Herefordshire

Herefordshire is a traditional and ceremonial county and unitary district in the West Midlands region of England in the United Kingdom. It borders the counties of Shropshire in the north, Worcestershire in the east, Gloucestershire in the south east and the Welsh preserved counties of Gwent in the south west and Powys in the west.

Transport

Road

The M50, one of the first motorways to be built in the UK runs through the south of the county and, with the A40 dual carriageway, forms part of the major route linking South Wales and the West Midlands.

Related Topics:
M50 - Motorways - UK - A40 - Dual carriageway - South Wales - West Midlands

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The hilly nature of the terrain in Mid Wales means that the main ground transport links between North Wales and South Wales run through Herefordshire. The other trunk roads in Herefordshire, the A49 and the A465, form part of these north - south routes as well as catering for local traffic.

Related Topics:
Hilly - Terrain - Mid Wales - North Wales - Trunk roads - A49 - A465

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Rail

The Welsh Marches Railway Line also runs north - south with passenger trains operated by Arriva Trains Wales offering links to North West and South West England as well as to North and South Wales. Hereford is the western end of the Cotswold Line which runs via Worcester with through services to Oxford and London (operated by First Great Western and FGWL) and to Birmingham and Nottingham (operated by Central Trains).

Related Topics:
Welsh Marches Railway Line - Arriva Trains Wales - North West - South West England - Cotswold Line - Worcester - Oxford - London - First Great Western - FGWL - Birmingham - Nottingham - Central Trains

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Former routes which are now closed were Ledbury to Gloucester; Hereford to Ross-on-Wye and onward to Gloucester and Monmouth; Hereford to Hay-on-Wye; Pontrilas to Hay-on-Wye; Leominster to New Radnor; Eardisley to Presteign; and Leominster to Worcester via Bromyard.

Related Topics:
Gloucester - Monmouth - Hay-on-Wye - Pontrilas - New Radnor - Eardisley - Presteign

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Air

There are no airports with scheduled air services in Herefordshire though Birmingham, Cardiff and Bristol International Airports are all within reach and the RailAir coach operated by First Great Western provides connections from Heathrow via Reading station. Shobdon Aerodrome near Leominster is a centre for general aviation and gliding. Hot air ballooning is also popular with Eastnor Castle being one of the favourite launch sites in the area.

Related Topics:
Airports - Scheduled - Birmingham - Cardiff - Bristol - Coach - Heathrow - Reading station - Shobdon Aerodrome - General aviation - Gliding - Hot air ballooning - Eastnor Castle

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Waterways

Historically, the Rivers Wye and Lugg were navigable but the wide seasonal variations in water levels mean that few craft larger than canoes and coracles are now used. There are canoe centres at The Boat House, Glasbury-on-Wye, the Hereford Youth Service and Kerne Bridge Ross-on-Wye.

Related Topics:
Wye - Lugg - Navigable - Canoes - Coracles - Glasbury-on-Wye

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The early nineteenth century saw the construction of two canals, The Hereford & Gloucester Canal and The Leominster & Stourport Canal but these were never successful and there are now few remains to be seen.

Related Topics:
Nineteenth century - Canals

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