Lower House Farm

This is a fabulous spot for mixing up some rural rambles with urban wanderings – Hereford (25 minutes' drive), where the cathedral houses the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library, is a good place to start. Keeping it country doesn’t mean missing out on history though – plan visits to 18th-century Berrington Hall (25 minutes), the medieval manor house at the National Trust’s Brockhampton estate (20 minutes) or the stunning turrets of Eastnor Castle (15 minutes). The well-preserved medieval fortress Goodrich Castle (40 minutes) is also worth a trip. If that’s enough history for now, perhaps take the kids to Newbridge Farm Park (10 minutes) for tractor rides, soft play and go karts, or – if you’re travelling without children – learn about one of the area’s most-loved products at Westons Cider Mill (20 minutes).