d:\>perl -E"for $x (qw/C:\berrybrew\test C:\berrybrew /) {$_=$x; $bs=chr(92); s#$bs$bs#<${bs}>#g; say}"
C:<\>berrybrew<\>test
C:<\>berrybrew

d:\>

##</code><code>##

use v5.12;
use warnings;
use Data::Dump;

my $bs=chr(92);

for my $x (qw/C:\berrybrew\test C:\berrybrew /) {
    $_=$x;
    s#$bs$bs#<${bs}>#g;
    say;
    #ddx $_;
}

$_='$bs';
s/\$bs/<$&>/;
say;

##</code><code>##

C:<\>berrybrew<\>test
C:<\>berrybrew
<$bs>