Valley View Ranch

Cyclists and ramblers have not one, but two, spectacular Areas of Natural Beauty for their explorations. Try the heathland tracks through Carding Mill Valley (an hour’s drive) in the Shropshire Hills AONB, or scramble up to the Worcestershire Beacon (half an hour) in the Malvern Hills AONB for spectacular views over Herefordshire to the Black Mountains in Wales (weather permitting, of course). For gentler family ambles, follow the sculpture trail to meet the Gruffalo, bears and owls in Queenswood Country Park and Arboretum (15 minutes). Other family-centric attractions hereabouts include Small Breeds Farm Park (45 minutes’ drive), where the kids can meet rare sheep breeds, fluffy owlets and alpacas. Hampton Court Castle (15 minutes) is a gem of a Jacobean country house with a vast collection of weaponry to keep kids fascinated, as well as lots of trees to climb in the sprawling park. Should you hit a rainy day, keep everyone happy with an indoor swim at Halo Hereford Leisure Pool (25 minutes), or head for the Museum of Cider (25 minutes) to learn how apples were milled and pressed in days gone by, before enjoying a tasty cake or two in the tea room.