A family of four and their dog’s delightful cottage stay in the heart of the Herefordshire countryside.

Where is it?

Located in Aylton, Herefordshire, roughly midway between Ledbury and Hereford.

What’s the accommodation like?

White House Cottages are a collection of five converted 18^th-century farm buildings offering self-catering accommodation in a delightfully serene setting. On arrival we were treated to a warm welcome by our hosts Paul and Angela, along with their two fluffy balls of canine joy, Poppy and Miso (much to our dog Pip’s delight). While the children swung from rope swings, Paul and Angela sat with us, poured wine, and told us the story of the cottages. Their genuine warmth and sociability is exactly what turns a fun trip into a fantastic one. As was the wealth of local knowledge and foodie tips they armed us with! Tired, we headed to bed in the cosy, perfectly equipped Hop Pickers cottage. But not without a night cap of local cider and artisan snacks from our welcome basket. There was even a welcome basket – and note – for Pip!

What did you eat and drink?

Armed with Paul and Angela’s local knowledge, on Saturday morning we headed to Hellens Manor. This picture-perfect country pile hosts all kinds of events, and on the first Saturday of each month the converted barn is crammed to the rafters with local food and drink suppliers. We descended on Peter Cooks Bread’s stall for breakfast pastries, and picked up a seeded sourdough for good measure. I’m a connoisseur of almond croissants and can say, without fear of contradiction, this was the best I’ve ever had. (I had the good sense to acquire an extra one for Sunday!) Other stalls specialised in quiches, salads and homemade ciders, ideal for picnickers. Armed with our pastries, we took a walk with Paul, Angela and the dogs around Hellens Manor’s beautiful grounds and soaked up the far-reaching views of the Herefordshire countryside.

Another recommendation was dinner at the 15th-century Ye Old Ferrie Inn at Symonds Yat. Situated right at the Wye’s edge, the pub was all but destroyed by flooding, only to be resurrected by owner Jamie. It’s a buzzy hive of watersports, and a hand ferry shuttles people across the river. Inside, the restoration has kept all the character intact, and the menu of gastropub classics really fits the bill. My partner, Kirsty, and I opted for the rib eye, sourced from a local butcher and perfectly prepared with just the right amount of pink. A succulent delight with crunchy onion rings, and crispy, thick-cut chips. Our children, Daisy and Jacob, were seduced by the hand-pressed burgers on the kids’ menu. No gluten issues here, as they’re served in gluten-free brioche buns.

Despite being replete from our main courses, Jamie persuaded us to try the gluten-free sticky toffee pudding. We dove in with four spoons, a beaming Jacob (who is gluten intolerant and often misses out on dessert) scraping up every last morsel. It was a delicious, generous way to round off a fabulous meal in a fantastic location.

Lasting memory

On Sunday, Aylton’s Blossomtime festival was in full swing. We settled down under apple trees at the Dragon Orchard in the nearby village Putley, and made the most of the live music and local ciders. The barn hosted artisanal cider makers from all over the region, who peddle their wares at food festivals throughout the summer, and Kirsty and I certainly made the most of their delicious produce. A tipsy treat to cap a wonderful weekend.