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Bromyard is fortunate to be situated amongst not only beautiful
countryside but also near to many exciting and interesting attractions.
In about half an hour, you could be shopping in historic cathedral
cities or pretty Victorian towns, wandering through ruined castles
or mansions, or just simply getting away from it all. Try one of
these routes for a day out from Bromyard:
A44 | THE DOWNS | WARREN
FARM | LOWER
BROCKHAMPTON | ELGAR’S BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM | WORCESTER
PORCELAIN MUSEUM |
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BROMYARD | | | GARDENS
AT THE BANNUT | BRINGSTY COMMON | CATHEDRAL
THE COMMANDERY |
One mile east of the town are the Bromyard
Downs, 280 acres of common land and open to all
visitors and commoners alike. This area has had a long established
use for recreational activities. A racecourse was laid out in the
early 1800s following the Napoleon war, traces of which can still
be followed. Many people come now to picnic, walk their dogs, and
admire distant views of the Black Mountains on the Welsh border,
the Long Mynd and Clee Hills in Shropshire, and follow the range
of the Malvern Hills as it marks the Worcestershire boundary.
Nearby, a short walk away, is Warren
Farm, a working farm with tours, an excellent café
and occasional exhibitions. Nestling in unspoilt countryside is
the moated Lower Brockhampton house
owned by the National Trust. There are different well signposted
walks and tasty refreshments. The lovely Gardens at
The Bannut have regular open days which are advertised
in the local press. Further towards Worcester, the A44 road crosses
Bringsty Common.
Like the Downs, it is open to visitors and offers peaceful walks
amongst bluebells, bracken or blackberries depending on the time
of year!
The Elgar Birthplace Museum
tells the story of the composer’s life and what inspired his
music. The Museum is an ideal introduction to Worcester. With a
growing and diverse range of shops, the famous Worcester
Porcelain Museum, a glorious cathedral
and its musical heritage, the cricket ground, and a living testament
to the Civil War at The Commandery,
Worcester has much to delight every visitor.
BROMYARD | | | MALVERN |
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A44 | B4420 | OUT TO GRASS
| THE HILLS
THREE COUNTIES SHOWGROUND
THEATRES
SPLASH SWIMMING POOL |
Taking the B4420 turning to Malvern, a pleasant drive takes you
past Out to Grass,
an exciting outdoor pursuit centre that offers, amongst a wide range,
fantastic grass boarding facilities. Looming ahead, in a purple
haze are the Malvern Hills. They
offer superb views across the Severn plain to the east, and to the
west, a glorious scene of mature trees, cultivated land, hills and
vales stretching to the Black Mountains beyond. Sunset would be
an ideal time to visit, then back down the hill for a pint afterwards!
Great Malvern sits
on the east side of the hill, and offers a splendid example of early
Victorian confidence in the ‘water cure’. There are
many springs from which you can happily ‘take the water’.
With a rich heritage of music and drama, and a fine showground,
there are many reasons to visit this area.
A465 | B4214
| LEDBURY | EASTNOR
CASTLE & POTTERY (A438) |
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BROMYARD | FROME VALLEY WINE | HOP
POCKET | HELLENS HOUSE
WESTON’S CIDER (A449) |

Just off the road to Hereford, is the turning towards
Ledbury. No visit is complete without stopping at
the local Frome Valley vineyard
where there are fabulous wines at great value too. The
Hop Pocket at Bishops Frome is packed full with
local gifts, food and drink, art, antiques and garden plants. Ledbury,
the poet John Masefield’s home, is a town well worth looking
at. With a range of specialist shops, the delightful market hall,
and picturesque Church Lane, Ledbury makes a good stopping point
on a journey to the attractive Eastnor
Castle, or further on towards Much Marcle, home
of Weston’s Cider.
In this small, family run factory, tours are run daily and include
a variety of tastings. Nearby, there is the fascinating Hellens
House, a building steeped in stories from the Tudor
period to the present day.
BROMYARD | WYE VALLEY BREWERY | SHORTWOOD
FARM | HAMPTON COURT | QUEENS WOOD
| HEREFORD CATHEDRAL & MAPPA MUNDI
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A265 | A417 | | A49 | | BULMERS
& CIDER MUSEUM WATERWORKS MUSEUM
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It’s 14 miles to Hereford, but a journey that offers a variety
of sights, smells and tastesS! The local brewery at Stoke
Lacy offers guided tours and opportunities to try
before you buy. Continue on the A465 to the roundabout just beyond
Burley Gate, turn right onto the A417 and follow the signs for
Shortwood Farm – a lovely place for children
and adults alike. There are all sorts of animals to handle from
guinea pigs to milking a cow. Then return onto the A417, turn right
skirting Bodenham village and England’s Gate Inn and continue
for another two miles. On the left is the imposing Hampton
Court, not a palace, but it does possess a variety
of beautiful gardens with a tower and maze to intrigue the children.
Leaving Hampton Court, turn left at the entrance onto the A417,
proceed half a mile to the A49 junction and turn left. Go up Dinmore
Hill and visit the Queenswood Country
Park on the summit. Rejoin the A49 and travel southwards
for six miles to Hereford which straddles the River
Wye. From the Medieval stone bridge, there is a
classic
view of the Cathedral, Bishop’s house and gardens. The famous
Chained Library and Mappa
Mundi are housed nearby, and have much to offer.
Next to the bridge, the Left Bank
serves a good view of the river while relaxing with a cup of coffee.
There are many pubs, cafes and restaurants which offer anything
from a sandwich to a five-course meal. Hereford has some interesting
individual shops, national chains and its own market with the
Old House Museum in the central pedestrian area.
Dating from Tudor times and in its original position, it gives a
glimpse of what life was like 500 years ago.
There are year round reasons to visit the city. Around May Day,
many of the central shopping streets are filled with the coloured
lights and sounds of the fair ground. The May Fair is a highlight
for many young people. Every third year, the city hosts the Three
Choirs Festival, and venues around the county are full of eager
enthusiasts. In Autumn the scent of pressed apples wafts through
the streets of Hereford from the Bulmer’s
Cider factory. There is a fascinating museum which
shows how the local brew has been created. Christmas brings a festive
spirit with twinkling lights and carols in the streets.
Going west along the A44 opens up more of the Herefordshire countryside,
in what is one of the least populated areas of the country. Soon
Leominster is reached and deserves a wander through
little alleys and wide Georgian streets. The
Priory stands well amongst grass and fine houses;
its growth through history reflected in its different architectural
additions.
Continuing west will bring you to the charming ‘Black
and White’ trail through some of Herefordshire’s
best kept secrets: picture-box black and white timbered cottages
in beautiful villages.
The A49 north of Leominster passes the grand
Berrington Hall owned by the National Trust, and
well worth a visit in its stunning park landscape.
Ludlow is another historic destination, and in half
an hour, you could be savouring food and drink in several Michelin
awarded restaurants. The streets boast intricately carved timber
houses and hotels, an excellent array of shops, grand houses, and
hidden from view, a large Parish Church. The Castle, now famous
for hosting outdoor Shakespeare plays, stands proudly above the
River Teme.
There are so many places that can be reached from Bromyard. Many
visitors return year after year to explore this part of the country.
The Tourist Information Office at the Bromyard Centre can supply
you with further information about these and more places nearby
and beyond.
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