What to do/Where to go
Below are some suggestions for events, sightseeing and activities to enjoy during your stay at the Gladestry Shepherd’s Hut. (It’s by no means an exhaustive list, so do feel free to tell us about your own discoveries!)
Walking
The nearby town of Kington, just over the border in Herefordshire, is a renowned centre for walking. So if you’re interested in exploring some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK, check out Kington Walks or take a look at these fantastic local trails:
- The Herefordshire Trail
- The Mortimer Trail
- Vaughan’s Way
- The Wyche Way
- The Offa’s Dyke Path
- The Arrow Valley Trail
The Ordnance Survey website here features around 40 walks of varying difficulty either directly from Gladestry or starting and ending within easy reach of the village.
Events
Many of our guests stay in Gladestry for major local events such as the Brecon Jazz Festival, Hay Festival, How The Light Gets In, the Presteigne Festival or the Royal Welsh Show but there are lots of other local events in mid-Wales, Hereford and Shropshire as well – too many to list here. Details of more local events can be found at these links: Herefordshire, mid-Wales and Shropshire.
Cycling
Gladestry is on the National Cycle Network Route 825, which makes up most of the Radnor Ring. There are hundreds of miles of other virtually traffic-free lanes within a 10-mile radius of Gladestry that are absolutely ideal for cycling too… Click here to view some of the other great cycle routes in the area.
Other Things to Do Nearby…
Hergest Croft Gardens, Kington
Created over some 120 years by four generations of the Banks family, this 70-acre garden beside the Offa’s Dyke Path has a unique collection of over 5,000 rare plants, trees and shrubs.
Small Breeds Farm & Owl Centre
The Small Breeds Farm Park and Owl Centre near Kington has been welcoming visitors since 1991 to share its wonderful collection of miniature, rare and friendly creatures.
Kington Golf Club
Golfing enthusiast? Kington Golf Club, which boasts the highest 18-hole course in England, is renowned for its warm welcome to individuals, groups, societies and corporate visitors.
Warren Wood
Just 15 minutes’ drive west of Gladestry lies Warren Wood with its range of great walking trails and the splendid waterfall known as Water-Break-its-Neck.
The Offa’s Dyke Path
Lonely Planet ranks the Offa’s Dyke Path, which criss-crosses the border with England for 177 miles (285km), as one of the world’s greatest walks. And it’s literally on our doorstep!
Cloud 9 Spa, Kington
Open daily to visitors, Cloud 9 at the Burton Hotel, Kington, features a nice leisure pool with jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, plus high quality gym facilities and optional spa treatments.
Things to Do a Little Further Away…
The Black Mountains
Take the spectacular B4423 road from Hay-on-Wye to Llanfihangel Crucorney (Gospel Pass ) and stop for a walk and refreshments at Llanthony Priory along the way…
Pen y Fan & Bannau Brycheiniog
Try using the Nant Cwm Llwch car park, just 40 minutes from Gladestry, as the starting point for your walk to the summit of Pen y Fan, the highest point of Bannau Brycheiniog.
The Elan Valley
Marvel at the dams and reservoirs of the Elan Valley, and take a drive along the B4518 between Cwmystwyth and Rhayader, one of the most scenic routes in the United Kingdom.
Croft Castle, near Leominster
Home to the Croft family for many centuries, Croft Castle has a 1,000-year history, and features a lovely walled garden and acres of parkland with over 300 veteran trees.
Berrington Hall, near Leominster
This neoclassical mansion from the Georgian period, lying beside the A49 just to the north of Leominster, is set in Capability Brown’s final (and rather beautiful) landscape and gardens.
The Weir Garden, near Hereford
Situated near what was once a thriving Roman town, now known as Kenchester, the Weir Garden features a range of spectacular floral walks alongside the winding River Wye.
Hay-on-Wye
Twenty-five minutes’ drive over the hills from Gladestry is the famous book town of Hay, featuring some fine eating places, riverside walks and the wonderful Booth’s Cinema.
Hereford
Hereford, just 45 minutes’ drive from Gladestry, is a vibrant centre for shopping and culture, and has a magnificent cathedral where you can view the 800-year-old Mappa Mundi.
Ludlow
A number of attractions can be found in the pretty Shropshire town of Ludlow (around 50 minutes away) – riverside walks, a very well-preserved castle and some superb restaurants.