Hereford Cathedral A Cathedral has stood in Hereford since Saxon times. The present building contains some of the finest examples of architectural excellence from Norman times up to the present day, including the Romanesque Nave, the beautifully restored Shrine of St Thomas of Hereford in the North Transept, the ancient South Transept and the award-winning twentieth-century New Library Building.
Throughout the summer you can join our Cathedral Guides to explore the interior and exterior of the building (at stated times each day).

The Mappa Mundi  
The Hereford Mappa Mundi is unique in Britain's heritage; an outstanding treasure of the medieval world, it records how thirteenth-century scholars interpreted the world in spiritual as well as geographical terms.

The map bears the name of its author 'Richard of Haldingham or Lafford' (Holdingham and Sleaford in Lincolnshire). Recent research suggests a date of about 1300 for the creation of the map.

Mappa Mundi is drawn on a single sheet of vellum (calf skin) measuring 64" by 52" (1.58 x 1.33 meters), tapering towards the top with a rounded apex. The geographical material of the map is contained within a circle measuring 52" in diameter and reflects the thinking of the medieval church with Jerusalem at the centre of the world.

Three Choirs Festival Hereford and the nearby cities of Gloucester and Worcester take it in turns each year to host the world-famous Three Choirs Festival. This is the oldest music festival in Europe, and possibly in the world, and its origins go back to the early eighteenth century. 2-9 August 2008

The Forest of Dean lies between the rivers Wye and Severn, in the western part of Gloucestershire, and on the borders of Wales and Herefordshire

Clearwell Caves
For thousands of years iron ore has been mined at Clearwell Caves. You can still meet a Free Miner here: men whose ancient birthright entitles them to dig for minerals within the Hundred of St Briavels and the Royal Forest of Dean. Clearwell Caves are now a working mining museum where visitors can see impressive caverns with geological and mining displays

Dean Forest Railway

Lots to do, not just riding the train

The Elton Farm Maize Mazes, located between Newnham upon Severn and Westbury upon Severn are now a top Forest of Dean visitor attraction

Clustered around Hartpury church are a unique group of ancient buildings lovingly maintained over the centuries by the parishioners. Many of these now need the careful attention of experts to continue to keep them in good order. Hartpury Historic Buildings Trust was established both to arrange this and equally importantly, to let others know about this gem lying off the beaten track. 
 

Perrygrove Railway is the steam train for all ages- and all weathers! A charming railway in the Royal Forest of Dean

Visit Caldicot Castle in its beautiful setting of tranquil gardens and a wooded country park.
Founded by the Normans, developed in royal hands as a stronghold in the Middle Ages and restored as a Victorian family home, the castle has a romantic and colourful history.
Find out about its past with an audio tour, explore the medieval towers and take in the breath-taking views of the parklands and surrounding area from the battlements
 

The 11 acre gardens of How Caple Court date from Edwardian times and are set high above the River Wye with views toward the Forest of Dean and the Welsh Mountains. Formal terraces with yew hedges, pools, statues and a traditional rose garden contrast with less formal plantings of mature trees and shrubs.

Croft Castle & Parkland Castellated manor house set in stunning countryside with panoramic views - 14 counties on a clear day from the Iron Age hill fort at Croft Ambre. Handsome pink stone castle with a turbulent past. Comfortable decorative interior, with exquisite Gothic staircase and ceilings
One of Herefordshire's finest restored walled gardens and vineyards
Ornamental rose beds, many unusual and ancient plants

Yarpole, nr Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 9PW
Telephone: 01568 780246

Goodrich stands majestically on a wooded hill commanding the passage of the River Wye into the picturesque valley of Symonds Yat. The castle was begun in the late 11th century, by the English thane Godric who gave it his name. A generation later the splendidly preserved square keep which still forms its core was added, probably in the time of Richard ‘Strongbow’ de Clare, Earl of Pembroke and Lord of Goodrich 1148-76.

The Malvern Hills are a 9 mile range They divide the Counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire and are well worth a visit. The climb is not arduous and the views are worthwhile. There are many springs and wells (Malvern Water) flowing from these hills - watch out for St Ann's Well and Holy Well.

Severn Valley Railway For four decades, the Severn Valley Railway has graduated from relative obscurity to a prominent position in British railway preservation. Nowadays, the initials SVR are not solely part of the specialist jargon of keen railway enthusiasts, although the line is still happily invaded during the popular Enthusiast Weekends.

Shobdon airfield began as a wartime aerodrome which was used by the RAF Gliding School as the main training area for the Normandy and Arnheim landings. The Herefordshire Gliding Club is based at Shobdon Airfield. See their site for newsletter, events listings, details of courses and other gliding links.

The first known church at Shobdon was a timber chapel, built in Anglo Saxon times
It is the striking blue and white interior with its wealth of ornamental arches, lavish pulpit based on the Kent design for York Minster and extensive Gothic detailing that makes Shobdon so unique among churches in Britain.

The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is an internationally important protected landscape. Recognised for its spectacular limestone gorge scenery and dense ravine woodlands, this living and working landscape is rich in history, wildlife, archaeological and industrial remains and impressive geological features.
Projects - Members of staff at the Wye Valley AONB unit work in partnership with local communities, schools and other organisations on a range of projects, large and small. These aim to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area and to increase awareness and appreciation of what makes this area so special.

Worcester Festival bringing you all the information you will need to enjoy the sights and sounds of the 2008 Worcester Festival. The 2008 Festival will run for an extra week from Saturday 2nd August to Bank Holiday Monday 25th August. The extra week will be incorporating the fringe events for the Three Choirs Festival which will be hosted in Worcester in 2008 from the 2nd to the 9th August.

Tourist Information Centre - Hay-on-Wye
Oxford Road, HAY-ON-WYE, Herefordshire, HR3 5DG

The Bromyard Centre, Cruxwell Street, Bromyard, Herefordshire
Tel: 01989 562768
 

Herefordshire's Public Transport Information Web Site

English Heritage

National Trust