Ludlow is situated centrally in the Welsh Marches - the England-Wales borderlands, an area of unforgettable and varied natural beauty, which is full of hills, valleys, castles and characterful villages and towns.
The Welsh Marches is a term still commonly used to describe those parts of the English counties which lie along the border with Wales, particularly Shropshire and Herefordshire. There is no modern legal or official definition of the extent of the Welsh Marches. However in the past the Welsh Marches was a large administrative area covering Shropshire, Herefordshire, Cheshire, Gloucestershire and two thirds of Wales.
Due to Ludlow's position roughly halfway along the north south running welsh border and the relative size and importance of the town and Ludlow Castle it was decided Ludlow would be the administrative capital of the Marches. As Ludlow's importance grew, so did the wealth of the town. Evidence of this can be seen in many of the buildings and homes from this period as well as the areas of Ludlow Castle which were used to house the Council of the Marches.
More information about the History of the Welsh Marches
Ludlow is a good base to explore this area from: within an hour (often much less), you can experience the delights of Shrewsbury, Shropshire's county town; the cathedral city of Hereford; the south Shropshire Hills such as the Longmynd, Caer Caradoc, the Stiperstones and Wenlock Edge; sample real Herefordshire cider and perry; visit Ironbridge, the birthplace of the industrial revolution and an UNESCO World Heritage Site; or explore the uncrowded hills and valleys of Mid-Wales.
The Welsh Marches has one of the largest concentration of Castles any where in the UK. The following are some castles within easy driving distance of Ludlow:
Ludlow Castle - Stokesay Castle - Croft Castle - Hopton Castle - Clun Castle - Wigmore Castle - Shrewsbury Castle
More information about what's nearby to Ludlow.