Geography
And Nature
Where do we start? Aymestrey Lodges are surrounded by some of England’s most beautiful countryside.
No matter which direction you travel you will find it beguiling and inspiring. After all, it inspired Edward Elgar – one of England’s greatest composers – and one of its finest poets, AE Housman who wrote “A Shropshire Lad”.
Don’t just take our word for it – our selection of stunning favourites includes a fair smattering of officially designated “Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)”.
The Welsh Marches
It is worth remembering that the stunning, timeless, landscapes around Aymestrey pre-date county borders by a few millennia: Indeed, Aymestrey is in an area known as The Welsh Marches – a term that dates back to The Domesday Book of 1086 – recalling a time when William The Conqueror installed two of his most trusted confidants as Earls of Shrewsbury and Hereford respectively, with responsibilities for containing and subduing the Welsh.
In the 12th Century, the dramatic landscape made the task virtually impossible – nowadays it provides the backdrop for some stunning drives.
Offa's Dyke
Offa’s Dyke is an Anglo-Saxon earthwork running for 177 miles and broadly following the border between England and Wales. In 1971 it became the route of a long-distance footpath – one of Britain’s National Trails which draws walkers from across the world.
Knighton (the one 12 miles from Aymestrey – there are a few Knighton’s around us!) to Kerry Ridgeway just happens to be one of the most spectacular (and challenging) sections of the Offa’s Dyke Path, containing some of the best-preserved sections of the monument and boasting some of its most impressive scenery.
Clee Hills AONB
Near Ludlow, The Clee Hills consist of Brown Clee (the highest peak in Shropshire) and Titterstone Clee.
On a clear day you can see as far as Snowdonia and Cader Idris to the West, The Malvern Hills and Cotswolds to the South, The Clent Hills and the West Midland conurbation to the West and The Peak District to the North.
Long Mynd and Carding Mill Valley AONB
The Long Mynd, managed by The National Trust, is at the very heart of The Shropshire Hills and one of the most popular tourist destinations. The Long Mynd is a large and long plateau high above Cardingmill Valley.
In late summer the heather covered heathland is a sea of purple and not to be missed. The Long Mynd is steeped in history and folklore. Shooting Box is one of sixteen Bronze Age burial mounds found on the Mynd and the 5,000-year-old ridgeway once guided our Neolithic ancestors on their trade route.
Brecon Beacons
Hay on Wye is just 26 miles from Aymestrey.
Famous the world over for its book shops and the annual Festival of Literature this pretty town is the gateway for exploring the northern Black Mountains. With mountains and moorland, standing stones, castles and picturesque waterfalls the Brecon Beacons National Park is well worth a visit.
The Stiperstones AONB
Despite being voted 78th in a TV poll of Britain’s favourite walks and being just a few miles from The Long Mynd, the Stiperstones attracts many fewer visitors than its more famous neighbour. It is very different, too: the Long Mynd is flat plateau, while the rugged quartzite ridge of the Stiperstones is unmistakable.
The Stiperstone’s jagged outline and “other worldly” rock formations have, inevitably given rise to Myths and legends: witches convene to drink with the Devil on the craggy peak of Devil’s Chair. You may also hear that the ghost of Saxon warlord Wild Edric still roams the hills, and that his followers are imprisoned deep in the lead mines beneath the ridge.
Clun and The Clun Valley
In A Shropshire Lad, AE Housman said “Clunton and Clunbury, Clungunford and Clun are the quietest places under the sun.” They still are! The small, beautiful, timeless villages and hamlets along the valley follow the tiny river that gives Clun its name.
They are chocolate box pretty: thatched roofs, old stone walls, pretty gardens, packhorse bridges and idyllic settings next to the babbling waters of the river. Then there’s the ruins of the Norman Castle with glorious views over the surrounding countryside.
Shropshire Hills AONB
The Shropshire Hills probably has as many distinct individual hilltops as any area of England apart from the Lake District.
Rich in history and wildlife (you may even spot a Red Grouse), this is a special landscape where remote upland merges into pastoral lowland and where chocolate box hamlets and villages sit amongst rolling farmland, woods and river valleys.
Malvern Hills AONB
The Malvern Hills dominate the border between Herefordshire and Worcestershire and are a favourite destination for walkers of all ages and abilities, whether you are interested in a gentle stroll or an energetic trek along its ridge.
While you are there, be sure to visit the town of Malvern: The Victorians transformed Malvern into a spa town and the impressive architecture of their many civic buildings gives the town a unique character.
Wye Valley AONB
The Wye was voted the nation’s favourite river. Rising in the mountains of mid-Wales it is a gentle river running through stunning, gentle countryside.
Its lower reaches meander for 58 miles through the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty from just south of Hereford down to Chepstow where you will find the romantic ruins of Tintern Abbey, in the prettiest of settings surrounded by river, trees and hills.
Other local attractions
Images used with permission from The National Trust.
194388 View across the parkland to the house in May at Berrington Hall, Herefordshire. NTPL commissioned (NTPL) © National Trust Images/David Sellman.1128804 Horses at Carding Mill Valley and the Shropshire Hills, Shropshire. NTPL commissioned (NTPL) © National Trust Images/John Millar
