STAYCATIONS are on the rise, according to the experts – and there is a county that is booming in demand.
In its latest Summer Travel Report, Airbnb revealed that not only are staycations up 11 per cent year on year, but an unlikely trending rural destination is Herefordshire where searches have increased by 76 per cent.
The county bordered by Gloucestershire, Shropshire and Worcestershire is known for its cider and pretty villages that look similar to those found in the nearby Cotswolds.
Earlier this year, Herefordshire was called the ‘quiet corner of England’ by The Independent – but hoped it would be thrust into the spotlight after the release of Hamnet.
Some of the county’s small villages were used for filming and doubled as Shakespeare’s Stratford.
One of the villages is Weobley which is nicknamed a ‘black and white’ village thanks to its half-timbered houses.
Alongside its pubs, fans of Hamnet should head into The Wobbly Badger Cafe which took centre stage for the exterior of Shakespeare’s family home in the film.
It’s not just Weobley – there are lots of other villages like this one and some are part of that are part of Herefordshire’s ‘black and white villages’ trail which is a 40-minute driving route.
Other villages include Pembridge, or Eardisland, which sits on the banks of the River Arrow (and looks similar to Bourton-on-the-Water).
Even smaller villages include Eardisley, Dilswyn, Leominster and Kingsland.
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Herefordshire gets around six million visitors each year compared to the Cotswolds’ 25million – so for visitors it will make for a much quieter staycation.
For fans of cider, Herefordshire has around 15,000 orchards growing apples and pears, some of which is used to produce the drink.
There are even dedicated cider circuits with cycling routes.
Stops on the South Circuit include Little Pomona Cider & Perry, Gregg’s Pit Cider & Perry, Oliver’s Cider & Perry, Ross on Wye Cider & Perry.
Another famous spot that TV fans will recognise in Herefordshire is Symonds Yat.
The spot on the River Wye is known for its enormous limestone gorge.
It even appeared in the Netflix series of Sex Education – one of the most recognisable places is the red and white chalet that sits high above the valley, which was the exterior of Jean and Otis’ house.
The River Wye within the valley is the fifth longest river in the country.
It’s surrounded by walking paths and tourists are also welcome to take to the water on a kayak, canoe or paddleboard.
Of course, Herefordshire’s centre is the city of Hereford which is home to a large cathedral.
This houses a famous treasure called Mappa Mundi which is a medieval map of the world from 1300.
It also has the unusual 17th century Chained Library – a collection of over 1,500 rare books and manuscripts that are secured to their shelves by iron chains, rods, and locks.
Entry into Hereford Cathedral is free, but to see Mappa Mundi, Chained Library or a Tower Tour there are additional fees.
Another popular spot is the Eastnor Castle which while it looks like one isn’t a medieval fortress, instead, it’s a 19th-century mock castle.
Found in Ledbury, the castle was once home to the Hervey-Bathurst Family who lived at there for over 200 years.
It’s open throughout the year holding events like family fun days, bird of prey and supercar displays,
The grounds are popular for hiking and to entertain the kids, there’s a playground, tree top walkway, maze and mini zip wire.