by the
beautiful hills and scenery of The Marches, the border country of
South Shropshire and Wales.Long ago this would have been a turbulent region full of disputes between the English and the Welsh, but today the countryside around Bishops Castle could be said to be amongst the most peaceful and tranquil remaining in the country.
The castle that gave its name to the town was built by the Norman Bishops Of Hereford, and used as protection for the surrounding area. Said to have been in ruins by the time of the Civil War in the mid-17th Century, its stone would have been used to build some of the houses and other buildings of the town.
Although sadly the castle is long gone, Bishops Castle is still a 'working' market town at the centre of a rural community, with an active livestock market, two breweries, and numerous pubs. Lining the steep hill of the High Street is a selection of shops, some unusual, many in brightly coloured and listed buildings.
Most of the time the town is quiet, relaxed and peaceful - but at times during the year it hosts festivals such as the Walking Festival, Michaelmas Fair and Christmas Lights Festival along with a range of other events and on these occasions it can be crowded and busy in a friendly sort of way.
As if that is not enough, Bishops Castle is in an area which prides itself on the quality and variety of the food and drink produced locally. We are only a short distance from Ludlow, a beautiful town in its own right and famous for its fine food.
There are many interesting things to see both in the town and nearby. Bishops Castle is a good base for walking in the magnificent countryside all around. We have an excellent selection of accommodation for visitors for a short or long stay, both in the town and in the surrounding area, and there are several camping and caravanning sites nearby.
All in all it's a great place to visit - come and see for yourself!