Hereford

Apple orchards stretch as far as the eye can see from this cathedral city on the River Wye. Hereford's red sandstone cathedral dominates the skyline, but it's the working countryside that gives this market town its proper character.

Wander through the city centre and you'll find a place that takes its agricultural heritage seriously. The weekly market still draws farmers from across the county, and the local pubs serve proper cider made from fruit picked within miles of where you're drinking it. Belmont Abbey sits quietly on the southern edge, a 19th-century Benedictine monastery that's well worth the short walk from town.

The surrounding landscape is classic Herefordshire - rolling green hills dotted with black and white timber-framed houses. Belmont Haywood Country Park offers decent walking without the crowds you'd find in the Cotswolds. For something more secluded, Breinton Springs nature reserve has lovely woodland paths and genuinely peaceful spots by the water.

Getting here is straightforward enough. The A49 runs right through town, connecting you to Shrewsbury up north and Newport down south. The railway station has regular services to Birmingham and Cardiff, though the journey times aren't exactly speedy.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense if you want to explore the wider county. You're within easy reach of the Black Mountains to the west, the Malvern Hills to the east, and countless country pubs that do Sunday lunch properly. The Wye Valley is a 20-minute drive south, offering some of the best river scenery in Britain.