Herefordshire launches ‘The Cider Circuits’ new orchard trails through cider country and news of Apples for Autumn campaign this October
New orchard cycle trails through glorious cider country herald the
county’s ‘Apples for Autumn’ campaign coming this October #madforapples
With a bumper crop of juicy apples almost here and acres of orchards looking their very best at this time of year, Visit Herefordshire has created two handy new trails called ‘The Cider Circuits’ to entice more visitors this autumn. This is all part of the month long ‘Apples for Autumn’ celebration of apple themed special events happening throughout October. The county will be literally going ‘mad for apples’.
The self-guided routes, both around 50 miles long, can be followed by bike or car and are named after two of the county’s apple varieties: The Newton Wonder heads north from Hereford, while The Redstreak heads south.
Focusing on Herefordshire’s remarkable apple heritage, the trails lead explorers along the prettiest country lanes lined with orchards filled with row upon row of fruit trees, their branches gently bowing under the weight of juicy apples. Visitors can call in on cider and perry producers for tastings.
Familiar names waiting to welcome them include Bulmers and Westons, but there are smaller artisan producers such as Little Pomona, Oliver’s, Gregg’s Pit, Butford Organic and Newton Court, too, all keen to show off their farms and explain the art of cider making; Herefordshire is full of incredible characters who love sharing their stories and passion for their produce.
What’s more, during October bars, cafes, hotels and restaurants across Herefordshire will welcome visitors with special apple-themed menus, tours and activities as part of a month-long celebration of the apple – #ApplesforAutumn. Appletini anyone? That’s what the Bastion Street Feast weekend pop up will be serving throughout October in Hereford.
The Cider Circuits can be done by bicycle or car, start and end at Hereford Cathedral and loop for 43 miles north or 45 miles south. The southern trail can be reduced 30 miles by ending it at Ledbury from where you can take the train back to Hereford.
Cyclists could do a whole circuit in a day if they are just looking for a leg stretch, or they may prefer to turn the experience into a welcome short break, stopping off at marked beauty spots, taking orchard tours, indulging in tastings. With a range of accommodation available along the routes, you can easily travel light and stay in different places across a few nights and experience everything this beautiful region has to offer. The same goes for motorists, too, of course.
While appreciating orchard country, visitors may also hear about the county’s ‘Claim back the Apple’ movement, aiming to underpin the county’s top spot when it comes to cider making. Exciting plans are afoot to create an urban apple orchard in central Hereford, and crab apple trees are already being planted around the city’s old walls.
The Cider Circuits shine a light on this important movement as well as showcasing the county’s rich history, vibrant food and drink scene, glorious green landscapes and endlessly creative community.
More about #ApplesforAutumn
Alongside the new trails, businesses all over the county are going ‘mad for apples’ and coming up with creative ways to showcase the fruit in every shape or form.
For example, The Beefy Boys, Hereford’s famous burger restaurant, is serving apple pie milkshakes and apple slaw in October. Meanwhile, The Bookshop cafe is mixing up a special Penrhos Gin and Apple and Elderflower cocktail during the month. The Crown Inn at Woolhope will be hosting an open ‘press session’ during the 10-11 October, or why not call in at The Nest, near Ledbury, for their special Herefordshire APP, an apples pickers picnic.
Heading to the north of the county the luxury ‘farm to fork’ restaurant with rooms at Crumplebury are serving guests breakfast apple juice freshly pressed from fruit grown on the premises just a few feet from their rooms. Or, learn about the history of orchards and their value for wildlife as well as our own wellbeing during a one hour orchard walking tour experience at Bodenham Lake, part of Herefordshire’s Wildlife Trust.
Crafters are getting in on the apple act with Eastnor Pottery running ‘Core Strength’ pottery classes for families, helping them to model clay superheroes themed around the apple.
Even accommodation is ‘a-peeling’ – there’s the Cider Suite at Broome Farm run by the Ross Cider & Perry Company. Or how about a quirky railway carriage - Green Lane Carriage dates back to Victorian times and has been lovingly renovated by the couple who run the Orgasmic Cider Company. Meanwhile, Berrington Hall has so much fruit this year the estate is inviting all visitors to ‘pick your own’ during visits from their orchards.
To view the trails, download the PDFs or the Starva routes and find out more about the fun activities taking place in Herefordshire this autumn. Go to www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/applesforautumn
For more information go to www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/applesforautumn – or check out the social channels on with constant updates on all the apple themed happenings across the county:
Instagram @visit_herefordshire and Facebook @visitherefordshire
#madforapples #visitherefordshire