Around the Malvern area

Abberley

The old Norman church (SO754678) opposite Manor Arms is based on a Saxon one and has some interesting features - see album. Also a nearby clock tower which is highly visible to the west. Earth Heritage Trust have an Abberley Church geology guide - see Malvern Hills geology section.

The Bell pub at Pensax is a regular in local real ale awards.

Village website - basic.

Witley Court, owned by English Heritage, is to the south east (towards Worcester). Once a great country house, now a spectacular ruin due to a fire in 1937. Some of the gardens have been restored. Next door is Great Witley Church, with an Italianate interior and its own tea rooms (Sunday all year, otherwise Easter to September).

Acton Beauchamp

St Giles Church has part of 8th/9th century preaching cross re-used as tower doorwar lintel [pic] - apparently pretty unique in Herefordshire.

Alfrick and Lulsley

Village community web site A nice church with sundial on the wood-clad tower - see Around the area album.

Ashleworth SO812255

Tithe Barn (National Trust).

Boat Inn, Ashleworth. SO818251 North of Gloucester on west bank of River Severn. Charity beer festival at the end of August. Popular with cyclists, serves filled rolls rather than full meals.

Bishops Frome SO663485

Hop Pocket Craft Centre Tea rooms and more, open March to December (limited hours Jan/Feb?). The 'craft' shops include Hop Pocket Wine Co, an excellent source of local cider and wine. Also a silversmith, food, garden supplies, and Greenstage Gallery.

Abbotts Living Wood SO672480 Runs courses in green woodwork, pole-lathe turning and chairmaking. Also publishes books on the subject.

Majors Arms pub, (technically Halmonds Frome) near the bottom of the climb up Fromes Hill from Bishops Frome direction. May be temporarily closed, at spring 08. Phone 01531 640371 (note - number not verified).

There are two pubs in the centre of Bishops Frome, The Chase Inn overlooking the green and the Green Dragon just round the corner, both providing food.

Bosbury and Coddington

Bosbury Church has a detached tower, which as with some others in border country (e.g. Garway), "appears to have been built as a refuge during Welsh incursions" (from church website). The Bell pub is opposite - 3 real ales and local Stowford Press cider, local produce used in the menu (at summer 07).

Coddington Church has (if the hedges aren't too high) some pleasant views to the west. Off the beaten track and a good place for a break when out cycling.

Bransford

Half way between Malvern and Worcester, on the A4103.

The Fold is a community creative arts and healing centre (new spring 2007). Its Eco Cafe provides organic and Fairtrade food and drink. Next door is Foal Yard Gallery.

Bringsty

Bringsty Common is to the east of Bromyard.

The pub in the middle on Bringsty Common, The Live and Let Live, finally re-opened 2007, after being closed for 11 years, with food and real ales. (Note: there is another, quite nice, pub nearby in Whitbourne also called the Live and Let Live.)

The Garden at The Bannut has knot and heather gardens, plus tea room.

Brockhampton Estate (National Trust, SO682546, right) includes Lower Brockampton House, a 14th century moated manor house (pic is of gatehouse). There's 1700 acres of parkland and traditionally farmed land. Has tea room by car park - no need to pay for entry.

Warren Farm right next door to Brockhampton Estate is also a possible food stop (April to October), but we haven't checked for a while. Phone 01885 482409.

Brockhampton SO594322

Brockhampton village site has some great photos and information on the church. Brockhampton Church (All Saints), built 1903 but looks much older, is in the Arts and Crafts style with many interesting features. Worth a detour. Picture of tapestries. Not the Brockhampton mentioned under Bringsty!

There's a good viewpoint over the River Wye at the top of Capler hill nearby - a wonderful new 'Artmarker' bench has been installed there, May 07.

Apple Store Gallery for work by local artists, open in the summer with light refreshments, Lady Garden Cottage, HR1 4TQ, phone 01989 740313.

Bromyard SO653548

A town big enough to have a variety of pubs and tea rooms. Has community website.

Teddy bear museum and collectors shop. Also original Thunderbird and Stingray puppets, and a dalek. At east end of Broad St (12 The Square), phone 01885 488329.

Rowden Mill station SO628565 (right): in private hands, has a small collection of carriages and a loco. There is also Bromyard & Linton Light Railway to the east of the town.

Bromyard & District Local History Society. Has a research room open to the public, in Sherford St. Also produces various publications.

The Saxon church at Edvin Loach (SO663584), 4 miles north of Bromyard, is worth a short detour. (English Heritage).

Tourist Information Centre in Cruxwell Street, phone 01432 260280.

Chaceley Stock

The Yew Tree (was Old Ferry Inn). On the banks of the Severn, next to sailing club. Can be very busy but usually copes well. Good food. Phone 01452 780333.

Clifton-upon-Teme

Clifton-upon-Teme and Shelsleys (Shelsley Walsh/Beauchamp/Kings). This web site includes bus timetable, a couple of local walks.

See separate entry re Shelsley Walsh below.

Colwall

Just over the Hills and next train stop from Great Malvern (and down the road from West Malvern).

Colwall.net Site probably only of interest to locals.

Picton Garden/Old Court Nurseries is the home of Michaelmas Daisies (Asters) National Collection, and is also the birthplace of modern Asters.

See Caves Folly Nurseries for organic grown plants and an eco camp site.

The Yew Tree pub (from advert Jan 08) at Colwall Green welcomes walkers and cyclists - consume your own food. Phone 01684 540498.

Cradley SO735472

Has an interesting medieval village hall (left), just up the lane from the war memorial. Restoration work, put back by a roof fire, should now be complete. [Another pic]

The village site is very much for locals, but there are 6 walks described on their walkers page (note: at Aug 06 this has some very large photo files).

Lower Nupend Gallery. Modern art from David Eatwell, some of local subjects.

Croome Park

Croome D'Abitot, SO888448. North east of Upton.

National Trust property. The landscape park, 'Capability' Brown's first complete one, has recently been restored (reopened March 2008). Tea room, near regional cycle route 46 (2 miles SW from SO 913 465). Croome church, St Mary Magdalene, is managed by the Churches Conservation Trust.

Dymock

Known for the Dymock Poets, celebrated with an informative display in the church (right: small extract). There are walks based around the Poets - ask at local Tourist Info Centres. The University of Gloucestershire has a Dymock Poets Archive & Study Centre. Ledbury's Poetry Festival will often feature material. Also see Friends of the Dymock Poets.

Dymock village website has some history and copies of Poets walks. Plus information on the village pub, Beauchamp Arms, which was saved by the parish council purchasing it. Dymock is also part of 'daffodil country' (see Kempley).

Book: The Dymock Poets by Sean Street, Seren Books, ISBN 1854111213. Buy from Amazon.co.uk.

Literary Potpourri has an interesting article with photos: 'Thomas and Frost at Dymock August 1914', (December 02 issue).

Eastnor

Eastnor Castle - a Victorian construction. Estate has an arboretum with cedars and redwoods, 22 acre lake, woodland walks and hosts various events. And at summer 2006, they are participating in the Anglo Sikh Heritage Trail, putting on display artefacts from the first private collection to be included. Check on website for grounds/castle opening hours (generally not autumn/winter). Also camping/caravan site, but own toilet required. Tea room - only available when castle/grounds open?

Eastnor Pottery Workshops for adults and children as well as ceramics to view and buy.

Roger Oates Design Studio shop for 'soft modern' living.

Fownhope

Village site has a page of local walks. Fownhope has a quite good village shop, too, if you need supplies.

Hoarwithy

While not much further west than adjacent entries (Fownhope, Holme Lacey, How Caple), this is a little far for a leisure cycle from Malvern. Italianate church is worth a visit, and the roads near the river are attractive.

The New Harp Inn is now a bit of a gastro-pub but there are cheaper bar snacks available and good choice of beers and cider. A little way north, at Carey, is the Cottage of Content pub with good food (SO564310). Phone 01432 840242. Trivia note: this pub, originally built in 1485, 'inspired' the miniature Lilliput Lane model, The Tap House (ref L2682). Just south of Hoarwithy is Sellack and the Loughpool Inn (near the Picts Cross crossroads) - the owners who turned this into a well-known gastro-pub have left, but it reamins still that type of establishment.

Holme Lacy

Shipley Gardens (SO559357) or see Great British Gardens website. Most cyclists will love a visit to this slightly quirky garden with an environmental conscience, peacocks, poolside tea rooms (homemade lemonade if you're lucky). The gallery with a better than average selection of arts and crafts appears to have departed. Open daily 10 to 6, end of March to end of October (but best to check outside of tourist/garden season). Phone 01432 870356.

How Caple

How Caple Court (SO612307) has interesting rediscovered sunken gardens (self-guided tours), but main reason for listing is as a tea room, mid-March to mid- October, all week, 10am to 5pm. Phone 01989 740626.

Kempley

St Mary's (Kempley Old Church) SO670312. English Heritage - open 1st March to 31st October, 10am to 6pm. The 'oldest timber roof in Britain' according to info in the church - also see Oxford Dendrochronology Laboratory report. Plus 'superb wall paintings from the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries' - see left, and another pic. The Painted Church web site has more info (warning: large graphic files). Flickr for other people's photos.

Kempley (along with Dymock) is also known for its wild daffodils. Walks (and maybe cycle rides) are organised at the appropriate time - see the Daffodil Weekend pages.

Ledbury

When human touch (as monkish books attest) Nor was applied nor could be, Ledbury bells Broke forth in concert flung adown the dells, And upward, high as Malvern's cloudy crest; From St Catherine of Ledbury (sonnet), W. Wordsworth.

Historic features in Ledbury include the Market House in the centre of town, which is next to Church Lane (right) leading to the pleasant church. Market House is also the meeting point for many local cycle rides, with the advantage of two tea rooms/cafes close by. The Cider Trail starts nearby, and takes advantage of the Town Trail. Also several bike shops in town.

Ledbury Online has page on sights to see. Visit Ledbury from Ledbury and District Tourist Association. has info on local museums and other attractions, some local history.

Ledbury Portal is a new site 2007, encouraging citizen journalism. Could be some useful info here over time.

My Ledbury A personal site going since 1996. Pics of the carnival, the town, various bits of info...

John Masefield, who became poet laureate, was born in Ledbury, 1878. The town celebrates its strong links through an annual Poetry Festival (see Events) and being the base of the John Masefield Society. The High School is also named after him.

Ledbury Railway station The ticket office is independently run, relying on ticket sale commission. Why not book your rail ticket via email or browse their scrapbook?

Tourist Information is near the Market House in the High Street, open 10am to 5pm. Phone Tel: 01531 636147, email: tic-ledbury@herefordshire.gov.uk

Shell House Gallery 400 original works by contemporary artists, exhibitions etc.

A new building created by and for the Tinsmiths design business, tucked away behind Ledbury's main shopping street, has won some praise. See The Guardian's Miracle of Ledbury article. The architect Alex Clive has a little info and some photos.

Martley

We haven't visited yet, but there's a page on it at Painted Church.

The Admiral Rodney, at Berrow Green just south of Martley, is on the Worcestershire Way and has good beer and food, including interesting vegetarian options when we visited.

Much Marcle

The Bounds in Much Marcle has been the home of Westons Cider for over 120 years. They offer daily Cider Mill tours, see website for details or phone 01531 660233 for group bookings. The associated Scrumpy House Restaurant is in a 17th Century converted hay barn - a bit upmarket.

Hellens A mansion dating from 1292, this is one of the oldest English homes, and has associations with Mary Tudor, Ann Boleyn, the Earl of Essex, the Black Prince and the Civil War. For part of the Second World War, pictures from the Tate Gallery were evacuated here. 15 acres of grounds, plus tapestries, armour, carriages. Open Easter-October, Wed, Sat, Sun, BH 2-5pm, phone 01531 660504. The restored Great Barn hosts various events.

The Walwyn Arms, at the cross-roads, puts on some music. Food and drink is OK although veggie options seem to be rather variable.

Much Marcle village web site is worth a look.

See the Cider page for more on this area's best known activity.

Newent, Glos

Newent Online has info on town attractions, history etc. There is also some info on relevant Forest of Dean page.

National Bird of Prey Centre Changed management in 2005.

Three Choirs Vineyard Has a restaurant (upmarket) and guest rooms as well as wine tasting. North of Newent. The cafe in the garden centre (Hazelfield) just south of here is more popular with cyclists.

Cowdy Gallery shows all sorts of work by a wide variety of glass artists. 31 Culver Street, phone 01531 821173.

Hay Farm Barn Gallery, Cliffords Mesne (south of Newent). Was due to close in July 03, so do check before going!

Penny Farthing, Aston Crews (SO671233), west of Newent. Food every day, warn in advance if you want veggie options on a Sunday. Listed in Alistair Sawday's Special Places to Stay Pubs and Inns of England and Wales (April 04) - buy from Amazon.co.uk. B&B with secure bicycle storage available.

Ross-on-Wye

Rossonwye.com Includes some info on Symonds Yat, Kilpeck Church and other local Hereford places, history as well as events, accommodation etc. The town has a variety of cafes, tea rooms, etc. (and bike shop). Quite a few interesting/historic buildigns in the centre of town (which doesn't stop it having some boring approach roads).

Grandma Peggy's Traditional Sweet Shop & Family Life Museum.

Wye Valley Aviation - Ballooning - is based near Ross.

Moody Cow (website under construction) pub and restaurant at Crow Hill (Upton Bishop), north east of Ross. Never been in, but like the name, location and previous website. Phone 01989 780470.

Wobage Makers Gallery, Upton Bishop, phone 01989 780495. Workshops of a number of potters, woodworkers and a jeweller. Also run pottery workshops.

Tourist Information Centre at Edde Cross Street, phone 01989 562768.

Shelsley Walsh

Known for its hill climbs - one of the oldest motor sport events. Also wonderful church [pic].

Staunton

See Chartist cottages info (also includes Gadfield Elm , oldest Mormon chapel).

The Greyhound at Lime Street (Eldersfield, GL19 4NX , phone 01452 840381), east of Staunton, is a good country pub with real ales and reasonable food.

Suckley

Village site has some history. The White House (SO721528) is distinctive, with Thomas Farnolls Pritchard, the 'inventor of cast iron bridges' having carried out some 'modernisation' work on it.

Sutton Walls (Sutton St Michael) / Marden SO515471

HerefordWebPages recounts how the murder of King Aethelberht of East Anglia near Marden in 794AD was a key part of Offa laying claim to being the first king of all England.

Tenbury Wells

See Teme Valley.

Tewkesbury, Glos

Tewkesbury Abbey.

Battlefield Society.

Tewkesbury Museum.

Tewkesbury Garden Centre, on the A38 just north of where it is joined by the A438, has a Courtyard Cafe. Phone 01684 293103.

Try Tewkesbury Net (if you can ignore the annoying audio intro).

Upton-on-Severn

The town is host to various festivals - see Events - and local landmark is 'the pepperpot' [pic]. Combined with nearby Hanley Castle it is said to have featured as Market Snodsbury in many of P G Wodehouse's novels.

Take your pick from a number of Upton web sites: Upton on Severn Community site, an older but rather messy site, or a town web site which doesn't seem to have made it out of a revamp.

The Map Shop is worth a visit (15 High Street). It carries one of the largest inventories of maps and travel guides in the world with over 60,000 items in stock and is UK agent for many overseas survey authorities.

Clives Fruit Farm just outside Upton has a farm shop (with lots of locally sourced items) and light refreshments, as well as PYO and excellent own apple juice and cider. Open every day (Sunday/bank holidays 10 to 4), except Mondays New Year to Easter. Phone 01684 592664.

Welland SO797403

Village just south of Malvern, with shop and pub. Pheasant Inn has camping area as well as bedrooms.

Whitbourne SO718568

East of Bromyard.

Parish site has a little background to the local churches.

Whitbourne Hall is a private residence, with ownership divided between the residents of 20 units which have been created from this large house. Occasional open days and events. Descendants of the original family owners live in the farm house and modern building near the lake. Detail from drawing room, left (the major downstairs rooms are shared and in pretty good nick). Another pic in the Photo Album.

The Live and Let Live is the local pub (not to be confused with another of the same name on Bringsty Common). Phone 01886 821016, see info on Eating Pubs site.

Worcester

A well-known city like this doesn't need us to trawl through the web, but here are a few options.

Daybrook House B&B has put together its own choice of local attractions.

Bevere Vivis Art gallery/centre with 150 odd professional and amateur artist members.

Royal Worcester Porcelain - there is also a Worcester Porcelain Museum.

Worcester City Museums Museum of Local Life, Art Gallery etc.

Worcester Cathedral.

• Home Trail.
• Cycling around - enjoy Malvern and beyond. Bike shops, hire.
• Walks, walking guides for Malvern.
• Local Interest - what to see and do.
• Malvern Hills, springs, geology.
• Towns and villages close by; Further afield.
• Events, venues, festivals.
• Eat, Drink, Stay; Cider & Perry.
• Sustainable Visits Local produce, natural world.
• Outdoor Links Weather, maps, historical.
• Write Around cycling and general bike sites; More Material - local books, pics; Photo Albums.
• How to get to Malvern.
• About us.
• Site Map, Search & Accessibility.

© J. Howes 2001-2008 unless stated otherwise. Page last updated 25-4-08.