From the River Wye, view of Hereford Cathedral
With pretty villages renowned for 14th Century black-and-white timbered homes, historic market towns and swathes of undulating, unspoilt countryside, Herefordshire is undoubtedly one of England’s best-looking counties.
However, it has also fallen under mass tourism’s radar making it an attractive option for people who are looking to experience a different side of England. Apart from the top-notch accommodation, there is also a growing culinary scene. Herefordshire produces some of this country’s most delicious fayre, from succulent beef and juicy blackcurrants to phenomenal beer, gin and cider.
You don’t have to stick with the big brands like Westons Cider or Chase Gin. There are thousands of small producers and restaurants that can create delicious dishes for you.
CORE ATTRACTION
Apples are the most famous of the county’s many crops, and Herefordshire makes fabulous cider. Recently introduced ‘cider circuits’ are a great way to tour the area’s best producers.
The self-guided route covers approximately 45 miles, and is possible by bicycle or automobile.
Ledbury’s main shopping avenue is home to the Market House. You can go on a perry and cider ‘tour’ and taste the local wines.
Glorious: Apples heading for cider-makers. Recently introduced ‘cider circuits’ are a great way to tour Herefordshire’s best producers
Or call in on cider and perry producers such as Westons Cider Mill at Ledbury for a tour and a tasting (westons-cider.co.uk).
It’s also worth looking out for regular apple-themed menus and activities in pubs, hotels and restaurants across the region. That way you know you’re getting the freshest and tastiest local produce.
You can find the Green Dragon Hotel, in central Hereford. The hotel is near the cathedral. B&B from £89 per room per night (greendragonhotel.com).
BERRY TASTY
Another local drink to sip is White Heron’s British Cassis – blackcurrant liqueur. It featured on the BBC show Dragons’ Den and is now sold everywhere from Waitrose to Fortnum & Mason.
Take a fascinating tour of 700-acre Whittern Farms in Lyonshall to see how it’s produced. You’ll get to see behind the scenes, visit a blackcurrant plantation (the finest berries head to Ribena) and bottle up your own cassis to take home.
The two-hour tour, which includes a 200ml bottle of cassis and a cocktail, costs £50 arrangement fee plus £20pp.
You will also find holiday cottages for four to eight people, many with outdoor pools. Or there’s The Colloquy, a luxurious property with squash court, sauna and hot tub. Prices start at £2,500 for a two-night stay for 16 people (whiteheronproperties.com).
A second estate provides a grand place for relaxation. Crumplebury, the Whitbourne Estate’s old outbuildings and porksty have been revived and are sure to take your breath away.
Whittern Farms has cottages with four- to eight person capacity.
Heavenly attraction: The church of St Michael and All Angels in Lyonshall is shown above
Fine dining at Pensons on the Netherwood Estate near Bromyard
This property, which was once out in the wilds, now houses Green Cow Kitchens fine-dining restaurant and a state-of-the art wedding venue. It also has uber-luxurious accommodation. It uses the fresh meat from the estate as well as herbs like wild garlic, which the chef forages in the nearby fields.
B&B costs from £165 per night (crumplebury.co.uk).
Starry starry night
An unforgettable Michelin-starred dinner at Pensons near Bromyard is a great way to commemorate a significant anniversary or other event.
Showcasing the best local produce, the tasting menu features cured sea trout with carrot, orange and saffron, monkfish, venison, spiced red wine pear with vanilla panna cotta… need I say more?
The cost is £440 per night for two guests, including the five-course tasting menu, breakfast and a courtyard bedroom – that’s actually a bargain.
You can also rent a number of large luxurious homes on the estate (pensons.co.uk).
The Baiting House is located in Upper Sapey near the Worcestershire Border. A couple from the area renovated this pub in 2015. It now has simple rooms as well as self-catering lodges that have their own patios and hot tubs. You can find local dishes on the daily menu. Some examples are chicken liver parfait, beer-battered chips and hake. Rooms from £75 per room per night (baitinghouse.co.uk).
The Baiting House in Upper Sapey, pictured, offers beautifully simple rooms and self-catering lodges
The Baiting House offers a varied menu that is sourced locally. Pictured: A couple from the area renovated The Baiting House in 2015.
Tasty: Beefy Boys Burger, Made with 21-Day-Aged Hereford Beef
SO-JUICY BURGERS
You want the most delicious beef burger in all of the land?
Head for The Beefy Boys in Hereford – but you may need to book ahead.
The restaurant was established in Old Market in 2016 and serves delicious Hereford beef burgers. It is freshly prepared each day, and comes in a variety of flavours and shapes.
You can choose to go for the Beefy Boy original with secret sauce, or the Dirty Boy which includes bacon cheese and beef-dripping onions.
Thebeefyboys.com offers milkshakes that come in both soft and hard versions (with or with out alcohol), which are loved by all.
GIN THAT’S A TONIQUE
The town of Ross-on-Wye, pictured, is home to The Bridge House B&B. You will find a wide variety of gardens and beautiful views across the River.
Chase produces vodka that’s so good it is exported to Russia!
You’ll learn more fascinating facts on a tour of the Chase Distillery in Preston Wynne, just 20 minutes outside Hereford, including how owner and entrepreneur William Chase switched from growing potatoes for supermarkets to making high-end Tyrrells crisps to producing outstanding vodka and gin.
You’ll be invited to taste classic GB Gin, made with ten botanicals including ginger and liquorice root, and the zesty Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo Gin. Tickets cost from £20pp (chasedistillery.co.uk).
Alternatively, make your own gin at Black Mountains Botanicals, from £120pp using your own still with the help of a master distiller. Tastings included, naturally (blackmountainsbotanicals.co.uk).
Stay at The Bridge House, Ross-on-Wye, a lovely B&B with spacious gardens and river views, from £110 per room per night (bridgehouserossonwye.co.uk).
GIVE AROUND, GET BITE
Foraging for food turns out to be another great way to explore Herefordshire’s stunning countryside. You can find mushrooms, nuts and other edibles depending on the season.
Liz Knight is a local expert in foraging and teaches guests where they can find them. Private two-and-a-half-hour walks for a group of up to 12 people cost £250 (foragefinefoods.com). Stay at gourmands’ heaven The Riverside at Aymestrey, with Herefordshire snails, free-range chicken and juicy Hereford beef on the menu. B&B from £95 per room per night (riversideaymestrey.co.uk).
CURRYING FAVOUR
Rayesa Asghar–Sandys is a teacher of Indian cooking in Mordiford, near Hereford.
Enjoy a cup of Fizz after-hours tea at Castle House Hotel
You can spice up your life with an Indian cooking class at Rayesa Asghar–Sandys’ farmhouse kitchen in Mordiford near Hereford.
Rayeesa, a former Met police officer who appeared on Dragons’ Den with her range of curry sauces, Spiced by Rayeesa, will show you how to select the finest Herefordshire ingredients to create scrumptious main dishes and sides. Her next class, the Essential Indian on January 25, costs £175pp (spicedbyrayeesa.com).
The Greenman, Fownhope is a stylishly renovated B&B. B&B from £70 per room per night (thegreenman.co).
TWICE AS NICE
The Nest near Ledbury isn’t just a gem of a cafe, it’s a delicatessen stuffed with a tempting smorgasbord of Hereford goodies for the larder, plus a local art gallery and plant centre (nestledbury.co.uk).
It is also home to the Handmade Scotch Egg Company, so lunch must include at least one – how about Braveheart, featuring pork with chilli and fresh lime? It is delicious and a great choice for a large meal.
The Feathers is a charming Tudor-style hotel in Ledbury. B&B from £110 per room per night (feathersledbury.co.uk).
TEA TIME
Castle House is a perfect place for afternoon tea – a luxurious, elegant hotel tucked away in a quiet spot beside Hereford’s old moat in which you might spot otters playing.
Tea, from £16pp and served Wednesday to Saturday, includes finger sandwiches, savouries, scones and cakes washed down with locally blended teas and coffees – and you can add a glass of fizz for a tenner. Do treat yourself to an overnight stay – B&B from £155 per room per night (castlehse.co.uk).