Holiday rentals in Herefordshire

The largely rural West Midlands county of Herefordshire sits on the border of Wales and England. Herefordshire is known for its seemingly endless rolling green hills accompanied by apple and pear orchards and swaths of woodland. You might spot wild ponies roaming throughout the county amid ancient castles that dot mounds here and there. Of particular note is the county’s historic city of Hereford, which sits on the River Wye, and has the feel of a small market town, featuring charming narrow streets with half-timbered homes and historical pubs.

Only an hour’s drive from Birmingham and well connected by road networks, Hereford is an excellent jumping-off point to explore the rest of Herefordshire, whether it’s shopping in market towns such as Ross-on-Wye and Ledbury or going apple picking in the Golden Valley with the Black Mountains as a backdrop and the lush greenery that stretches to the horizon, said to have inspired scenery in many fantasy novels.

There is no bad time to stay in a holiday cottage in Herefordshire, although finding the optimal season largely depends on what you would like to see. Spring is a popular time to explore the countryside trails and woodlands, as temperatures are milder than the summer, but nature is just as vibrant as it reawakens from winter sleep. The summer brings longer days and more time to explore, while the balmy evenings are comfortable for camping, with the stars painting a rich tapestry in the night sky. Autumn is when the county begins to cool down but promises vibrant foliage and harvest festivals, a wonderful way to enjoy a hot mug of spiced cider. Winter blankets the rolling hills in snow, while plenty of indoor attractions give visitors an engaging means of warming up.

Black and White Village Trail

You can follow this 40-mile loop of centuries-old cottages, thatched pubs, and traditional tearooms by car, on a bike, or even on foot. This collection of historic villages sits between Kington and Leominster in the northwest of the county, where you’ll find orchards filled with apple blossoms in May and row upon row of hops ready for harvest in September.

Ledbury

On the edge of the Malvern Hills, Ledbury is a small but bustling medieval market town full of timber-framed Tudor buildings. Cute cafes and historical pubs sit alongside independent boutiques in the town’s welcoming mews and side streets. Fans of literature should make the trip to Ledbury in July, when the town puts on one of the largest poetry festivals in the United Kingdom.

Hereford Museum and Art Gallery

Hereford Museum and Art Gallery in Hereford city centre features exhibits ranging from zoological oddities to its medieval collection of swords, textiles, and costumes. The museum displays fragments of an intricately tiled mosaic floor that was excavated from the site of the Romano-British market town of Magnae, near present-day Kenchester.