Regional Info
Geography
WORCESTERSHIRE is bordered in the south by the Cotswold Hills and Bredon Hill and in the southeast by the Lenches, a hilly area famous for its fruit orchards and pretty villages. The rivers Avon, Severn and Teme flow through the county and along their banks are the riverside towns of Tewkesbury, Upton upon Severn, Pershore, Evesham, Stourport on Severn, Bewdley and Tenbury Wells. The Severn runs through the cathedral city of Worcester. There is also a good canal network with excellent marinas. The north of the county takes in the towns of Redditch, Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Kidderminster and because of their close proximity to Birmingham and the M40 and M5 they have developed into thriving commercial centres. The main landmark in the west are the Malvern Hills rightly designated as an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Herefordshire meets Worcestershire along the Malvern Hills. If you stand on the spine of the hills and look east across Worcestershire you will see Flat River planes interspersed with hills and woodland and large fields of rich soil where crops are grown. In contrast when you look west across Herefordshire the landscape is much hillier, ?rolly polly? as some locals call it. The landscape is better suited to more traditional smaller irregular shaped pasture land where the best of the world?s beef cattle, the Herefords thrive. Apple and pear orchards are a big feature. Because of its agricultural heritage the fine market towns of Ledbury, Ross on Wye, Newent, Ludlow, Bromyard, Hay on Wye, Kington, Knighton and Leominster have always been important centres. The River Wye meanders across the county towards the Severn and passes through Hereford City. The Golden valley in the south west of the county traverses through sublime unspoilt country bordering the Black Mountains. Castles are in good supply especially in the west. A string of lovely ?Black and White? villages including Eardisland, Kingsland, Pembridge and Weobley are popular destinations. To the north the ?foody? haven of Ludlow is a desirable place to live.
South Shropshire is also a major agricultural area and wherever you are you are never far away from the Long Mynd and its neighbouring hills, Stiperstones, Long Mountain and Wenlock Edge. Dramatic countryside taking in the towns of Church Stretton, Bishops Castle and Craven Arms with Bridgnorth to the east.
Cities and Towns
Communications
Birmingham International Airport – Flights worldwide
Bristol and Cardiff airports
Heathrow by car 2 hours from Worcester
Shobden airfield in Herefordshire – private charter
Staverton airfield in North Gloucestershire – private charter
Trains
London Paddington
Birmingham New Street
Main road network
M5 M42 M40 M50
Properties
This region offers a rich diversity of property types and styles. Generally agricultural, there are huge rural areas interspersed with pretty villages, market and riverside towns and cathedral cities. Every style including half timbered thatch and tiled, stone varying from mellow Cotswold, a spectrum of grey and brown through to the red stone of south Herefordshire, along with brick built properties. All these materials can be found in tiny cottages through to fine country houses. There are some good examples of new builds especially commissioned by private buyers in good locations and several new green oak timber framed houses built in the traditional style offering present day technology and character. The region also boasts some wonderful ancient houses especially in the Marches, which is the beautiful stretch of country running along the Welsh border in West Herefordshire/Shropshire.
Economy
Farming, including market gardening and fruit growing, is a very important element of the economy which is reflected in the thriving widespread network of farmers markets and farm shops. Cider and perry production is important to Herefordshire with 2 major suppliers being Westons and Bulmers with many smaller but expanding producers getting their products sold from their premises and shop shelves. Commerce and industry are centered mainly around the 2 Cathedral cities and in the towns to the north of Worcestershire. Tourism plays an important role throughout the region. Small businesses do well and are supported by local communities and local councils who offer incentives to encourage start ups and expansions.
Schools
The region has a wide range of state schools, to find out more try
www.shropshire.gov.uk
www.education.herefordshire.gov.uk
www.worcestershire.whub.org.uk
Highly rated private schools in the area can be found at
www.iscis.co.uk
Leisure
The list is endless, in fact there are no pursuits I can think of that are not available for an inland region! Here are some that instantly spring to mind:
Walking, horse riding, cycling, orienteering, hang gliding, gliding, flying, golf, shooting, fishing, hunting, clay pigeon shooting, falconry, archery, diving, climbing, sailing (inland). Boating ? canals and rivers, horse racing, point to points, cricket, rugby, football, bowls, tennis, squash and so on?..
Links
