Seven short break ideas for Easter
Springtime weekends
As the apple and pear blossom starts to bloom, take a trip to the orchard county.
Easter Eggs’Plorations near Ledbury
Time your trip for the Easter Weekend to enjoy the 'Easter Eggs’Plorations 2024’ event at The Nest at Little Verzons Farm, one of Herefordshire’s flagship farm shops. Family fun awaits, including onsite egg-hunts, Easter rabbit hunts, make your own Easter egg activities, cookie decorating, and a bouncy castle.
The Nest, less than a ten minute drive from the vibrant market town of Ledbury, is an eclectic Farm Shop, Café and Plant Centre set in 14 acres of rewilding Herefordshire farmland with its own heritage orchard, lake and mature woodland.
Stay over at nearby Verzon House, a luxury boutique hotel with nine en-suite rooms overlooking the Malvern Hills. It's popular for its locally sourced food and signature cocktails. Rooms cost from £130 per night based on two sharing (room only)with good availability during the week of 2nd April 2024.
Easter Farm Fun at Drovers Rest with Safari Tent Sleepovers, near Hay on Wye
Drovers Rest is a sixteenth century organic farm near the book town of Hay-on-Wye in
Herefordshire. Tucked away in the foothills of the Black Mountains, the farm is surrounded by 200 acres of fields with a bubbling brook running through making it an idyllic spot for an Easter retreat.
Dogs are very welcome so guests with canines can bring their pooch. Accommodation includes cabins, safari tents or stone cottages dotted around the farm. Guests staying over can tour the farm on a Guided Animal Safari free of charge where you’ll learn about the history of the farm, feed and interact with the animals in their pens and find out about rewilding and wildflower restoration. Seeing Easter lambs gambolling in the fields will add to the magic.
A three night stay for four guests, over Easter weekend (29 March – 1 April), in Drovers Cottage which has its own walled garden and is surrounded by sheep-grazed common land costs £840. A two-roomed Safari Tent sleeping four for those dates costs £660.
Glorious Herefordshire Spring Garden Tour based in Hereford
This three day two night spring break in Herefordshire takes in some of the county’s most glorious gardens as they come to life with the arrival of Spring.
Use the cathedral city of Hereford as the base from which to visit the family run Stockton Bury Gardens known for its unusual plants, inspiring design and fabulous Tithe Barn café; the National Trust’s Berrington Hall where the landscaping demonstrates Capability Brown’s final work; the Laskett Garden created by Sir Roy Strong; and the delightful gardens at Hellens Manor. On the final day visit the brilliant Wellington Home and Gardens – an independent garden centre and interiors store, before finishing off the tour with a walk through Brobury House’s gardens overlooking the River Wye.
A two-night stay for two adults at the Green Dragon Hotel in Hereford costs from £275 including breakfast over Easter. Located in the heart of the city and one of the UK’s oldest coaching inns, the hotel offers 83 rooms, a stunning 1920s panelled dining room serving delicious local seasonal produce and the cosy Offa Cocktail Bar.
Eastnor Castle mEGGastars Easter Treasure Hunt with a Ledbury Sleepover
Eastnor Castle is less than three miles from the market town of Ledbury and the Eastnor mEGGastars Easter Treasure Hunt marks the beginning of an exciting 2024 season.
Kids will love finding clues around the castle and its gorgeous grounds, winning a chocolate treat on completion. The hunt is available free of charge to visitors purchasing a Castle and Grounds Admission ticket. Family tickets (two adults & three children) cost £40. Adult tickets cost £14. Child tickets (3-15 years) cost £8. The event takes place from Sunday 24 March until Thursday 4 April 2024 and tickets need to be pre-booked online. Dogs are welcome.
Visitors to Eastnor Castle will also enjoy the 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.
The Feathers Hotel, in the heart of Ledbury and less than a ten minute drive from Eastnor Castle, is a traditional coaching inn with lovely rooms and a fantastic restaurant. Rooms cost from £180 for doubles or twins with availability over Easter week.
Blossom Break - Cycle Herefordshire’s Cider Circuits This Easter
Take to two wheels this spring and cycle one of Herefordshire’s iconic Cider Circuits enjoying the spring blossom displays in orchards across the county over Easter. Bring your own bike, or hire one locally, and meet local producers at orchards, farms, inns and farm shops serving up some of the world’s best ciders.
Book a cider sleepover at Orles Barn, a four room B&B on the outskirts of Ross- on-Wye. Use this former apple store as the base to take a guided tour and tasting at Ross on Wye Cider and Perry Company, visit the iconic Westons Cider, and visit nearby Gregg’s Pit Cider & Perry - all featured locations on Visit Herefordshire’s South Cider Circuit: The Redstreak.
Orles Barn costs from £120 per night based on two sharing on a B&B basis.
Animal Encounters & Easter Trails at Hampton Court Castle near Leominster
Hampton Court Castle in Herefordshire reopens for the summer season on 23rd March 2024 with its Easter Trail taking place over the Easter weekend. The Dinosaur, Wildlife and Education Centre team will also be in attendance over the Easter weekend offering guests some amazing animal encounter experiences.
Visitors can enjoy exploring the castle’s formal gardens, maze, expansive lawns, river walks and play area with turrets, tunnels scramble nets and slides. The Orangery Cafe is open daily for lunch and cream teas.
For those wanting to make a week of it to explore Herefordshire’s many attractions, book a stay at Arrow Bank Country Holiday Park where a two-bedroom self catering lodge sleeping four costs from £813 for seven nights (check in on Good Friday – 29 March 2024). On the edge of the picture postcard black and white village of Eardisland and just a 20 minute drive from Hampton Court Castle, this family owned park is set in stunning scenic surrounds. Arrow Bank is also a great location for a touring caravan, motorhome or camping holiday with great pitches and facilities.
An Immersive Regenerative Farm Experience Over Easter Weekend
Those wanting to really embrace the great outdoors should contact Risbury Court Farm, near
Leominster, for details of their Immersive Regenerative Farm Experience taking place on 30 March 2024.
Costing from £30 per person and suitable for those aged 14+ the day includes time spent
tending spring hedgerows and going behind the scenes on this 250 acre family run farm full of hops, cider fruit, sheep and pedigree Hereford cattle.
Continue the outdoorsy theme and stay for three nights in one of Woodside Country Park’s pods which are priced from just £168 for a family of four over the Easter weekend. The pods are set on a 28 acre site where wildlife can be spotted and fishing and wild swimming are both on offer to visitors. Woodside Country Park is about a 25 minute drive from Risbury Court Farm.
