THE PLANNER

GETTING THERE

Regular trains run from London Paddington to Hereford (2hr 50min). The city centre is compact and easy to get around on foot. www.thetrainline.com

WHERE TO STAY

Occupying a Grade II-listed Georgian villa, stylish Castle House enjoys a quiet spot in the city centre, just a few minutes’ walk from the cathedral. The immaculate rooms are named after local castles or historical figures, and some come with original fireplaces and overlook the hotel’s waterside gardens. The restaurant uses produce from the owners’ own farm and is a top choice for a traditional afternoon tea. www.castlehse.co.uk

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

A classy conversion of a second-hand booksellers, airy, stripped-back The Bookshop does modern British cuisine very well, with an evening menu focused on (grass-fed) steak – highly appropriate for a county that prides itself on its beef

– and an award-winning Sunday lunch. Rocket Kitchen Café, on pretty Church Street, uses a variety of local producers for their tasty flatbreads and pizzas, and homemade cakes and pastries. Head to The Barrels, an 18th-century coaching inn, for a pint of the local Wye Valley beer, best enjoyed alfresco in the flagstoned brewery yard. aruleoftum.com; rocketkitchen.co.uk; www.wyevalleybrewery.co.uk www.visitherefordshire.co.uk FURTHER INFORMATION