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An Introduction to Herefordshire

Herefordshire (shortened as Herefs) is located West/central England and just south of the West Midlands – it is sandwiched between Worcestershire to its east with its western border nestling along the breathtaking Brecon Beacons in Wales.

It is a county of classic and unspoilt English countryside, with appealing small towns, lovely villages, great gardens.There are an a large number of fine gardens, and beautiful villages, with an interesting variety from the classic black-and-white timbering that is the area's hallmark.

The county town is Hereford with a fine cathedral, which houses an exhibition containing the Mappa Mundi the famous medieval map of the world and unique Chained library (with the earliest book dating from the eighth century) where over 1500 books are tethered by iron chains as a precaution against theft. The city dates back to Saxon times being enclosed by old city walls. 

The county is good for country walks including Offa’s Dyke, with its key centre of Kington. This is an ancient entrenchment stretching from the Dee estuary to near the estuary of the Wye River. It was built in the 8th century by Offa, King of Mercia, as a barrier against the Welsh and lies mainly along the England-Wales boundary.

Throughout the county there is a strong tradition of farm cider-making. Farmers produced cider not only to sell, but to keep the farm labour hands happy, it was to be drunk by the workers during the following year, especially the busy times of hay-making and harvest. Farmers used to sell cider to local pubs and cider merchants for re-sale in towns and the tradition is still very much alive today. Cider production has been around in Herefordshire for over 350 years.
Ledbury  in the east of the county, is sheltered by the Malvern Hills, has been voted the Best Small Town in Britain with a magnificent timber framed Market House.

With picturesque Ross-on-Wye in the south of the county of Herefordshire offers quiet and peaceful countryside forms a backdrop to a more leisurely pace of life