Craven Arms

The railway junction that put this market town on the map still defines its character today. Craven Arms sits at the crossroads of the Welsh Marches, where the Heart of Wales Line meets the Welsh Borders route - a proper hub for exploring some of England's most unspoiled countryside.

Radnor Wood stretches across the hills to the west, its ancient earthworks telling stories of Iron Age settlements. The forest paths here are properly wild, leading up to Radnor Wood Camp where you can trace the outline of prehistoric fortifications. It's a bit of a trek but worth every step for the views across the borderlands.

Clunton Hill dominates the eastern horizon, one of several peaks that make this corner of Shropshire a walker's paradise. Black Hill and Pen-Y-Wern Hill offer different challenges, while Hodre Hill provides gentler slopes for families. The network of footpaths linking these summits is excellent - you could spend a fortnight here and barely cover the same ground twice.

Down in the valley, St Mary's Church anchors the town centre, though Craven Arms isn't exactly bursting with urban attractions. That's rather the point. This is gateway country, where England meets Wales in a landscape of rolling hills and deep forests.

Hopton Heath station, just a few miles north, gives direct access to the Cambrian Coast if you fancy a day by the sea. The town itself makes a cracking base for exploring the Welsh borders without the tourist crowds of more famous spots. Staying at one of the nearby parks puts you right in the heart of this landscape, with proper walking country on your doorstep and the freedom to explore at your own pace.