Local towns and villages
Attractive and interesting border towns and villages in England and Wales, within easy reach of Knighton
Bishops Castle
Voted one of Britain’s Top Ten Market Towns by Lonely Planet Magazine in 2011. A small and ancient town surrounded by an area of outstanding natural beauty. Town museum, brewery tours and regular flea markets. Next to one of the finest sections of Offa’s Dyke Path. Good pubs and antique shops.
Car free by train to Craven Arms or Shrewsbury, then bus
Bleddfa
Centre for the Creative Spirit – programme of artistic events.
Brampton Bryan
One of the densest clusters of small businesses we have ever seen:
Aardvark Books - Huge selection of books, new and second hand. Art exhibitions. Events. Cafe. Open most days (not Christmas/Boxing Day, New Year’s day and Easter Sunday)
Forge Interiors (old and new furniture) including Stu and Dumplings – children’s interiors.
Bron Fine Art Gallery
Coquette Millinery
Earthly Treasures (currently closed)
Lane Cottage Produce (Kingsland) - selling organic produce from their small holding at Aardvark Books every Friday 10.00-11.30
The Drawing Gallery (actually at Walford) - the only private gallery in the UK specialising in modern drawings, featuring 45 British artists.
Car free by bus
Brecon
Canal, castle, cathedral and heritage centre, South Wales Borderers military museum, Brecknock museum and art gallery with preserved Victorian Assize Court.
Llanfaes Dairy with own Welsh ice cream, 90 flavours
Builth Wells
Royal Welsh Showground
Car free by train
Clun
Ancient hill top town with a large castle and a narrow bridge (originally for pack horses). The playwright John Osborne is buried here.
Clun Valley – “Shropshire Lad” country
Clungunford – the Rocke Tea Rooms
Craven Arms
Land of Lost Content Museum. Nostalgia museum. Open every day except December & January.
Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre & Onny Meadows (cafe, gallery, visitor information centre, craft room for children, gift shop)
Car free by train
Eardisland
Perhaps the prettiest village in Herefordshire. Historic Parish Church, Dovecote Heritage Centre, Tea Room & Gift Shop. Dunkertons Cider Mill 1 mile.
Hay on Wye
Second hand bookshops. Hay Festival. Start of the Wye Valley
Hereford
Shopping Centre. Cathedral with the historic Mappa Mundi.
Waterworks Museum set in a working water-pumping station. Open all year, Tuesdays only.
Cider Museum & King Offa Distillery – visit the museum, tastings, collection of glasses. (Open Tuesday-Saturday and Bank Holiday weekends).
Car free by train via Craven Arms
Ironbridge, near Telford
UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986. Unique role in the development of the industrial revolution and home of the first iron bridge. Museum, interactive centre, Victorian Town, Green Wood Centre and lots more.
Kington
One of Herefordshire’s 5 market towns, named for Edward the Confessor.
Hergest Croft Gardens
Car free by bus
Leintwardine
Butcher
School House Crafts (Gallery and Picture Framing)
Car free by bus
Leominster
An old wool and market town on the River Lugg with many half-timbered houses.
Circular riverside walk starting from the Corn Square
Sunday morning: large car boot sale (plus regular fine art and antique auctions)
Antique shops, Barometer Shop (largest specialist shop in the country).
Llandrindod Wells
Victorian spa town with interesting architecture. National Cycle Collection
Car free by train
Ludlow
Castle with Castle Tea Rooms, many markets and festivals, top restaurants, Food Centre
Car free by bus
Montgomery
Lovely old village, very peaceful, lots of buildings with plaques explaining their historical significance.
Newtown
WH Smith Museum – shop restored to 1927 condition (when it opened), Museum on 1st floor with displays, models and memorabilia. Open during shop hours (Monday-Saturday)
Robert Owen Museum – born in Newtown in 1771, an early socialist. Ground floor of Town Council building. Open all year, Monday-Friday morning and afternoon, Saturday morning. Not Christmas week and good Friday.
Laura Ashley Outlet Shop
Car free – occasional bus
Presteigne
Judge’s Lodging: see how people (especially judges!) lived in 1870. Lit only by oil and gas lamps. The exhibits can be touched. Also special exhibitions. Open Tuesday-Sunday March to October, Wednesday-Sunday in November, Saturday-Sunday 1-22 December)
Also town trail and nature reserve.
Car free by bus
Shrewsbury
Shopping Centre, Castle & Military Museum, Abbey, St. Mary’s Church, Bear Steps Gallery in 15th Tudor Hall, Old Market Hall.
Car free by train
Wigmore
Castle
Worcester
Shopping centre, china outlet shops
Contact us
Martin Holborow and Margaret Leach
Ffrydd House
13 Bridge St,
Knighton,
Powys, LD7 1BT
Tel. (UK) 07976 403434
Email: pyrabelisk@btinternet.com
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