Shobdon

Berrington Hall Croft Castle ’s 8 Pembridge 7 Eardisland Northern Cider 9 Monkland 6 Circuit

5 The Newton Wonder 11 Dilwyn 10 TOTAL DISTANCE - 49 MILES

North of the city of stretches an undulating swathe of farmland, orchards and forested hills, studded with renowned ‘Black-and-White Villages’ – settlements whose streets are lined with the traditional 4 Weobley timber-framed houses so typical of the region. Complete Bodenham a 49-mile loop from Hereford to visit a succession of alluring hamlets, historic sites and passionate producers creating fine ciders, perries and juices to refresh thirsty Canon Pyon cyclists.

1 The Apple Tree 9 Monkland Cheese Dairy (Herefordshire Cathedral) Orgasmic Cider Burley Gate Marden 10 Newton Court Cider 2 Bulmers & Yazor Brook 11 Butford Organic Cider & Perry 3 Tillington and around 12 The Black and White 3 4 Weobley House Museum Tillington 5 Luntley Court

6 Dunkertons Cider Mill Credenhill & The Cider Barn

7 Pembridge

8 Eardisland 2 Bartestree 1 12 Hereford A Visit Herefordshire Cycle Route. Herefordshire’s Northern Cider Circuit The Newton Wonder

1 - The Apple Tree carved wooden porch of the Old Grammar School 8 - Eardisland 12 - The Black and White House Museum (1660), then take a stroll around the village centre Start and end your apple odyssey in the centre – Broad Street and Portland Street, either side of Small but perfectly formed, Eardisland is, if Explore a compact but fascinating museum of the old city at The Apple Tree, an inspiring the Rose Garden, are lined with cafés, restaurants anything, even prettier than Pembridge, straddling (herefordshire.gov.uk/history-lives/hereford- mosaic set into the pavement in front of Hereford and pubs. the River Arrow as it meanders east towards its museums-art-gallery) housed in a remarkably Cathedral’s West Front. Comprising 100 pieces confluence with the Lugg. The Community Shop well-preserved example of the classic of naturally coloured British stone, the image is 5 - Luntley Court (01544 388984), housed in a 17th-century brick- Herefordshire timber-framed building, dating encircled by inspiring lyrics from an 18th-century built dovecote, is the place to pick up local treats, from 1621, in the heart of the city. With rooms carol, a nod to the spiritual and natural heart of Narrow lanes wind north of the A4112 to Luntley while The White Swan (thewhiteswaneardisland. furnished in period Jacobean style, including the county: “The tree of life my soul hath seen, Court, a cluster of historic houses (now mostly com) serves more substantial fare. Venture south an internationally important collection of English Laden with fruit and always green; The trees of self-catering accommodation) set around the along the main street to admire the array of oak furniture, from autumn 2020 new displays nature fruitless be, Compared with Christ the eponymous 17th-century manor. Standing alone architectural styles before heading east towards of cider-making artefacts showcase the county’s Apple Tree.” in a field is a picturesquely leaning, timber-framed your next stop. long history of apple and pear fermenting. dovecote dating from 1673 and restored last 2 - Bulmers & Yazor Brook century; step inside to admire the most desirable 9 - Monkland Don’t miss close by: dove accommodation in the county. As you cycle west from the city centre along the The highlight of this little village, scattered across The Orgasmic Cider Company busy A438, look for the vast Bulmers site to the 6 - Dunkertons Cider Mill an attractive common, is the Monkland Cheese NT Croft Castle & Parkland right – the company, founded in 1887 and now Dairy (monklandcheesedairy.co.uk) – outwardly NT Berrington Hall & The Cider Barn owned by Heineken, is the UK’s largest cider unremarkable, within a little brick cottage lies an producer. Just before the Bulmers site, a cycle path Susie and Ivor Dunkerton started making organic Aladdin’s cave of cheese. Some half-dozen artisan to the left leads through the Yazor Widemarsh and cider and perry from the apples and pears cheeses are produced on site, there’s a well-laden Eign Brook Restoration Area, a peaceful meadow in their orchards near Pembridge in 1980. Four deli counter offering many other local and regional where you might spot pied wagtails, herons and decades later, though production has shifted to varieties, and the cute tearoom serves excellent diverse butterflies. Gloucestershire, you can still pick up their award- coffee and ploughman’s lunches featuring thick- winning tipples from the Tudor-style barn (open cut Herefordshire ham and of course the house 3 - Tillington and around Friday and Saturday only; dunkertonscider.co.uk). cheeses – an essential stop. The old Cider Barn alongside the Dunkertons Emerging from Hereford’s outskirts, the road shop is now a sophisticated but friendly café- 10 - Newton Court Cider to Tillington snakes through a broad, orchard- bar and restaurant (the-cider-barn.co.uk) with a speckled valley, with glorious views ahead to tree- Passion for traditional craft methods overflows at wonderfully warm ambience. clad hills. Tillington itself has a handy village store this artisan producer (newtoncourtcider.com) south selling cold drinks, fruit and ice creams – stock up of Leominster, where Paul Stephens has been 7 - Pembridge before the long ascent that’s about to begin. The creating full-juice ‘no-codswallop’ cider and perry climb peaks near Wormsley at the Herefordshire The epicentre of north Herefordshire’s black-and- for two decades. Call at the tasting room and shop Golf Club (herefordshiregolfclub.co.uk), whose white villages is Pembridge, a photographer’s – “Honk for cider”, proclaims the sign – or call restaurant – open to non-members – is a delight – and a cyclist’s: among the timber- ahead to join Paul on a tour of the orchards for the tempting option for Sunday lunch, and which framed buildings lining High Street and East Street lowdown on how their fruits are used to ferment boasts spectacular views north and east across are several spots to top up caffeine and calories. fine cider and perry. the verdant countryside towards Leominster. The King’s House (kingshouseinn.co.uk) is a more upscale affair, while Ye Olde Steppes Tearoom 11 - Butford Organic Cider & Perry 4 - Weobley (01544 388506) offers sandwiches, locally baked The presence of a 300-year-old cider mill at treats and sensational cakes; there’s also a A blessed descent, with splendid vistas ahead Butford (butfordorganics.co.uk) is a constant small shop. Alongside, the Old Chapel Gallery and to the right, brings you to the first and most reminder of the region’s rich heritage, so it’s no (oldchapelgallery.co.uk) hosts regularly changing substantial of the black-and-white villages on surprise that tradition is key in the creation of this exhibitions of contemporary art and crafts. Behind this route. Weobley’s winding streets are studded producer’s pure-juice – including single-variety – the 17th-century New Inn is the Market Hall, dating with dozens of timber-framed buildings, some organic ciders and perries, a range now extending from the previous century; stairs opposite lead of them over 500 years old, overlooked by the to a novel cider brandy. Call ahead to book a to the medieval St Mary’s Church and its curious, slender russet spire of medieval St Peter and St tasting or tour – and, naturally, to meet that even older octagonal freestanding belltower. Paul’s Church. Pause to admire the wonderful venerable cider mill. A Visit Herefordshire Cycle Route.