Steeped in history and nestled amongst the picturesque countryside, stately homes in Great Britain are few and far between, and consequently, are ever popular with tourists and locals alike, who seek out their story and to walk their halls.
Herefordshire, which lies in Marches country, has witnessed a great many battles throughout its lifetime, however, still retains several of its beautiful stately homes, many with exquisite gardens and grounds. Discover our favourite historic houses in the list below.
Hampton Court Castle
Hampton Court Castle was built in the 15th Century. It features a range of highly-acclaimed gardens, including herbaceous borders, kitchen gardens, canals and a 150-year-old wisteria tunnel leading to expansive green lawns and a play area. There’s also a maze of 1,000 yew trees with a gothic tower at the centre offering panoramic views of the gardens.
Eastnor Castle
Eastnor Castle is a gorgeous Georgian Castle near Ledbury, surrounded by a deer park, stunning lake and arboretum. Throughout the grounds you will find an adventure playground, junior obstacle course, knight’s maze, treetop walkway, woodland play area, lakeside, and woodland walks,which makes for an adventurous day out.
The arboretum contains the finest collection of Cedar trees in Britain, and it also has tree trails and rope swings. It’s great for family and friends, and it is also dog-friendly – dogs are welcome both inside the castle and around the grounds, there’s even a ‘dogs off leads’ area and a dog wash on the way out to clean those muddy paws.
Hellens Manor
With a history dating back to 1057, Hellens Manor is a beautiful archaic building. The grounds and gardens are dog-friendly and include a labyrinth, an octagonal dovecote, a physic garden, and a meadow full of wildflowers, woods, and even donkeys.
National Trust Croft Castle
The impressive three-acre walled garden at Croft Castle is lovingly cared for by a dedicated team of gardeners and volunteers. There’s a small vineyard cared for by the Trust where a limited amount of white wine is made from the grapes every year and sold from the Visitor Reception. The castle is surrounded by a medieval landscape with a unique triple avenue of Sweet Chestnuts and a collection of veteran trees, including the ‘Quarry Oak’ which is over a thousand years old. There’s also an iron-age hill fort that leads you to the ‘Candelabra Oak’, a nine-hundred-year-old tree! During the month of May, it’s surrounded by beautiful wild bluebells.
National Trust Berrington Hall
This mansion may seem to have an austere exterior, but its surroundings are wide, open and natural. The rolling grass lawns lead to a fourteen-acre serpentine lake and this is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
It has its very own ‘Heron Island’, this is where each spring, a large colony returns to build nests and raise their offspring. There’s also a kitchen garden that has had several modern art installations, including Georgian-inspired herb beds, orchards, plus vegetable and flower beds.
Brockhampton Estate
In the centre of the 1,700 acres of Brockhampton Estate lies Lower Brockhampton, a 14th-century manor house with a moat and gatehouse. Outside there are several way-marked nature trails, plus three orienteering course routes. The orchards by the river are perfect for lounging or picnics on a summer’s day. Five farms and 40 rural dwellings are also spread over 1,700 acres.
Have a wonderful time exploring these top stately homes and gardens! Once you’ve seen all that Herefordshire has to offer, stop by The Hope & Anchor in Ross-on-Wye for a drink or a bite to eat.
