Sunset Over Herefordshire Countryside, With Couple

Places to Visit in Herefordshire

Discover some of the best places to visit in Herefordshire. Beautiful landscapes abound and the Wye Valley is a fantastic example. Here, places including Ross-on-Wye and Symonds Yat offer the perfect base for spectacular walking routes and water sports on the River Wye.

Herefordshire is also a renowned cider-making region with orchards and cider mills to visit in the heart of the countryside. There are enchanting villages and market towns too, including Leominster that is part of the famous Black and White Trail.

Meanwhile, for a slice of city life, Hereford offers a delightful mix of history, shopping and riverside scenery.

Hereford

The city of Hereford sits beside the River Wye and its centre is fairly compact, making it easy to explore. Hereford Cathedral is one of its top attractions, not least for the Mappa Mundi, the largest surviving medieval map of the world.

For even more history, visit The Black and White House Museum, a perfectly preserved Jacobean timber-framed house. When it comes to shopping, head for the independent shops around Church Street or for bigger labels go to the Old Market.

Take a breather at Bishops Meadow and enjoy some quiet time beside the River Wye. Or, take a short drive to the National Trust’s Weir Garden that brims with natural beauty. Wildflowers are in full bloom in summer and there’s a small woodland where otters are sometimes sighted.

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Ross-on-Wye

The charming town of Ross-on-Wye is set in the stunning Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In the past, the landscape attracted artists and poets, including Turner and Coleridge. However, today it attracts canoers and kayakers to the river, as well as hikers to the Wye Valley Trail which is dotted with woods, meadows and farms.

Back in town, the 13th-century St Mary’s Church dominates the skyline of Ross-on-Wye. Meanwhile, shoppers can peruse the vintage shopping trail for antiques, retro pieces and collectables.

Beyond the town, visit Goodrich Castle which is a well-preserved medieval fortress where you can climb the battlements for breathtaking views. However, if wine is more your thing, Wythall Estate Vineyard offers tastings of award-winning wines in the dining room of the estate’s 16th-century manor.

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Symonds Yat

This pretty village straddles the River Wye, with Symonds Yat East and Symonds Yat West on opposite sides. The unusual passenger ferry, where the boat is pulled by hand along overhead ropes, is the easiest way to travel between the two. Otherwise, it’s a several-mile drive.

Symonds Yat is one of the best places to visit in Herefordshire to completely get away from it all. Take a boat trip or if you’re feeling adventurous guided canoeing and kayaking tours are very popular. Meanwhile, walkers can follow marked trails along the River Wye and into the forest.

In Symonds Yat East, follow the footpath to the summit of Yat Rock which peaks at 300 feet. It is renowned for its iconic views over the Wye Valley, as well as the possibility of glimpsing Peregrine Falcons.

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Ledbury

Ledbury is a charismatic mix of 17th-century and Georgian architecture, quiet backstreets and cobbled lanes. You can easily while away several hours in independent homeware shops, art galleries and bookshops. There’s also a twice-weekly market at the town’s 17th-century, black and white-timbered, stilted Market House.

If you want to explore further afield on foot, footpaths that begin close to the town gently traverse local woodlands. There’s also the long-distance Herefordshire Trail that loops the county, or head into the Malvern Hills.

The countryside around Ledbury is rich with orchards famous for cider-making, with many producers in the area offering tours of their mill. Meanwhile, Eastnor Castle, a 19th-century revival castle, offers tours of the staterooms, as well as the chance to stroll around the arboretum and lake.

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Leominster

Leominster is one of the best places to visit in Herefordshire for antique-hunting, with numerous dealers trading from the town. Meanwhile, a range of independent shops, cafes and a weekly Friday market offer that ‘staying local’ feeling.

The town prospered from the wool trade during medieval times and traces of this past are evident in the ancient, narrow streets. There are many Tudor half-timbered houses too and Leominster is the recognised start/finish point of Herefordshire’s Black and White Village Trail. The trail runs for about 40 miles and can be enjoyed by car or bike.

Leominster is a great base for exploring the rolling countryside and you should begin with the riverside walk that starts from Corn Square. Meanwhile, other attractions in the area include Stockton Bury Gardens, the National Trust’s Berrington Hall, the National Trust’s Croft Castle and Newton Court Organic Cidery and Farm Shop.

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Bromyard

The best way to orientate yourself with the market town of Bromyard is with the walk along the Heritage Trail, formerly the old highway. There’s a good helping of cafes and cosy pubs to keep you sustained too, plus traditional shops including a butcher, ironmonger and greengrocer.

Tradition is alive and well here with Bromyard Folk Festival and Bromyard Gala, which pays homage to the local rural heritage. For a taste of the countryside, you don’t have to go far. There’s the Bromyard Downs, Bringsty Common or walking trails through dingles, woodland and orchards at the National Trust’s Brockhampton.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a very special lunch or dinner, Pensons, located on the historic Netherwood Estate, is a well-regarded Michelin-star restaurant.

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Image Of Beautiful Couple Dating And Walking Together In Country

Kington

Kington is a historic market town on the border with Wales and is renowned as one of the best places to visit in Herefordshire for fabulous walks. It lies in the Arrow Valley against the backdrop of the Hergest Ridge and there are many local routes to tempt you.

Head for Offa’s Dyke Path, the Herefordshire Trail, the Mortimer Trail or the Wyche Way that all either start, pass through or finish in the town. If you want more inspiration or are looking for guided walks, Kington hosts walking festivals, usually in spring and autumn.

Meanwhile, there’s a lovely riverside recreation area and the 18-hole course at Kington Golf Club is highly regarded. Whilst in the area, visit Hergest Croft Gardens for 70 acres of rare plants, shrubs and trees, plus stunning views towards the Black Mountains.

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