14 Beautiful Places to Visit in Herefordshire

Are you planning a visit to Herefordshire but are unsure what to do in the county? If so, then in this blog post you can read about 14 places to visit in Herefordshire including its only city, a few towns, cute villages, castles, gardens and obviously hikes. Some of these places are well visited, but the post also contains some unique or lesser known places.

Additionally, you’ll also find other must-see places located just outside of the county of Herefordshire, that can be easily visited when you’re exploring this area of England.

If you’d like to see these places to visit in Herefordshire then make sure to watch our YouTube video by clicking here. You can also check out our Herefordshire Playlist for more adventures.

Learn About Herefordshire

Herefordshire is a county in the West Midlands, bordered by Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Monmouthshire and Powys. The last two areas are actually in Wales. It’s also one of the 39 historic counties in England. These areas were established for administration purposes by the Normans and most of the time are based on earlier kingdoms and shires created by the Anglo-Saxons and others.

The county is home to the 5th longest river in the UK, the 217 km (135 miles) long River Wye. The river flows into Hereford from Powys then meanders through Hereford and Ross-on-Wye before returning to Wales.

Herefordshire is also home to two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). AONBs are areas that are both beautiful and important. Therefore, efforts are being made to conserve and enhance their beauty. One AONB is called the Wye Valley just to the south of Hereford, and the other one is the Malvern Hills located to the east of the city.

Did you know? – Herefordshire is actually home to many famous people. For example, Frank Oz, who was the voice of Miss Piggy, Yoda and the Cookie Monster, was born in Herefordshire. 

14 Places to Visit in Herefordshire

For reference, we spent an entire week in Herefordshire. Since it was a family get together, we didn’t explore as much as we normally would do, as we wanted to enjoy quality time with the family.

Disclaimer – I always share places I have visited myself. However, the below list will include a couple of other places that were on our list, but that we didn’t manage to visit. This is because some gardens and castles weren’t open every day. Since I don’t have personal experiences from these places, I’ll only leave some general information and links to their websites. 

Top Tip – Make sure to check the opening times and days of the places you would like to visit way before your trip. Many of them will only open on certain days so you really need to plan ahead. Since we didn’t know this, we couldn’t visit many places from our initial list.

1. Explore Hereford, the County Town of Herefordshire

One of the best places to visit in Herefordshire is Hereford. It’s a cathedral town and the capital city of Herefordshire. The city will likely be your base when exploring the county. It’s located on the River Wye and is well know for its cider, sausage rolls and famous Hereford Breed bulls.

Hereford is home to many beautiful attractions. Make sure to visit Hereford Cathedral, which dates back to 1079. It houses the Mappa Mundi, a 13^th century map of the world, as well as being home to the largest library of chained books in the world.

Another distinctive spot is the Old Black and White House or the Old House in the centre of the city. This building was built in 1621 as a butcher’s shop, and was a commercial building before it became a museum. Don’t forget to check out the Bull Statue just in front of the building. 

If you like museums, than you can visit some other ones such as the Hereford Cider Museum, Waterworks Museum or the Hereford Museum and Art Gallery. 

We only spent a couple of hours in Hereford, but you can easily make a day out of it if you tour around all the museums and stop for food.

Top Tip – For a great photo spot of Hereford Cathedral, head over to St Martin’s Street to the bridge that crosses the River Wye. 

2. Complete the Black Hill Circular Walk

If you enjoy walking and hiking, then you should complete one of the best hiking trails in Herefordshire called Black Hill. It’s located in the Black Mountains in Herefordshire at the border between England and Wales.

This Black Hill circular walk is a relatively easy 8 km (5 mile) long trail that will provide you with stunning views over Herefordshire in England and the Brecon Beacons in Wales. Depending on the weather, your speed or how often you stop for breaks, this route could take between 2 – 2.5 hours to complete.

Click here for more information about the Black Hill circular walking trail (including map of the trail, parking, points of interest, facilities and more useful information!)

3. Stop by at Longtown Castle

On your way back from your Black Hill circular walk, make sure to stop at Longtown Castle. The ruins are ideally located in the Olchon Valley in Longtown, overlooking the Black Mountains. It is owned by English Heritage. The castle is a Norman motte-and-bailey fortification. It was established in the 11th century, then rebuilt in stone in the 1150s. In the 14th century it fell into decline and slowly turned into ruins. 

It’s not a massive site, so you can walk around and read all the signs in about 15-20 minutes. 

Address – Longtown, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR2 0LE

Entry Fee – You can visit Longtown Castle for free!

Where to park? – Off-road parking is available by the entrance. 

4. Visit the Main Villages of the Golden Valley

The Golden Valley is the valley of the River Dore that flows through the western part of Herefordshire. The picturesque valley lies next to the Black Mountains. 

Fun Fact – Apparently the valley’s name comes from the Normans confusing the the Welsh word dŵr (meaning water) for the River Dore,  with the French ‘d’or’ meaning ‘gold’. 

The main villages to visit in the Golden Valley are Abbey Dore, Peterchurch, Dorstone and Ewyas Harold. They are all very small communities mostly comprising a church, public house and a few pubs but many of them have some cool points of interest in their vicinity that are worth visiting.

Located just outside of Dorstone for example is Herefordshire’s oldest man-made structure called Arthur’s Stone. The chamber tomb is from the Neolithic Period. To visit it, I suggest parking somewhere in Dorstone and taking the footpath up to Arthur’s Stone. Although there’s a teeny-tiny parking spot next to the tomb, the road leading to it called Arthur’s Stone Lane is super narrow.

The remains of Snodhill Castle are also just a mile to the south of Dorstone. It is one of the largest and oldest Norman castles in Britain. You can visit it free of charge.

Peterchurch’s best feature is St Peter’s Church. Interestingly, the church’s spire can be seen from miles away. Whilst the church itself was founded in Saxon times, the spire is a very unusual modern replacement. Another interesting feature in the village is Peter’s Well. 

Abbey Dore is definitely best known for its 12th-century Cistercian abbey, Dore Abbey. It is a cute little village to walk around, but you can easily see everything in about half an hour.

Last but not least you can also explore Ewyas Harold. Located to the south of Abbey Dore, the village’s best features are Ewyas Harold Castle and St Michael’s church. The castle is an early Norman motte and bailey castle of which only the motte remains.

5. Visit Brobury House

Another great place to visit in Herefordshire, located on the banks of the River Wye to the west of Hereford, is Brobury House. The charming Victorian house and garden are ideally placed next to Bredwardine Bridge with panoramic views over the Herefordshire countryside. Although the place is normally hired out for weddings and other functions, day visitors are also welcomed.

Both the house and gardens were built in the 1880s. The current owners renovated the house and gardens and retained the original Victorian character. The house looks absolutely beautiful from the outside. You can also explore the 8 acres of formal gardens. They have a lot of features such as ponds, streams, an orchard and young arboretum, kitchen garden and Victorian greenhouses. 

Since we visited Brobury House in between seasons, I didn’t have high expectations from the gardens. However, to my surprise, the garden looked absolutely lovely and colourful. Therefore, I can highly recommend a visit any season of the year. 

Address – Brobury House, Hereford HR3 6BS

Where to Park? – Free parking is available at Brobury House.

Entry Fee – Brobury house and Gardens are open every day between 10AM and 5PM. Admission fees are £6/£3 for adults and children respectively. 

Facilities – They have toilets and a tiny café, serving coffees, teas, and some home made cakes. You can also bring your own picnic if you wish. 

6. Spend a Day Exploring the Wye Valley

Depending on how long you’re in Herefordshire for, I highly recommend a visit to the Wye Valley. As I mentioned above, it’s one of the two AONBs within Herefordshire. It also crosses into Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire. 

The Wye Valley offers a ton of outdoor adventures, including walking, cycling and kayaking. It’s also considered the birthplace of the modern British tourism industry. You could easily spend a couple of days exploring just this area, but I think even if you just spend one full day there, it’ll be worth it. 

Read my detailed blog post about how to spend one day in the Wye Valley.

Places to Visit in Herefordshire If You Have More Time

Below are a few other places that were on our wish list before visiting Herefordshire. However, many of these places were either closed for the year or were only open on certain days, therefore we couldn’t visit. To avoid our ‘mistake’, I linked their websites where you can get up-to-date information prior to your visit.

7. Hellens Manor

The manor, located in Much Marcle, is one of the oldest dwellings in England and still a lived in home. It’s only open on Wednesdays, Sundays and on Bank Holidays between 1st April and 15th October. You can only access the manor through a guided tour which costs £9. Click here for more up-to-date information. 

8. Ledbury

If you manage to visit Hellens Manor, I highly recommend taking a trip to Ledbury. The picturesque town is located just to the north of Hellens. The main reason Ledbury was on our list is the large number of timber-framed structures throughout the market town. There are plenty of places to eat too so I think it would be a great day-trip together with Hellens Manor.

9. The Weir Garden

If you like gardens then another great place to visit in Herefordshire is The Weir Garden. This 10 acre garden is managed by the National Trust and located just to the west of Hereford. The garden is closed during winter and even during spring and summer there are certain days when it’s closed. Therefore, I highly recommend checking its opening time prior to your visit. Admission fee is £6.50/£3.25 for adults/children respectively, but it’s free for National Trust Members.

10. Hampton Court Castle and Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum

We also had Hampton Court Castle on our wish list. This stunning medieval castle is a Grade I listed building and also has a 12-acre garden to explore. The castle is located to the north of Hereford. It’s only open from spring until autumn and closed for visitors during winter. Click here for more up-to-date information. 

If you visit the castle, make sure to also walk around the nearby Queenswood Country Park and Arboretum. It is the only designated country park in the whole of Herefordshire. 

11. Westonbury Mill Water Gardens

Located to the north-west of Hereford, Westonbury Mill Water Gardens are a picturesque oasis I wish we could’ve visited. Since it’s not too far from Hampton Court Castle, I think you can definitely make a full day-trip out of these places. The garden is only open during the spring and summer months and is closed from the 30th September. Admission fee is £6.50/£2.50 for adults/children respectively. Click here for more up-to-date information.

3 Additional Places to Visit Around Herefordshire

Whilst there’s plenty to do within Herefordshire, there are a few must-visit places located just outside of the county. These places are great to stop at maybe on your way to or from Herefordshire or if you’re spending a bit longer in the area. 

12. Find Your Next Book in Hay-on-Wye

If you’re in the area you just can’t miss seeing Hay-on-Wye, a small market town commonly known as the ‘town of books’. The town is located at the north-easternmost point of the Brecon Beacons, on the Welsh side of the border with Herefordshire. 

With over twenty bookstores ranging from modern to quirky and everything in between, this town is definitely a must see if you’re a book lover. Depending on how long you’re browsing the book stores for you can spend as little or as long as you wish in Hay-on-Wye. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can sit and take a break if you feel overwhelmed by the amount of books.

Top Tip – Hay-on-Wye has definitely become a popular ‘Instagram place’. If you’d like to take some good photos, then I suggest coming here earlier in the morning. 

Please Note – Since you cross the border into Wales, make sure to check the country’s current restriction rules, which might differ from the rules in England.

13. Explore Ludlow in Shropshire

Since we live in Greater Manchester, on our way back home we decided to stop in Ludlow. This gorgeous market town is located just across the border in Shropshire approximately 23 miles north of Hereford.

The town mainly sits on the top of a hill where Ludlow Castle, the market place and St Laurence’s Church are located. Then from the hilltop the streets slope down towards the River Teme and River Corve.

Without a doubt Ludlow has a lot to offer for its visitors. The number one attraction is definitely Ludlow Castle which is considered one of the finest medieval ruins in England. Entry fee is £8/£3.50 for adults/children respectively. You also can’t miss the largest parish church in Shropshire county: St Laurence’s Church. 

If you love architecture then you’ll definitely enjoy walking around Ludlow, because the town is filled with examples of medieval and Tudor-style half-timbered buildings.

Did you know? – Ludlow has about 500 listed buildings!

Top Tip – For the best photo spot of the castle head down to Dinham Bridge within Ludlow Millennium Green. From there you can take some pretty great photos of both the castle and the bridge.

You can easily spend 2 to 3 hours wondering around the streets of Ludlow, eating and visiting the castle.

14. Take a Trip to the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales

The Brecon Beacons National Park is located right next to Herefordshire. Therefore if you enjoy hiking, then make sure to check out these beautiful hiking trails:

• Four Waterfalls Walk – Complete an 8km long trail and explore four stunning waterfalls in the Waterfall Country of the Brecon Beacons. Click here to read it. 
• Henrhyd Falls Point to Point Walk – An easy walk to the tallest waterfall in South Wales. Click here to read it.
• Pen Y Fan Horseshoe Ridge Walk – A challenging but rewarding 14km circular walk to the highest peak in South Wales. Click here to read it.

Final Thoughts on Places to Visit in Herefordshire

Prior to our visit to Herefordshire, I didn’t know much about the area. However, after doing a bit of research, I was surprised to see that there are actually a lot of places to visit in Herefordshire and plenty of activities to do there. 

Herefordshire has definitely surprised me with its beauty and I’m so grateful that we had the chance to explore the county.

My only slight disappointment was that we couldn’t visit many places due to their special opening times. So definitely take my advice and plan your trip according to the opening times of some of the gardens and castles. 

Have you ever visited Herefordshire before? If so, how much of the area did you manage to explore? If not, which places would you want to visit in the county? Let me know in the comments below.