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Right in the centre of Hoarwithy, close to the River Wye and in the heart of walking country, Stable Cottage is an ideal base for exploration. Ross-on-Wye is four miles to the south, whilst Hereford is 8 miles to the north. Within easy reach, there are destinations such as Good rich Castle, Dore Abbey and Eastnor Castle. For cycling, canoeing or fishing, Hoarwithy is also a good central location.
The county's right of way network gives you access to around 1830 miles of footpaths, 245 miles of bridleways and 14 miles of byways. From the Black Mountains in the west to the Malvern Hills in the east, the walker is spoilt for choice, with everything from short, gentle walks to the long distance trails like the Wye Valley Walk, Offa's Dyke Path and the Mortimer Trail.
Stable Cottage is a ground floor studio apartment for two, fitted to modern standards throughout. Converted from what was once a two-manger stable, it is now an open-plan room with a dining and seating area, a double bed and TV. There is a separate shower room, with basin and WC, a walk-in wardrobe plus a compact kitchen area complete with a four ring electric hob and microwave. Across our courtyard, there is the garden - please feel free to explore it. There are some secluded little spots where you can just relax, unwind, read a book or simply enjoy the birdsong.
If you want to eat out locally, we have The New Harp Inn just across the road, the Cottage of Content, two miles north along the river at Carey, and the Lough Pool Inn, two miles south in Sellack. All three serve great local food, cooked and presented to a high standard, as well as some local beers and ciders.
Aspen House is located in the centre of the Herefordshire village of Hoarwithy, on the River Wye just four miles north of the market town of Ross-on-Wye and eight miles south of Hereford (Hoarwithy is signposted from the A49). Only a short distance from the country's major road system, Hoarwithy nevertheless has an 'out-of-the-way' feel about it. It is ideally situated as a base to explore the rest of Herefordshire, whilst also being close to the Forest of Dean, Monmouthshire, the Black Mountains and the Malvern Hills.
The house itself was originally a farmhouse, built in the early 1700s from local old red sandstone, in common with many of the properties in this part of Herefordshire. Though still surrounded by farmland, Aspen House ceased to be used as a farmhouse nearly half a century ago. Since 2002, it has been run by Sally Dean and Rob Elliott as a real food B&B, serving the very best of fresh, locally produced, seasonal, organic produce.
As well as B&B, we also offer a self-catering option in Stable Cottage which, as the name suggests, was converted from an original two-manger stable block. It is now what we describe as a ground-floor studio apartment, with a compact yet well-appointed separate kitchen, walk-in wardrobe and a shower room.
Whether self-catering or B&B, our garden, guest lounge and first floor veranda are there for your use. The lounge has some interesting books to browse, as well as OS maps of the local areas and as much information as you will need about what to see and explore in Herefordshire, The Marches and the Forest of Dean.
Hoarwithy is ideally placed right in the heart of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), as well as being located in the southern part of the Welsh Marches, those counties on the English side of the Welsh Border.
The Welsh Marches, almost a no-man's-land between Wales and England, reveal a fascinating history as well as a picturesque landscape. Along these Welsh Border lands, amongst the undulating foothills of the black Mountains, you can find an abundance of castles, ancient monuments and unique churches - not to mention some superb unspoilt pubs, excellent restaurants and tearooms where they know how to make a decent coffee and appetising cakes!
For the active amongst you, this is splendid cycling country, while the meandering River Wye is understandably popular for those who prefer travelling by canoe. As for walking, the Welsh Borders have everything from river walks to woodland trails to the more challenging peaks of the Black Mountains. Serious walking gives you a choice between The Herefordshire Way, the Mortimer Trail and the Offa's Dyke path.
Travelling south from Hoarwithy will bring you to Symonds Yat and the magnificent viewpoint of Yat Rock, home to a colony of peregrine falcons. Symonds Yat is also on the edge of the Royal Forest of Dean, giving you further opportunities for walking, cycling and exploring in an area that was once set aside as royal hunting grounds.
Tel 01432 840353
www.aspenhouse.net
Herefordshire self catering holiday cottages