Welshpool

Medieval red sandstone walls rise from the valley floor, marking out a town that's been a crossing point on the River Severn for over eight centuries. Welshpool sits in that sweet spot where the Welsh borders blur - technically in Powys but feeling thoroughly mid-Wales, with rolling hills stretching in every direction and the promise of proper countryside within minutes of the high street.

The town centre has that lived-in feel you get in places that never quite became tourist hotspots. Local shops outnumber chains, and you'll find yourself chatting to farmers over coffee on market days. It's quiet midweek, properly so, but that's part of its appeal.

What really draws people here is the landscape. Moel Bentyrch and Pen Y Berth offer cracking walks with views that stretch across three counties on clear days - and the climbs aren't too punishing if you're carrying a packed lunch. The peaks feel wilder than they actually are, with sheep tracks threading between gorse and bracken.

Church architecture enthusiasts will find plenty to occupy them. St John the Evangelist anchors the town centre, while a short drive takes you to the striking Sardis Chapel at Capel Sardis and the peaceful St Johns Church in Dolanog. Each tells a different story of faith in these borderlands.

Getting here couldn't be easier - Welshpool station puts you thirty minutes from Shrewsbury, making it dead convenient for anyone coming from further east. The A483 runs straight through town if you're driving.

Staying at one of the holiday parks scattered around the valley makes perfect sense. You're close enough to pop into town for supplies or a proper pub lunch, but far enough out to wake up to proper countryside views and the kind of silence that's become rare elsewhere.