Upper House Farm

A popular day out here is to hop over the border into Wales to explore the bookshops of Hay-on-Wye (20 minutes’ drive) and maybe take a canoe trip along the river. While you’re over that way you could also hike up Hay Bluff (half an hour) or the Black Mountain (40 minutes). If that’s given you a taste for uphill challenges, try the big one at Pen y Fan (an hour) – it’s the highest peak in south Wales but the paths make it relatively accessible. In fact, the Welsh side of the border has plenty of ways to keep you busy, whether you fancy a paddle from the shingle beach in Glasbury (half an hour), a step into the past at Raglan Castle (45 minutes) and Goodrich Castle (50 minutes) or some watersports at Llangorse Lake (45 minutes). The Big Pit National Coal Museum (50 minutes) is a good spot for learning about days gone by, too. Back over in England, there are gorgeous gardens to explore in the grounds of Brobury House (20 minutes) and much to see and do in Hereford (35 minutes), including the Mappa Mundi exhibition and Black and White House Museum.