Welshpool

Three stone monuments crown the hills around this Mid Wales market town, and each tells a different story. Rodney's Pillar rises prominently on Breidden Hill, commemorating Admiral Rodney's naval victories, while the Gypsy monument marks a more local tale of tragedy and remembrance.

Welshpool sits where the River Severn cuts through the Powys countryside, creating a natural meeting point between England and Wales. The town's high street retains that proper market town feel - busy on Mondays when the livestock market brings farmers from miles around, quieter midweek when you can actually park without circling the blocks.

Beyond the town centre, the landscape opens into some of Wales' finest walking country. Long Mountain stretches along the English border, offering cracking views across three counties on clear days. Moel y Golfa provides an easier climb for families, while Middletown Hill and Bulthy Hill reward those after a proper ramble with panoramic vistas over the Severn Valley.

Forest walks through Oakley Wood and Harbeech Wood provide gentler alternatives when the summits are shrouded in cloud. These ancient woodlands harbour red kites and buzzards - the air above Welshpool often fills with their distinctive calls.

Getting here involves the A483 from either Shrewsbury (20 minutes) or Newtown (15 minutes). The railway line between Birmingham and Aberystwyth stops right in town, making car-free visits entirely feasible.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense for exploring this corner of the Welsh Marches. You're positioned between the Severn Valley and the mountains, with England just over the border and the wilder parts of Powys beckoning westward. It's an ideal spot for those wanting to experience both countries without constantly packing and unpacking.