Local Activities
Art - Old Chapel Gallery has become recognised as a centre of excellence for the arts, where work by both reputable local and nationally known artists and makers can be seen alongside innovative work by talented newcomers. The emphasis is on quality and originality, from glass, ceramics, jewellery, iron-work, sculpture, furniture, to textiles and knitwear and a diverse range of original watercolours, oils, pastels, etchings and aquatints.
Canoeing – Wye Valley Canoe Centre. A must on a nice day with beautiful black mountain scenery all around. Costs variable and depending on how far you go. Lots of picnic spots along the way.
Flying Lessons ?? Shobdon Airfield about 5 miles away - adventure for those who love the skies with helicopter, glider or aeroplane lessons.
Golf – Kington Golf Club. This golf course will simply take your breath away. Views of 7 counties from the highest golf club in England; and also some fairly strenuous walking over hilly terrain. Buggies can be hired. Hazards include gorse, bracken and marauding sheep. Green fee approximately £23.
Hiking – Offas Dyke Path. Loads of fabulous walking all around us including Offas Dyke.
Karting – Border Kart Racing. Great fun on the go-karts around a well organised track.
Mountain Biking – Clive Powell, Rhayader. Guiding and rental in seriously steep and beautiful terrain. Wheely Wonderful Cycling, Eltham, Near Leintwardine. More local rental with guidance on routes.
Oaker Leisure - Kingsland. Wonderful woodland adventure land for kids and adults alike, including quadbiking, paintballing, clay pigeon shooting, abseiling, rope climbing, rafting, borneo breakout, low ropes in 175 acres of Herefordshire woods. 15 minutes away this is a wonderful day, or half day's entertainment for mature groups, family groups or kids.
Quad Biking – A longish drive but through beautiful countryside and well worth the journey.
Rally – Phil Price Rally School, Knighton. Excellent off-road rally training.
Riding – situated at Glasbury just the other side of Hay-on-Wye and very close to the canoeing start point if you wanted to try to combine the two activities.
Shooting – Griffin-Lloyd Shooting Ground, Knighton. Clay pidgeon ground.
Squash Coaching - We have an affiliated coach who will come out over the weekend and help you with your game, or start novices from scratch. Can provide rackets and balls and coaching in groups or on a one to one basis at a price of £20 per hour.
Swimming/Gym/Squash – East Radnor Leisure Centre, Presteigne. Well heated indoor pool. They also have a ball park for kids, gym and further squash courts. The Burton Hotel in Kington has a indoor pool, hot-tub, sauna, sunbeds, steam room and a huge gym. £15 for a day's entry.
Tennis – Leominster Leisure Centre, Leominster. Indoor and outdoor tennis courts.
Pubs and Restaurants
The Bell Inn - Yarpole. Really good new pub restaurant with friendly service and a good menu. Owned by renowned French chef Claude Bosi, this gastro-pub is well worth a visit.
Boat Inn - Whitney on Wye. Good food with a lovely view onto the River Wye.
Bridge Inn - Michaelchurch Escley. A good pit stop on the way to walking in the black mountains.
The Clive -Ludlow. Used to be excellent food as The Cook House.
The Drawing Room - This a real jewel of a restaurant run by husband and wife team. It is a 40 minute drive over the border into Wales just beyond Builth. Lovely food, and they serve a great Kir Royale.
Emily's Tea Rooms & Restaurant, Presteigne. This is a lovely small establishment to grab a cup of delicious tea (of which they hold many varieties of Chinese, Indian and Green) and cake, having visited the Judge's Lodgings and wandered round the pretty border town of Presteigne. Or otherwise they serve delicious dinners in the evening.
The Royal George, Lyonshall - a 2 mile walk across the fields to a very welcoming family pub with good home cooking and a fire usually burning in the hearth.
Hibiscus - Ludlow. One of the best of the Ludlow Foodie Cluster.
Royal Oak - Gladestry. A bracing 4 mile walk over Hergest Ridge from Kington brings you to this quirky Welsh pub with standard pub food.
Stagg Inn - Titley. We are very lucky to have this wonderful Michelin starred pub within walking distance and would definitely recommend a visit during your stay.
Things To Do
Black and White Village Tour – A wonderful tour of all our local black and white timbered and unspoilt villages, including Lyonshall, Pembridge, Eardisland, Weobley etc.
Bryans Ground – Presteigne. Lovely interesting garden with wonderful yew hedging. Only open at certain times or by appointment
Croft Castle ??? Mortimers Cross. Beautiful National Trust 17th Century Stone manor house with lovely gardens Open Wednesday to Sunday April to September and Saturday Sunday.
Eastnor Castle Ledbury. Medieval Castle with lots to do!
Hampton Court – Hope under Dinmore. A castle on the meadows of the river Lugg, backed by a steep wooded escarpment and surrounded by woodland and grounds of 1,000 acres. Founded by King Henry in the early 15th century the castle has been completely restored and the Van Kampen gardens now gaining national acclaim.
Hergest Croft, Kington – Beautiful rhododendron and azalea woods in late spring and Acers in autumn. Described as 'one of the finest collections of trees and shrubs in Britain', the gardens are sure to delight everyone.
The Amazing Hedge Puzzle - Symonds. Ever since it was planted 25 years ago by brothers Lindsay and Edward Heyes, the fun of the Amazing Hedge Puzzle has made it Herefordshire's most popular private tourist attraction.
Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo, Symonds. Experience the delight of nature's most serene and beautiful wildlife. At the Bufferfly Zoo you can walk with free flying exotic butterflies and see them supping nectar, finding their mates and laying eggs.
