Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a largely rural county in the West Midlands, although the North East of the county reaches into the suburbs of Birmingham.
Although largely fairly level, the county does contain the distinctive pointed Malvern Hills, inspiration for such people as Edward Elgar and J. R. R. Tolkien.
The River Severn, Britain's longest river, flows through Worcestershire, and so does its lovely tributary, the River Avon.
The county is particularly famous for its orchards, for its apples, plums and pears, and for the pink and white blossoms that these fruit trees show in abundance every Spring.
The restored Severn Valley Railway runs, with its steam trains, between Kidderminster, Bewdley and Bridgnorth in Shropshire.
The City of Worcester has a magnificent cathedral, a lovely cricket ground, and many timber framed buildings in the area where the annual Christmas Market is held.
Bewdley is a very attractive riverside town, with an excellent museum.
Broadway is one of the show villages of England, and one of the magnets for the many tourists who visit the Cotswolds.
Dudley is famous for its Zoo, set in the grounds of the Castle, and for the fascinating and interactive Black Country Museum.
Evesham, in the heart of the fruit growing country, has the ruins of the great Abbey where Simon de Montfort was buried, after he had been killed in battle here.
Kidderminster is famous for it carpets, and the West Midland Safari Prk is nearby.
Malvern is the collective name for a string of small towns, the largest of which is Great Malvern, famous a a spa town, and with an outstanding Priory.
Pershore is a pleasant town with the remains of a great Abbey, and is also at the heart of the fruit country.