May Half Term Highlights in Herefordshire
10 terrific days out & half term holidays
Herefordshire has a host of fantastic events and activities to tempt families and friends this May half term. There's a teddybear's picnic and sweet baby animals for the littlest ones through to Viking-inspired games, woodland adventure and climbing experiences for older children. And there's plenty to entertain and inspire at the legendary Hay Festival and the HowTheLightGetsIn weekend.
1.Hay Festival and a farm stay in Herefordshire: 23 May to 2 June 2024
The annual literary festival takes place in the Welsh border town of Hay-on-Wye and there are still tickets available to the main talks and music events, as well as a myriad of free events for families to enjoy, and a free-to-enter festival site with entertainment all week.
Whilst accommodation in town itself is tricky to find, there are still plenty of options close by in Herefordshire. For example, there are still safari tents, sleeping up to four, available for the weekend of 31 May 2024 for a three night stay from £175 per night at Drovers Rest. This 16th Century organic farm is just a short drive from Hay itself; it hosts farm stays and all manner of fun farm activities, including a foraging event on Sunday 2 June with Wild Food UK and feasts in their barn.
Or, combine a camping trip in the Golden Valley, staying at the biodiverse Chapel House Farm in the village of Craswall (the festival site is only a 20-minute drive away), with
camping pitches for two from £30 a night and availability over the week.
2. HowTheLightGetsIn,Hay-on-Wye: 24 to 27 May 2024
Get ready for a weekend of mind-expanding discovery on the banks of the River Wye at this boutique event, which bills itself as the UK’s largest music and philosophy festival. Talks, live music, comedy, wellness sessions, debates and long table banquets will ignite the imagination in this stunning setting on the outskirts of Hay-on-Wye, to coincide with the first weekend of the town’s main literary festival itself.
Set against the backdrop of the Black Mountains, the festival site includes camping options from pre-pitched tents for two, to large Mongolian yurts for the whole family. Festival day tickets cost from £38 per person. Self-pitch camping costs from £14 per night for a 3x3m
plot. A large yurt, arranged for four people sharing, costs from £880 for five nights (23 to 27 May inclusive).
3. All Aboard! Eastnor Castle Steam Vintage Weekend: 26 to 27 May 2024
Eastnor Castle is less than three miles from the market town of Ledbury, and the Eastnor Steam Vintage 2024 event offers a nostalgic day out at one of the UK’s best visitor attractions. Steam engines, vintage cars, giant garden games, model steam engine rides, a vintage carousel and dance workshops will all feature, and are included in the entrance price.
Whilst you’re there, enjoy Eastnor Castle’s beautiful lakeside walks, the Knight’s Maze, the Junior Obstacle Course, adventure playground, woodland play area, rope swings and the stunning castle itself. Visitors are invited to bring picnics or eat in the Castle Tea Room. Adult tickets cost £14. Child tickets cost £8. Family tickets including two adults and three children cost £40. Family tickets including one adult and three children cost £26.
A few great places to stay in the area include: the cabins or camping at Cwtch Cabins near Much Marcle from £128 for a three night stay, or Alexandra Park Resort just outside Ledbury has family rooms from £540 for a three night stay.
4. Woodland Adventures at Oaker Wood near Leominster: 28 to 31 May 2024
Oaker Wood is perfect for children aged over seven years who want to experience the thrills and freedom of a day spent in the forest, all 175 acres of it! If the grown-ups fancy a hike and the kids aren’t keen, then why not book them on to a half term holiday club day which includes team games and zip wires for the younger ones, and high ropes and paintballing for the older ones.
The holiday club sessions for 7–12-year-olds cost £30 per child and run from 9am-3pm on 28, 29 and 30 May. The teen session costs £20/half day £40/full day and is running on 31 May. To book, see Oaker Wood Leisure.
Great accommodation nearby, with availability during half term includes Arrow Bank
Country Holiday Park, which offers camping pitches for May half term from £84 for a three-night stay per family. The riverside park is set on the edge of the black and white village of Eardisland.
5. Teddybear's Picnic at Shobdon Airfield: 29 May
Shobdon Airfield is hosting a Teddybear’s Picnic from 11am-3pm on Wednesday 29 th May. Pack a hamper full of Herefordshire treats, pop your favourite bear in your bag. and join in the family fun day.
If you’d rather not pack a picnic, refreshments will be sold on site. The event is proud to support The Teddy Trust so if you have a spare teddy bear, please bring it along and donate to this wonderful charity. Activities on the day will include a bouncy castle, hook-a-duck, pass the parcel and of course a ’guess the name of the teddy’ competition! See Shobdon Airfield for more information.
Accommodation nearby includes The Bateman Arms pub which has rooms, with doubles available all week from £120 per night
6. Woodland Outdoor Cooking Session, Queenswood Country Park near Leominster: Thursday 30 May 2024
Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum is managed by the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust and is a fantastic place for visitors of all ages to explore the great outdoors along a series of waymarked trails. Home to a nationally important arboretum and acres of semi-natural woodland, the site also includes a café, visitor centre, playground and a much loved Gruffalo sculpture trail.
On the Thursday of half term week (30 May), you can take part in an outdoor cooking session around a campfire at Queenswood Country Park from 11am-1.30pm. Learning the technique of cooking over a fire, you’ll make a delicious lunch, guided by a Wild Play Practitioner who will provide all the ingredients. Suitable for children aged over four. Adult tickets cost from £8. Child tickets from £5. More info here.
7. Climb to New Heights In Hereford!
Green Spider is Hereford’s biggest indoor roped and bouldering centre. Join the Green Spider crew for one of their fun-packed climbing adventure half term days. As well as climbing on a variety of walls, children will also take part in a wide range of fun climbing and non-climbing based activities. All instruction and equipment is provided and no previous climbing experience is needed. This is priced from £48pp. More details here.
Alternatively, try out the Hereford Cathedral Tower Tour and test your legs by climbing 218 steps for some of the finest views of Herefordshire. Tower tours include the Lantern Gallery and Ringing Chamber, with a set of panoramic interpretation boards at the very top. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the climb is recommended for kids aged eight or over. Tower tours are running at 11.30am and 1.30pm in half term on Saturday 25 May and Thursday 30 May and tickets are available in the Cathedral Shop. No pre bookings are taken, so please purchase tickets on the day. To confirm if a Tower Tour is running, telephone 01432 374 210.
8. Feed Cute Animals at Small Breeds Farm Park
Half term is the chance to see the animals and owls at this well laid out farm park and owl centre. There are plenty of youngsters to meet – perhaps a goat kid or two, a baby donkey and some owlets. Get in the pens with the friendly pygmy goats and feed them, watch the red squirrels scurry around and gaze at the 30+ species of owl. There are lots of open spaces for picnics and a run around as well a small café for food and drink, including ice creams.
Open daily throughout half term from 10.30am to 5pm. Entry is £12.50 for adults, £8.50 for children with under twos going free. More info.
9. Take to the Water: Canoe, Kayak & Paddleboard Adventures
The River Wye is navigable by canoe or kayak for over 100 miles, and there are a range of excellent Herefordshire-based operators offering canoe, kayak and paddleboard experiences to suit all abilities for those aged four and over. There is even the option to book an overnight, or multi-day, adventure including camping. Whether you’re meandering along spotting kingfishers, peregrine falcons, herons, and swans; paddling away admiring ancient woodland, limestone cliffs and castles; or you’re taking on the thrilling rapids at Symonds Yat, you’ll get a unique perspective on the gorgeous county of Herefordshire. Check out the different options here.
10. Channel your Inner Viking!
Home to an exhilarating range of Viking-inspired group activities, The Viking Games is the place to channel Nordic gamesmanship outdoors with the family. Take part in one or all of six traditional games - Axe Throwing, Archery, Paintballing, Laser Clays, Bullrings, Kubb, Molkky or Stige- adapted for twenty-first century fun and guaranteed to bring out the Viking warrior in all of us! Several packages are available, from £10pp for an hour activity. There are options for those aged eight years and upwards. Read more.
Other Accommodation
Green Dragon Hotel
The Green Dragon, in the heart of historic Hereford, is one of the UK’s oldest hotels and in the perfect spot for the Cathedral Tower Tour, the Green Spider climbing or as a jumping-off point for one the river experiences. This gorgeous boutique hotel has eighty-three en-suite rooms, a fabulous lounge and the superb Hereford Restaurant. Plus, there is a great dining scene for food loving families – from Leaven pizza round the corner to Beefy Boys burgers a few minutes’ walk away. The Family ‘Apartment’ room sleeping four people is available from £175 a night (from £214 a night including breakfast) and there is still some May half term availability.
The Royal Hotel, Ross-on-Wye
Steeped in history, the Royal Hotel, Ross-on-Wye boasts some of the best views of the surrounding countryside. Built on the foundations of a 13 th century Bishop’s Palace, this 42-bedroom hotel is a great base from which to explore the market town of Ross-on-Wye and the surrounding countryside during half term. A family room sleeping four people costs from £175.50 (27 & 28 May). Call ahead if you would like to bring your dog. For more information and to make a booking visit
Verzon House, near Ledbury
Verzon House is a stunning restaurant with nine en-suite rooms overlooking the Malvern Hills near Ledbury, perfectly located for a visit to Eastnor Castle. Most rooms have views of the gorgeous gardens where many ingredients for the menu are grown and picked fresh daily. The team works with a close group of local producers to capture the flavours of Herefordshire. Their sell-out Sunday lunches, serving a seasonal selection of Herefordshire classics, are legendary. Rooms sleeping a family of four cost from £190 per night, based on four sharing (room only) during May half term.
YHA Wye Valley
The YHA Wye Valley is set in 25 acres on the banks of the River Wye, offering the perfect base for those looking to enjoy magical Herefordshire adventures. With its own canoe landing station, access to the river couldn’t be easier and there are miles of footpaths for walkers and cyclists to explore. Book a private room which sleeps four, or a premium bell tent with a double bed, two single beds and a single futon plus pillows and bedding. The integrated wood burner will keep you warm if the temperatures are cool for May half term. A two-night stay in the premium bell tent on 28 &29 May for four people costs from £171.
