The Welsh Marches
less than 10 miles
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
12 miles
20 minutes
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
16 miles
28 minutes
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
19 miles
31 minutes
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
26 miles
40 minutes
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
30 miles
52 minutes
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.
