Herefordshire and the Marches
Hoarwithy is ideally placed right in the heart of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), as well as being located in the southern part of the Welsh Marches, those counties on the English side of the Welsh Border.
The Welsh Marches, almost a no-man's-land between Wales and England, reveal a fascinating history as well as a picturesque landscape. Along these Welsh Border lands, amongst the undulating foothills of the black Mountains, you can find an abundance of castles, ancient monuments and unique churches - not to mention some superb unspoilt pubs, excellent restaurants and tearooms where they know how to make a decent coffee and appetising cakes!
For the active amongst you, this is splendid cycling country, while the meandering River Wye is understandably popular for those who prefer travelling by canoe. As for walking, the Welsh Borders have everything from river walks to woodland trails to the more challenging peaks of the Black Mountains. Serious walking gives you a choice between The Herefordshire Way, the Mortimer Trail and the Offa's Dyke path.
Travelling south from Hoarwithy will bring you to Symonds Yat and the magnificent viewpoint of Yat Rock, home to a colony of peregrine falcons. Symonds Yat is also on the edge of the Royal Forest of Dean, giving you further opportunities for walking, cycling and exploring in an area that was once set aside as royal hunting grounds.
