The area offers truly brilliant opportunities for walking in magnificent countryside.

Little Quebb is three miles from Offa's Dyke, a long distance footpath running for a total of 180 miles north - south along the ancient border of England and Wales. Our nearest access to the path is at Kington, three miles away, where the path winds across Hergest Ridge, with fantastic views into Wales and the Marches. After about three miles you reach Gladestry with a welcoming pub - a good stopping point with the option of a straight return to Kington or a circular route.

There are other splendid routes from Kington, from one hour strolls around the town to the 30 mile Mortimer trail through the beautiful hills of the border country to Ludlow.

Hay on Wye offers another stunning access point to Offa's Dyke at Hay Bluff, as well as access to some spectacular walks through the black mountains and lonely Olchon valley. This is the gateway to the eastern part of the Brecon Beacons, which provide many varied opportunities for walks.

It is a great area for mountain biking and we can advise on local routes. Check out Drover Holidays who hire out bikes as well as organizing cycling and walking breaks.

Quiet local roads provide excellent cycling routes both for the speed enthusiast and for those who want to potter about and use bikes as a means of enjoying and seeing the countryside. There are lots of scenic cycles straight from our gate: it is easy, for example to find a very quiet circular route which takes in both Weobley and Pembridge, two highly picturesque villages on the Black & White Trail, as well as lunch and tea stops, and the Water Gardens just outside Pembridge.

Canoes can be hired at Glasbury. You can chose shorter or longer routes, and take a picnic, and then arrange to be picked up from your destination later in the day. A brilliant day out - particularly when the sun is shining.

Kington has a very idiosyncratic and enjoyable golf course high on Bradnor hill, with views of seven counties, where golfers vie with sheep for green space. It is reputed to be the highest golf course in England. The club welcomes visitors, and many people come to Kington just for the golf.

There is a great deal to see for those interested in local history and culture, in music and the arts. This is just a flavour of what is on offer. More detailed information is available in information packs in the cottages.

Eardisley is on the Black & White Village Trail, a very pretty tourist route which takes in all the local villages of historic interest.

Pembridge, four miles down the road is a good stopping off point on the trail. It has a church with stunning timber framed detached bell tower, and a good craft shop and art gallery.

Presteigne, 10 miles to the north has a number of interesting houses and shops. The Judges Lodging, a recently restored 18th century court house and judges lodging is well worth a visit. Presteigne hosts an annual music festival at the end of August each year, with the conductor George Vass. It provides an eclectic programme of classical and contemporary music, with new commissions each year.

Hay on Wye, seven miles south west, is internationally famous for its collection of second hand book shops. There are also a range of other interesting shops, and a good craft shop run by local craftsmen. There is an annual Hay Festival (31st May - 10th June 2012) each year attracting thousands of visitors and a chance to hear politicians, authors, poets, critics, eco-activists and others debating their craft and the issues of the moment.

Hereford, 14 miles south has an interesting area around the river and cathedral. The Cathedral is well worth a visit, not least for the Mappa Mundi and famous chained library. Hereford is also home to the Courtyard, a lively arts venue for live music, film and theatre.

Ludlow, a stunning market town 15 miles to the north has some fine examples of 18th and 19th century town architecture.

Ludlow has an interesting castle and an annual festival of music and the arts in late June, which always includes a Shakespeare play in the castle grounds. It is a mecca both for antique hunters and foodies, providing plenty of opportunities for browsing in antique shops and for eating well.

On the way to Ludlow is the beautiful Croft castle, a national trust property, which is also close to Yarpole, an attractive village with the Bell Inn, recommended for its food. Berrington Hall, another National Trust property outside Leominster is also worth a visit.

Ledbury is an interesting town to the east of Hereford, with some black and white architecture and a beautiful church. It is home to Eastnor castle which hosts a range of events and activities. Ledbury provides the venue for an annual poetry festival, bringing together local and national talent.

Brecon, 23 miles to the west, has an annual jazz festival in early August, attracting large numbers of jazz aficionados. Leominster, an attractive rural town 10 miles north east, has a beautiful priory , some good food shops an an excellent mix of antique and bric a brac outlets.

Hampton Court, Leominster

One of the most ambitious new gardens in England for 100 years.

Original Victorian garden walls enclose stunning new flower gardens divided by canals, island pavilions and pleached avenues. The kitchen garden is an ornamental garden of fruit and vegetables.

There is a maze of a thousand yews with a gothic tower at its centre. Beautiful herbaceous borders stretch out from a one hundred and fifty year old wisteria tunnel that leads to vast lawns and ancient trees beside the castle. A good restaurant/cafe in the Orangery.

Hergest Croft Gardens, Kington

Extend over 28 ha (70 acres) with more than 5000 rare trees and shrubs described as ‘one of the finest collections of trees and shrubs in Britain’. The six distinct areas are Hergest Croft Garden, the Azalea Garden and the Maple Grove, the Kitchen Garden and the Park and Park Wood.

Bryan's Ground, Stapleton

Three acres of intimate garden rooms, designed by David Wheeler and Simon Dorrell and furnished with follies and fragrant flowers, towers and topiary, pools and a potager, and paths to five acres of specimen trees on the banks of a river, on the border with Wales. Home to the best selling and much praised garden quarterly Hortus.

Westonbury Mill, Pembridge

3 ½ acre garden around the tangle of streams and ponds behind an old corn mill off the A44 near Pembridge. A huge collection of moisture loving plants set in a beautiful spot amidst the apple orchards. Fantastic garden follies have recently been added to with a water driven clock in a tower with a singing bird promised in the future.

Good cafe. Open everyday.

Rhodds Farm, Lyonshall

The 2 acre garden was started from scratch in 2005 by garden designer Cary Goode. Formal planting surrounds the Dovecote with more relaxed borders in front and behind the house. In front of the barn to the west of the house is a pond and a gravel garden. The vegetable garden and wildflower meadow extend westwards. 13 acres of woods are crisscrossed by paths and carpeted with bluebells in the spring.

Open for the National Garden Scheme 10th June 2pm - 6pm (teas), 11th June 10am - 5pm, 8th July 2pm - 6pm (teas) and 9th July 10am - 5pm.  Groups welcome by appointment.

Upper Tan House, Stansbatch

A 1.5 acre south facing informal garden around a farm house and beside the Stansbatch brook. Wooded banks of the brook extend east and westwards. Deep herbaceous borders, divided by gravel paths are surrounded by lawn that leads down to the brook. On the south side of the brook and rising away to the fields beyond is a wildflower meadow rich in orchids in June.

Open by appointment in aid of The National Garden Scheme.

 

The New Inn at Pembridge is rather old! It has an open fire most days of the year, and provides reliable pub food.

A mile south of the village is Dunkerton's, an organic cider producer with a shop and a lovely restaurant in a fine listed black and white barn. A Cook's Kitchen has the advantage of being open on a Monday evening, when many local restaurants are closed.

The Tram in Eardisley is our local pub. It is very family friendly with good well priced pub food and has a lovely garden for the summer.

The Stagg at Titley with a Michelin star offers some of the best food to be eaten on the borders.

For an extra special treat Mr Underhill's in Ludlow offers fine dining on Wednesday through Sunday. Book well ahead to be sure to to get a table.

Hay on Wye has a good choice of pubs and restaurants. The Swan Hotel has a charming bistro, the Three Tuns offers good pub food and the Globe a comfortable cafe serving food all day. Its a good place for families with lots of space.

The Bull's Head at Crasswall is a bit further on from Hay but worth the journey. The Bull's Head is a wonderful untouched pub serving great food. Outside the door you will find excellent walking in the Olchon Valley, well described in Owen Sheers's book Resistance (and recently filmed) and on the Black Hill of Bruce Chatwin fame. Check opening times before you set out!

Other local pubs offering food include The Harp at Old Radnor with a good open fire in winter and a great sitting area outside, with wonderful views to the west, for warmer weather.