefordshire, plus Powys, Monmouthshire and Wrexham.

‘The neighbours’ old disputes have left a striking architectural legacy in the Welsh Marches: Britain's highest concentration of motte-and-bailey castles can be found here, presiding over a patchwork of rolling farmland, heather-clad hills and valleys pinned with medieval market towns. Artists, musicians and freethinkers have long sought inspiration from this landscape and, in turn, independent shops, cafes and creative spaces have sprouted and flourished. Rest assured, it’s still a rich seam of storied rambles and cosy, fireside pints.