The Welsh Borders are amongst some of the most diverse regions of the UK. The course of the England/Wales border has remained largely unchanged since the 8th century; much of the southern stretch still follows the course of King Offa’s Dyke and the River Wye. It runs 167 miles north to south from the salt marshes of the River Dee estuary near the Wirral on Merseyside to the River Wye estuary at Chepstow.
Along the border counties, known as the Welsh Marches, you can discover the ancient walled city of Chester, or head to Llanymynech, near Knighton, which is the only place to be split in half by the border - there’s even a pub where you can walk through one door in England and out another in Wales. The large cities and towns of Shrewsbury, Hereford and Worcester are well worth a trip too. Visit the Ironbridge Gorge in the Wrekin to learn about where the Industrial Revolution was born or the fantastic Big Pit Mining Centre on the Welsh side.
Further south, the border snakes through the middle of Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean with its wonderful array of woodlands and treks. The ruins of Tintern Abbey and Chepstow Castle are a massive draw in the far south and will inspire many other days out in the Welsh Borders.
Our Welsh Borders holiday cottages offer the perfect base from which to explore this fascinating area of Wales. From cosy cottages to large country houses, browse our full collection of self-catering holiday cottages in the Welsh Borders and book your next holiday today.
View our guide to Wales