Local Attractions

• Presteigne’s award-winning gas-lit Judge’s Lodgings is a large atmospheric elegant upstairs-downstairs house, complete with court room and cells, that will show you what life was like locally 150 years ago (open end March- end Oct). Excellent gift shop.

• Nearby Kington hosts Hergest Croft Gardens, famed for its rare plants shrubs and huge ‘champion trees’, the charming Small Breeds Farm Park and Owl Centre and Westonbury Mill Water Gardens.

• The Black-and-White Trail links a series of picture-postcard Herefordshire village. Particularly recommended is an easy round trip from Presteigne taking in Pembridge, Weobley (‘webley’), and Eardisland ('ur-disland'), all of which boast centuries-old black-and-white half-timbered houses, ancient churches, good pubs and other recommended places to eat and drink.  
   

Slightly Further Afield

• Hereford boasts a beautiful cathedral, home to the acclaimed Mappa Mundi, and has most of the facilities you’d expect in a small city.

• The world-famous book town of Hay-on-Wye attracts visitors from all over the world in late May at Festival time, but is well worth a visit at any time of year for its artisan shops, and places to eat and drink, whether or not you’re a bibliophile. (Many shops close Mon-Tues).

• Ludlow, famous for its food, is a gem of Georgian architecture with a romantic ruined castle. The town stages almost daily markets, hosts several festivals a year and has some good vintage and antique shopping. 

• Leominster (‘lemster’) is also chock-a-block with good value vintage and antique shops. Close by are two fine National Trust properties, Berrington Hall and Croft Castle.

• Due west, into Wales and the Cambrian Mountains, lie the stupendous Elan Valley Dams and Reservoirs. These marvels of Victorian engineering were built to supply drinking water to Birmingham and still do so today. The area features some wonderful easily accessible walks and is a haven for wildlife with The Red Kite Feeding Station at Rhayader offering spectacular close-ups of hundreds of these giant birds at a time.
   

Local Wildlife

The Marches are full of wildlife, and our fields, trees and sky above are home to woodpeckers, red kites, buzzards, pheasants, grey herons, swifts, rabbits, squirrels and foxes. Depending on the time of year you’ll hear majestic red kites and buzzards 'mewing' high overhead, the staccato tones of a male pheasant staking out his patch (cock fights are common!), the eerie towhit-towhoo of tawny owls, and (if you’re lucky) the chattering of baby owls in the sycamore used as a nursery for the past two years on the edge of Millie’s field. Spring is magical with baby rabbits, baby squirrels, nesting birds with chicks, and of course lambs in the fields.  Early morning brings out the rabbits, while the eagle-eyed may see brown trout leaping out the Hindwell, trying to catch insects in summer. In the field across the brook at the back of the hut guests have spotted Roe Deer.

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What’s On

• The internationally acclaimed Presteigne Festival of modern classical music is staged annually in several venues around town over six days spanning the August Bank Holiday. The elegant Italianate Assembly Rooms is a main venue and year-round stages live music of all kinds. It is also home to a cinema club.

• In July, Sheep Music Festival, featuring mostly local bands, is usually staged on the idyllic pastures of Wents Meadows, a five-minute stroll from town.

• Contemporary art lovers should check out the Sidney Nolan Trust arts centre (a 5-minute walk along the railway line from Millie), which stages regular exhibitions and live events.

• In and around Presteigne, there’s something going on all year round, from unusual (even arcane!) entertaining local events such as Wassailing in January (apple and cider celebrations) and Hill Climbs in October (veteran cars straining every cylinder, slipping, sliding and splattering mud, ascending steep grassy inclines) to grand fairs and markets of all kind in Ludlow, and the internationally famous Hay Festival in May. 

• Our neighbouring market town, Kington stages vibrant food festivals in June and December with up to 100 stalls showcasing the best of the Marches food producers.

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