Rowan House, The Farmyard, Grafton

Herefordshire lies on the border with Wales, hugged by the Malvern Hills to the east and the Black Mountains to the west. As well as captivating castle ruins, churches and historic houses, Herefordshire is also home to special sites of historic interest which include Arthur’s Stone, a 5000-year-old burial chamber with spellbinding views and the magnificently carved Shobdon Arches.

Whilst Herefordshire is predominantly known for its natural beauty, its market towns are equally as charming. The market town of Ledbury is laced with history and timber-framed buildings. Ross-on-Wye is perched on a sandstone cliff above the River Wye and is set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Getting closer to nature is easy in Herefordshire. You can canoe the River Wye or trek through Herefordshire’s Golden Valley with a llama by your side. The ‘Roasts & Rambles’ routes will take you through amazing landscapes with stunning views, wild mountain ponies, romantic castle ruins and ancient caves.

Herefordshire is noted for a host of schools, both within the state and private sector. Hereford Cathedral School and The Elms are in close proximity whilst Marlbrook and St Francis Xavier’s Primary School are also highly regarded within the area. Hereford also boasts an excellent Sixth Form College and the new Hereford University NMITE. Herefordshire is a small county and the county town of Hereford sits centrally, with the market towns like points on a clock; Leominster to the north, Ross-on-Wye to the south, Bromyard and Ledbury to the east and Hay-on-Wye to the west. The A49 trunk road is the main north and south route, linking the towns of Ross-on-Wye, Hereford, and Leominster and north towards Ludlow. National railway services are available from Hereford with various links to the north and south. International airports can be found at Birmingham, Cardiff and Bristol.