Can anyone advise on places to go in Herefordshire?

[bodiddly]

We have been offered a beautiful old converted school house to stay in for a week near Ross on Wye in a couple of weeks time. I don't know the area at all and wondered if anyone could recommend anywhere that is good for days out with a 4 year old ds? I know it is quite a cycling/canoeing/bird watching type of area though ds is a little young for some of that! I don't mind a drive to visit places .. probably not much more than an hour or so to be honest. Are we miles from a beach? Please excuse my ignorance - all suggestions gratefully received!

There is one on that road to the Wyevale.
The shopping is dire in Hereford and its ruined by the ring road thing. And "fun" pubs and that dire shoping centre thing.

I thought so -I remember your ...er....unique take on the county from before .

You're right, Hereford is a weird city -seems more like a little rural town trying to be a city.

Used to be hilarious on the old market days when folk came into town for their once a week "trip to the city", not sure what its like now (Grandparents lived there)

My Mum said she counted up the charity shops -22 !

( isnt it the most deprived ENglish county or something? It really shows)

Don't bother with Hereford itself (unless you're particularly interested in Cathedrals). Very grim place, very down on its luck at the moment, very shabby. Lots of £1 shops and charit shops and very little else. Nowhere worth eating at all.

If it is raining, and you're desperate, there is a soft play place now in Hereford, near the football ground.

Not a fan of Hay myself. Too many twee shops and overpriced - but largely crap - bookshops. Not worth making the drive from Ross.

Castles are good though.

Ludlow castle and town makes a pleasant morning out (but a bit of a drive from Ross).

Asked dh (who grew up in Ross and Hereford) what he thinks of Ross - not as bad as it used to be.

Lovely countryside but very little to do with little ones, imo (especially if it is raining).

ah , do ageee about shopping centre ( maylord) but actually i quite like hereford in its wierdiness, and as the op is coming to the area on holiday i suspect shoppin gin mainstream town shops not high on the agenda. cannot beat herefordshire fo corgeous contryside IMO

south herefordshire is much more developed.

I don't think Hereford is THAT bad for an inbred country type place. My mum lives between Hereford and Ross and it is really beautiful countryside, lots of ramblers!

I love Hereford and did enjoy visiting it (until the Inlaws escaped to Italy)

thanks everyone .. am not really looking for main stream shopping but will no doubt have a mooch around any interesting looking places. If the beach at Barry Island is good then we may give that a go if it is only 1 hour away! West Midlands Safari Park looks like the sort of thing to entertain ds ... is it any good or better to get in the car and make the trip to Longleat? The boat trip sounds good too .. ds has yet to go on a boat .. same goes for the castle!

If you go to Hereford City there is a lovely shop called Manic Ceramics at the car park end of West Street. Ideal for families to spend time painting pottery items to use at home. My children absolutely loved it. Staf are friendly and there are drinks, sbacks and ice ceams too!!

If you go to Hereford City there is a lovely shop called Manic Ceramics at the car park end of West Street. Ideal for families to spend time painting pottery items to use at home. My children absolutely loved it. Staf are friendly and there are drinks, sbacks and ice ceams too!!

If you go to Hereford City - take your family along to Manic Ceramics, West Street. Near to the Cathedral/town centre. YOu can spend as long as you like in this super shop, painting pottery or making things in clay. Staff are friendly and drinks/ice creams/snacks available too. The best thing to do in the town itself!!!

Worcester is a nice city; proper shopping, nice parks etc.
West Mids Safari park def owrth a visit - get there at 10 if you can cos thats' when they feed the lions and you see them charge across the fields to get there hunks of meat.White lions also amazing - like giant teddies (but with BIG teeth!)
Wouldn't blther with Barry Isalnd - be nearer 2 hours and is pretty grotty. You prob live closer to the seaside anyway - Hereford/Worcs is about as far from the sea as you can get in UK.