Kington, Herefordshire

Nestled in the Arrow Valley in the shadows of the imposing Hergest Ridge and Bradnor Hill, Kington is a charming market town with characterful streets lined with art galleries (Kat & Fiddle Studio, Ridgebank Contemporary Art Space, Made in the Marches Gallery, The Gallery at Studio 54) independent shops (Bees Knees Cookshop, Bopsoms Emporium, The Walking Hub, Alpha Antiques, Pennels of Kington, Pets Corner 47 to name a few) delightful cafes (Border Bean, The Regency Cafe, The Cattle Shed), a brilliant deli (Number 25 Delicatessen), age old pubs (The Swan Hotel, The Royal Oak, The Oxford Arms, Ye Olde Tavern), a luxury hotel, spa and restaurant (The Burton Hotel), a handful of supermarkets (Spar, Co-Op, Nisa) and takeaway restaurants to suit all tastebuds (Bamboo Garden Chinese takeaway, Taj Mahal Indian restaurant and takeaway and The Angel Fish Bar.)

Kington is the smallest of the 5 market towns of Herefordshire, sat on the border with Wales and set in stunning walking scenery. It’s well known as a 'centre for walking' and hosts popular annual walking festivals. Four major walking trails pass through the town including the Offa’s Dyke National Trail, the Arrow Valley Trail, the Herefordshire Trail and the Mortimer Trail.

Kington is also part of the Black and White Village Trail, a unique 40 mile round route of beautiful black and white towns and villages in North Herefordshire.

The town is a mix of historic architecture, small town traditions and independent, up and coming vibrancy. It’s home to weekly and monthly markets including livestock, local produce, arts and crafts. Just around the corner from the Market Hall is the Kington Museum, an award-winning exhibition of local heritage with an ever-changing programme of displays. There is an attractive parish church overlooking the town, dating back to the late Norman period, around 1200.

Also overlooking the town is Hergest Croft, a late Victorian mansion surrounded by 70 acres of beautiful, tropical gardens, seasonly open to the public. Part of the Hergest Estate includes Hergest Court, rumoured to be haunted by a great black hound ‘The Black Dog of Hergest’; history has it that this was the inspiration for Conan Doyle's classic Sherlock Holmes mystery 'Hound of the Baskervilles’.

Home to the highest 18 hole golf course in England and the no.1 rated golf course in Herefordshire, Bradnor Hill is the site for Kington Golf Course. A stunning course on National Trust land with magnificent panoramic views of the county and out towards Hergest Ridge, the Radnor Forest, the Brecon Beacons, the Black Mountains, Malvern Hills and Shropshire and Clee Hills. And if golf isn’t your thing, it’s a fabulous place for walking and is dog friendly. The club house is open to walkers and the terrace overlooks the town making it the perfect spot for a refreshment. Bradnor Hill is also part of stage 6 of The Offas Dyke Trail.

Another stage of The Offas Dyke Trail takes you over the impressive Hergest Ridge (stage 5), immortalised by Mike Oldfield in his album released in 1974. Hergest Ridge is a 1000 acre common that straddles the English and Welsh border and is a standalone highlight in any exploration of Herefordshire. At the top you will find 9 Monkey Puzzle trees, planted in 1990 by a family member of the Hergest Estate after seeing similar trees growing on mountains during a trip in Chile. It’s home to beautiful wild ponies and circling the Monkey Puzzle trees is a Victorian racecourse. At the summit is a Whetstone, a natural stone which in medieval times was used as a place to distribute food to people suffering from leprosy. Legend has it that the stone rolled down to Hindwell Brook each time it heard a cock crow. The uninterrupted, 360 degree views are well worth the modest climb from Kington.

Other must see sites and activities within a 10 mile radius of Kington include The Small Breeds Farm and Owl Centre, Bryngwyn Horse Riding Centre, Oaker Wood Leisure, White Heron Drinks Tour, Rhodds Farm Garden, Cloud Nine Spa at The Burton Hotel, Herefordshire Raceway Go Kart Track, Croft Castle and Parkland.