The following are a few of the places to visit, sights to see, things to do, experiences to enjoy and food and drink to savour.
All the following locations are to be found within a 30 mile radius of Ocle Pychard and are mostly within the county of Herefordshire.
1) GLORIOUS GARDENS:
Hampton Court Van Kampen Gardens at Hope under Dinmore (01568 797777)
Hergest Croft Gardens at Kington (01544 230160)
Abbey Dore Court Garden at Abbey Dore (01981 240419)
2) COUNTY CASTLES:
Eastnor Castle near Ledbury (01531 633160)
Goodrich Castle near Ross on Wye (01600 890538)
Clifford Castle (with its connections to Ocle Court)
Grosmont Castle
3) HERITAGE HOUSES:
Hellens of Much Marcle (01531 660504)
Berrington Hall near Leominster (01568 615721)
Stokesay Castle just over the border in Shropshire (01588 672544)
Black and White Trail
4) CIDER ROUTE:
From the smaller,traditional local producer, Mike Johnson of The Ross on Wye Cider and Perry Company at Broome Farm in Peterstow near Ross on Wye, is a MUST (01989 769556/562824)
also Dunkertons Cider Mill near Pembridge (01544 388653)
and the now sizeable but still independent Westons Cider at Much Marcle (01531 660233)
with the largest commercial cider makers in the world HP Bulmer Ltd.(01432 352000)
and the fascinating and informative Cider Museum and King Offa Distillery in Hereford (01432 354207)
5) THE CATHEDRAL CITY OF HEREFORD:
Mappa Mundi and Chained Library at Hereford Cathedral (01432 374202)
The Old House in High Town (01432 260694)
and take a break at Cafe @ All Saints Church-a unique setting (01432 370415)
and The Left Bank Village overlooking The River Wye (01432 349009)
Hereford is a market town in transition.
6) THE COUNTRYSIDE:
Queens Wood Country Park at Hope under Dinmore
Wye Valley Walk (112 miles from Rhayder to Chepstow with 4 loop walks between Hereford and Monmouth)
The Mortimer Trail (Ludlow to Kington)
Offa's Dyke National Trail (taking in Knighton and Kington and Hay on Wye on the way)
or any number of scenic country walks, from a leisurely stroll to a vigourous amble!
(More walks information from Herefordshire Ranger Team 01568 797052)
The Brecon Beacons beckon too, just over the border in Wales.
7) FOOD and DRINK with THE TASTES AND FLAVOURS OF HEREFORDSHIRE:
For my brothers' (with no small help from John) tender and tasty, marbled Hereford beef from our farm.
Legges of Bromyard, butchers and much, much more. No visit to Herefordshire would be complete without calling in.
Tenbury Road, Bromyard, Herefordshire HR7 4LW. tel.01885 482417. Contact Anthony or Ingrid.
New website to be launched August 2007
David Waller, butcher in Ledbury for my mum's succulent Texel lamb Wallers Winners
D.T. Waller & Sons Limited, 71 The Homend, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 1BP
Telephone : (01531) 632739 E-mail : prime-meat@wallers-winners.co.uk
Truffles Deli in Ross on Wye
Richard at Truffles
Hop Pocket Craft Centre featuring Paddy and Company at The Hop Pocket Wine Company Ltd. at Bishops Frome (01531 640592)
Peter and Vernon Amor at the thriving Wye Valley brewery just up the road from us at the old Symonds Cider location in Stoke Lacy
Wye Valley Brewery
and also just up the road the enterprising James Lewis at Mayfields Brewery
Monkland Cheese and Cafe at Monkland near Leominster (01568 720307)
Dunkertons Cider Mill at Luntley, near Pembridge, near Leominster (01544 388653)
The September Organic Dairy at Almeley near Kington (01544 327561)
Combine these with a relaxing drive around The Black and White village trail based around Pembridge (01544 388761).
8) WINE TRAIL:
Broadfield Court Wines at Bodenham (01568 797552)
Frome Valley Vineyard at Bishops Frome (01885 490768)
The Three Choirs Vineyard over the border in Gloucestershire (01531 890555)
9) RURAL CRAFTS AND AGRICULTURE:
Shortwood Family Farm at Pencombe (01885 400205)
The Hop Trail(including Bromyard Heritage Centre) (01885 482038)
Hop Pocket Craft Centre featuring The Hop Pocket Wine Company Ltd. at Bishops Frome (01531 640592)
Small Breeds Farm Park and OWL Centre at Kington (01544 231109)
Acton Scott Historic Working Farm near Church Streeton in Shropshire (01694 781306)
10) EVENTS:
At various times through the year Herefordshire has many events such as The Three Choirs festival (every third year), Steeplechase at Hereford Racecourse, Hay on Wye Book Festival(end of May/beginning of June), Ledbury Poetry Festival(end of June/beginning of July), The Three Counties Show and showground at Malvern, Big Apple weekends at Blossom and Harvest time centred around the Putley area (01531 670544), The Courtyard Centre for the Arts presents a variety of entertainment throughout the year, as well as local cinemas, museums and galleries.
11) ACTIVITIES:
Clay pigeon shooting, golfing, fishing, horse riding and pony trekking, cycle trails, golf, helicopter rides, ballooning, gliding, watersports, multi activity centres and many leisure centres are all available locally.
12) ENTERTAINMENT:
The Courtyard Arts Centre in Hereford (01432 359252)
The Malvern Festival Theatre (01684 892277)
Hereford Leisure Centre (01432 278178)
TGS Bowling (01432 352500)
13) FURTHER AFIELD:
We are also within 50 miles of Stratford upon Avon with it's Shakespearean connections, the Symphony Hall in Birmingham, Ludlow with it's July Festival and Cheltenham with it's racecourse and Literary and Music Festivals.
14) WALKS:
The best way to see anywhere. Get out of the traffic, pull over, stop the car and get out and walk. You see so much more and you may even get into conversation with the locals!
Plenty of OFFICIALLY signed walks too.
15) WHERE WE REALLY EXCEL:
This is just a sample of the wonderful ways to spend your days. You can be active or relax as you choose. You may have your own trails to blaze or you may prefer a more leisured approach to the county. Whichever please enjoy the wonderful food and drink and hospitality at:
The Three Horseshoes at Little Cowarne with Janet and Norman (01885 400276)
We are very pleased that Brent Castle at The Three Crowns is now stocking some cider and perry from Oliver's and due to the number of customers coming to buy cases from us, we can only assume that it is going down very well. Wonders will never cease!
The Riverside Inn at Aymestry (01568 708440)
The Scrumpy House at Westons Cider (01531 660626)
The Talbot at Knightwick (01886821235)
The Stagg Inn at Titley (01544 230221)
The Left Bank in Hereford (01432 349009)
or, weather permitting, a picnic in one of the scenic locations en route!
Further information is available from Hereford Tourist Information Centre (01432 268430)
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