What a road trip reveals about small-town Texas

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Hip Texan capital Austin has a growing reputation as a live-music capital – but for anyone keen to take a deep dive into American country music, it’s also the gateway to a little-known area called Texas Hill Country. Within easy reach of Austin, but a world apart in many ways, this is a place to get under the skin of the Texas that exists beyond the big cities.

Lying 45 to 90 minutes west and southwest of the state capital – depending what order you take things in, since it makes for a more or less circular route – this little pocket of small towns and back roads goes through mainly agricultural land and is packed with excellent music venues.

Expect the big skies and open vistas of classic US road trips, plus plenty of peach farms. It also brings together several layers of heritage – Native American, German Lutheran and cowboy culture – that, when combined, paint a different and hugely fascinating picture of this much-misunderstood and underrated state. Fantastic wineries, superb food and outdoor adventures, including hiking and horse-riding on family ranches, put the icing on the Texan cake.