Hereford

Rolling farmland stretches in every direction from this ancient market town, where the River Wye winds past medieval streets and half-timbered buildings that have watched over centuries of cattle markets. Hereford proper may feel sleepy on weekday afternoons, but there's substance beneath the quiet exterior.

The cathedral dominates the city centre - worth seeing for the Mappa Mundi alone, that extraordinary 13th-century map of the world. Beyond the obvious tourist draws, the real character emerges in the surrounding countryside. Head west and you'll find yourself climbing Cusop Hill, where the views across the Welsh borders are properly spectacular on a clear day.

Woodland covers much of the landscape here. Pike's Wood and Red Hill Wood offer decent walking, though Puckmoor Wood tends to be quieter if you prefer your rambles without the weekend crowd. The forests feel ancient - all moss-covered oak and dappled light filtering through the canopy.

St Thomas a Becket church sits in the village of Clifford, a short drive from the main town. It's worth the detour for the Norman architecture and the peaceful churchyard.

Getting here is straightforward enough - the A438 runs straight through from Worcester, and the railway station connects to Birmingham and Cardiff. For a proper base to explore both Hereford and the Brecon Beacons beyond, the holiday parks scattered around the Wye Valley make perfect sense. You're close enough for morning cathedral visits but far enough out to wake up to birdsong rather than traffic.