There are two options at The Orchard Glamping: Maggie the vintage caravan and a bell tent decked out in bunting. You’ll find them both in the Golden Valley. All together it sounds like something out of a children’s story book, doesn’t it? And, actually, it rather looks like that too—especially if you’re lucky enough to arrive at this Herefordshire site on a sunny day. This place is simply idyllic. The glamping is, as the name suggests, in an orchard that’s part of a family farm. There are views of the sparsely-populated countryside of the Golden Valley in one direction and of The Black Mountains in the other. There are ducks on a pond, sheep in the surrounding fields and, come nightfall, an unfathomable number of stars in the sky.
Convinced yet? If so, and you’re heading here with just one significant other, make a beeline for Maggie, a rare Streamlite caravan from 1947. She’s a rosy-hued beauty with a fascinating history linked to her post-war manufacture. That’s something you can read about when you’re tucked up in her bed or sitting at her table sipping from a 1940s teacup. The tea set is just a tiny indication of the thought that’s gone into the furniture and fittings here, thanks to host Ali, who runs the place with husband Rob and has an eye for design. The same attention has been paid to the emperor bell tent, which offers accommodation for up to four. While the canvas means you’re a little closer to proper camping, there are still plenty of home comforts. It has made-up beds, a shepherd’s hut kitchen and its own loo and shower just outside.
The views and the peace and quiet make staying put quite tempting but it’s a good location to explore from too. There are lovely walks from site—including the chance to head to one of three local pubs within a 20-minute radius. There are the ever present Black Mountains and then there are the rivers: the Dore, the Monnow, and the Wye. They offer riverside walks, canoeing, and a succession of places to visit on the water’s edge, starting with unmissable Hay-on-Wye.
