Car Tour Series
About Marches Tours & Talks
Marches Tours & Talks – our tour guide association - takes its name from this
area of western England, which is called ‘The Marches’ meaning a ‘boundary’ -
the boundary between England and Wales. One of the counties in these Marcher
lands is Herefordshire – still a secret place known only to those who really
seek it out. Here you will see an unspoilt rural landscape at its most
beautiful, where you can wander and walk. We have no motorways and no theme
parks – just a slower pace of life which gives you time to think and relax.
Farming is still at the heart of life in Herefordshire. The land is fertile and
sheltered, protected on the east by the Malvern Hills, and on the west by the
Black Mountains. Orchards are everywhere, growing apples and pears for our
famous ciders and perry. It was here that the world-famous Hereford breed of
cattle was developed, and where the wool of the Ryeland sheep brought great
wealth. That prosperity has left for us a heritage rich in half-timbered
villages, some outstanding medieval churches and some delightful market towns –
Bromyard, Ledbury, Ross-on-Wye, Kington and Leominster. At the centre of the
county is the city of Hereford with its long and distinguished history.
As you travel near the Welsh border in the west of the county, there is evidence
that shows that this quiet and peaceful land was a battleground for centuries.
The Romans fought the Celts and built their roads. Saxons settled in the marshy
lands around our many rivers – the Teme, the Arrow, the Lugg and the majestic
River Wye. Even the Wars of the Roses and the English Civil War left their mark.
But it is the legacy of the Norman Marcher lords that is everywhere - in the
ruins of castles like Goodrich and tiny Longtown, and in our fascinating parish
churches some with outstanding Romanesque carving. Hereford’s majestic Norman
cathedral dominates the city from its position above the River Wye. It has a
long history of pilgrimage from Saxon times to the Reformation – first to the
shrine of St. Ethelbert, brutally murdered on the orders of King Offa, then
later to the shrine of its other saint - a former Bishop – St Thomas of
Hereford. The cathedral houses also the world famous Mappa Mundi and the largest
Chained Library in the world.
Hidden Extras Car Audio Tours
For those who prefer to explore alone we also offer you the chance to buy
our award winning Audio Car Tours series "Herefordshire's Hidden Extras",
available to download and play on your MP3 player, iPod or phone.
Click here for more details of our audio tours
