Castles and Country Houses

From National Trust to privately owned properties, Enjoy splendid castles and country houses in Herefordshire. Also enjoy our handy Great Combo Destinations in Herefordshire Guide.

Kentchurch Court, home of the Lucas-Scudamore family has survived for nearly 1000 years through political alliances, intrigue, advantageous marriages and strong women! Lying beneath Garway Hill in the Monnow valley, close to the city of Hereford, this beautiful historic house and gardens are not to be missed whilst visiting Herefordshire. Features of the gardens include a Rhododendron wood, walled garden and a vegetable garden. Around 250 deer live in The Deer Park, where examples of ancient trees including Yew, Chestnut and a number of large Maple trees can be found. Kentchurch Court is Steeped in history dating back as far as 1058. Read more about the house, family and history. The gardens are open to the public from Good Friday to 30 September. The house is available for group visits of 5 or more, by appointment only. Please check the calendar for opening times and days. Kentchurch Court is a perfect destination for walkers and cyclists to use as a base. Taking advantage of the tea room for their refreshments. Painting groups are welcome to use the gardens and house for inspiration and car clubs often include Kentchurch Court in their itineraries. Dogs are welcome on leads and most of […]

Kentchurch Court

Gardens, Historic House, Venue Golden Valley

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Westonbury Mill Water Gardens is beautiful and fun Garden and follies Westonbury Mill Water Gardens are set in the wonderful wild heart of Herefordshire close to the ‘black-and-white’ village of Pembridge. About half of its 3½ acres is filled with massed planting of vividly colourful moisture-lovers laid out around a tangle of streams and ponds, partly shaded by a backdrop of mature trees. Punctuating the garden are a number of fantastic follies, often featured on national television, which will fascinate and entertain you. Walking amongst the garden’s exuberant growth, you will find that it opens up slowly and provides new interest around each corner. There are lots of benches where you can relax for a long view. The other half of the garden is a wild flower meadow where you can walk alongside the Curl Brook among banks of shrubs and young trees, or climb the spiral path of the great mound in the middle of the meadow and enjoy splendid views of the garden, neighbouring farmland and distant hills. Cafe: There is an excellent cafe for coffee, lunches and teas Plant nursery: There is a wide selection of plants from the garden Information Open: every day from 1st April […]

Westonbury Mill Water Gardens

Gardens Pembridge

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The jewel in the crown of Herefordshire homes Hellens Manor still serves as a residence but is also open to the public, administered by the Pennington-Mellor-Munthe Charity Trust, and hosting tour groups as well as cultural events such as lectures, concerts, school field-trips, and literary discussions, forming a key part of the cultural life of Much Marcle. The inside of the manor is impressive with Tudor style architecture and fine delicacies. The manor was originally occupied by French Monks but a short while after in the year of 1096 the manor was granted to the De Balun family who became witnesses of the signing of the Magna Carta. In 1301 Hellens went to Lords Audley, a nephew James who was companion to the Black Prince rented the manor for a pair of silver spurs. Afterwards he then leased the manor to Walter De Helyon who then later gave his name to the house. Over the following centuries the manor passed through several hands including those of Richard Walwyn who became occupier of Hellens Manor in the late 14th century, in the 15th century the wealthy family made many changes to the house. The Audleys and Walwyns held court in the […]

Hellens Manor

Gardens, Historic House, Venue Ledbury

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FURTHER UPDATE – Deer Park Campsite open on Saturday 4th July until 23rd August, then again from 6th to 30th September. AN UPDATE ON OUR OPENING… It’s so lovely to be open again that we’ve added extra days!* Open every Saturday, Sunday and Monday until Monday 13th July. For anyone home-schooling, we’ve also put together a page pointing to lots of learning resources around Castles! With the recent news that the majority of children are unlikely to go back to school until September, an Outdoor Learning Day at Eastnor visiting a real-life castle might be a welcome change of scenery! We hope to see you soon, don’t forget tickets are limited and must be pre-booked online! Adults: £5.00 Children (3–15yrs): £2.50 *Opening is still on a Limited Grounds Only basis – full information available on our website, please read before purchasing tickets. Eastnor Castle is a great day out for the whole family! Open to visitors on selected days from Easter until the end of September, there is plenty to entertain and amuse visitors of all ages, including dogs who are most welcome. Visitors can explore the state rooms within Eastnor Castle where guides are on hand in every room to […]

Eastnor Castle

Historic Castle Ledbury

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UPDATE: Gardens and plant sales open, cafe closed. Hergest Croft Gardens lies in the heart of the Welsh Marches with stunning views towards the Black Mountains. From spring bulbs to autumn colour this is a garden for all seasons. There are gorgeous flower borders. An old fashioned Kitchen Garden with a Rose Garden; Spring Borders with carpets of bulbs; and unusual vegetables; the Azalea Garden with spectacular colour in the spring: and Park Wood, with thirty foot high rhododendrons are fantastic all to discover. Autumn colour throughout the gardens is superb The Gardens are the perfect place to explore and relax. Teas and light lunches, provided by the award-winning Ridgeway Catering, specialising in local homemade food, are available in the old Dining Room and outside on the Terrace. Plants Sales contains many rare and unusual specimens from all over the world. A wide range of gifts are presented in the Hall. There are special entry rates for pre-booked groups of 20 or more.

Hergest Croft Gardens

A garden for all seasons Kington

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UPDATE: Grounds and cafe open with limited takeaway menu only. Must pre book online. PLEASE READ THE CORONAVIRUS UPDATE FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST: nationaltrust.org.uk/press-release/the-national-trusts-latest-statement-on-coronavirus-covid-19 Croft Castle sits deep in the heart of Herefordshire countryside surrounded by 1500 acres of historic woodland, farm and parkland. This intimate house became the Croft family home before the Domesday Book. 2019 marks 75 years since D-Day and 80 years since the start of the Second World War. To commemorate these significant anniversaries, we’re sharing the stories of the Croft family from 1939-45. Families can step back in time and discover what life was like at Croft when it was a school for evacuated children during the war, with dressing up and games in the Family Room. In the castle you can live life as Sir James Croft and find out how the family bought back their home in 1923. Explore the family photographs or sit and read through the auction catalogues. Look out for the 1950s photographs and memorabilia which detail how Croft was at risk of demolition before 1957 and what it was like here then. Step outside and explore the working walled garden complete with historic orchards, vineyard and 1908 glasshouse. Find […]

Croft Castle

National Trust Castle and Parkland Leominster

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Standing proud and strong, this fine Georgian mansion sits within Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s final garden and landscape. This year, we’re embarking on our ambitious Garden Project. This aims to restore, revive and reimagine ‘Capability’ Brown’s iconic walled garden and pleasure grounds for future generations. We’re working in partnership with local community groups to ensure the vision for the gardens are co-created and beneficial for the local community. We need to raise £200,000 to repair the garden walls, including the rare curved section, which is one of only two left surviving in this style. From July 2019, you’ll be able to step inside and explore this area for the first time. Find out how you can support the project on your next visit and ask the team about the various fundraising events and gardening workshops we have planned for the coming year. In the centre of the walled garden, you can discover ‘LOOK! LOOK! LOOK!’, a bold contemporary pavilion designed by internationally renowned artists, Heather and Ivan Morison. Inspired by Berrington’s Georgian origins and eighteenth-century culture, this 8-metre-tall by 8-metre-wide pink structure inhabits the walled garden; highlighting the importance of this piece of ‘living history’ as the final masterpiece of ‘Capability’ […]

Berrington Hall

National Trust Estate and Garden Leominster

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PLEASE READ THE CORONAVIRUS UPDATE FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST: nationaltrust.org.uk/press-release/the-national-trusts-latest-statement-on-coronavirus-covid-19 Escape to the spectacular Weir Garden riverside and be absorbed by natural beauty. Bordered by the River Wye, The Weir Garden sits within unspoilt Herefordshire countryside and has many historical secrets to uncover. For centuries this site has been used as a pleasure ground for fishing, boating and swimming. It is managed in a natural way to create a varied habitat for wildlife. In spring see carpets of bulbs littered between ancient trees, in summer enjoy a picnic by the river to watch the wildlife and in autumn visit the walled garden bursting with seasonal produce. Visit the garden any time of year to find out why this location has appealed to so many and enjoy exploring this tranquil haven. Please note: only assistance dogs are allowed in the gardens, all other dogs can be exercised in the car park picnic area. For more information about opening times, admission prices and what’s on, visit: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/the-weir-garden

Weir Garden

National Trust Riverside Garden Hereford

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UPDATE: you can now visit Brockhampton without pre booking, keep up to date on their Facebook page. Brockhampton Invites visitors to discover more about key figures from the past At the heart of this 687-hectare (1700-acre) farmed estate lies Lower Brockhampton , a romantic timber-framed manor house dating back to the late 14th century. The house is surrounded by a moat and is entered via a charming timber-framed gatehouse, built 1530-40. There are miles of walks through orchards, park and woodland, featuring ancient trees, historic damson and apple orchards and the picturesque Lawn Pool. Brockhampton is home to a rich variety of wildlife, from rare bugs and beetles in our ancient orchards to a wide range of bird species which you might spot from our wildlife hide. Steeped in history, Brockhampton has witnessed many changes. Inside the manor house, explore 600 years of history and discover the families which have made this special place home. Each room takes you to a different era of history; from the wealthy landowners of medieval times to the Georgian gentleman who lived here before building a mansion house at the top of the hill. More recently the manor house was home to farming families […]

Brockhampton Estate

National Trust Estate and Gardens Bromyard

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One of England’s best kept secrets, Hampton Court Castle is genuinely one of the most romantic houses in England The forerunner to the internationally renowned Hampton Court Palace in Surrey by some 80 years. Situated in the very heart of the Herefordshire, English countryside, the 15th Century Grade One Listed Castle is set in over 1000 acres of estate. The tastefully-appointed State Rooms, including the magnificent Ballroom and exquisitely hand-painted Chapel, are now open to the public for tours. The Castle also boasts 24 sumptuous bedrooms, with feature bathrooms, four of which can be viewed on our Castle tours. The original Victorian Walled Garden now contains breathtaking displays of flower beds, ornamental walkways, waterways, fountains, island pavilions, and cascades. The legendary wisteria tunnel is said to be almost 200 years old and leads to the Castle lawns and beyond to the secret garden and waterfall. Over a thousand yew trees have been planted to create a maze with a gothic tower at its centre offering panoramic views of the gardens. The ornamental kitchen garden includes fruits & vegetables all organically managed. Lunch or afternoon tea can be enjoyed in the Joseph Paxton designed Orangery Café where produce from the kitchen […]

Hampton Court Castle

Castle, Gardens, Wedding Venue Leominster

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Kentchurch Court

Westonbury Mill Water Gardens

Hellens Manor

Eastnor Castle

Hergest Croft Gardens

Croft Castle

Berrington Hall

Weir Garden

Brockhampton Estate

Hampton Court Castle

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