An 18th-century farmhouse in the Herefordshire countryside, brought back to life and designed around its own story. Room by room, it has a tale to tell.
A restored 18th-century farmhouse of brick and oak beams, with open fields at every window. Its village, Much Cowarne, appears in the Domesday Book, sits on a Roman road, and once inspired the composer Edward Elgar as he cycled its lanes. We spent a long time uncovering the house's history and designed every room around something true about this place — so there's a story waiting in each one when you arrive.
"Discovering three centuries, one room at a time."
A little tour before you arrive. Each room carries one true thread of the house's history. This is the overview; the practical details for your stay are sent once you book.
"Cowarne" means cow house, and a thousand years of farming lives on here — the original oak beams, the old iron hooks that once hung the meat, and a historic cooking range set into the wall. Gather around the long table; the village even has its own apple.
Elgar found inspiration in this landscape. Light the woodburner, sink into a leather sofa and settle in for a film on the 62-inch screen — the cosiest room in the house on a dark evening.
A large, calm room whose story is simply stillness — a generous sofa and two armchairs, a stone fireplace and morning light, made for a slow coffee or writing in your journal as the fields wake up.
Navy walls like dusk, gilt and candlelight — the most romantic room in the house. A super-king bed, generous wardrobes, and a mirror and vanity to get ready.
A light-filled, glasshouse of a room — cream and sage, with botanical prints and a king bed. The bright, daylight counterpart to the Night Garden.
Apple-blossom soft under a sloped ceiling and an old oak beam — a king bed and its own shower room. Herefordshire is cider and orchard country, and this room celebrates the fruit fields outside.
The children's room — deep forest-green with an enchanted-woodland scene across the walls, and a house-frame bunk (a full double below), a 42-inch TV, and space for little adventurers.
The smallest, snuggest room — a cosy double under the eaves in soft blue-grey, with a brass bed, named for the tannery that once worked oak bark from these woods.
A look around — every room, the gardens, and the little details.
Herefordshire is quiet, green and full of small pleasures. A few of the things we send you off to find.
Footpaths to the 12th-century church right from the door, and Bromyard Downs on the doorstep. Further out, the Malvern Hills ridge, and in the Wye Valley, Coppett Hill above Goodrich Castle and the famous view from Symonds Yat.
You're in the heart of cider country — apples all around the house, from the garden to the lanes, and in autumn you can smell the cider on the air. Willy's cider farm is about twenty minutes away, and Wye Valley Brewery just ten.
Bromyard, Ledbury, Malvern, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye, all within ten to thirty minutes — antiques, delis, bookshops and proper market days.
The village's St Mary's dates to the 12th century, with a Norman tower. Inside lies the crusader Sir Grimbald Pauncefot and his wife Constantia, whose devotion became local legend.
Right on the old Welsh border, this was invasion country — a landscape studded with castles, from Eastnor to Goodrich and Croft — with Hereford Cathedral and its Mappa Mundi, the oldest surviving map of the world, at its heart.
Legges of Bromyard for the good stuff, the village filling station for fresh baked goods and essentials, and local honey, cheese and cider a short drive away.
However long you have, here's how we'd do it — only our favourites, the things genuinely worth your time.
Blossom in the orchards, wildflowers along the lanes, and baby animals at the farm parks.
Long, peaceful countryside walks, slow days in the garden, and farm outings for the children.
Apple time — cider country at its best, the orchards heavy with fruit.
A cosy Christmas retreat — woodburners lit, snowy castles, and warm country pubs.
Bromyard Downs and the Brockhampton and Croft parklands, the banks of the Wye, and dog-friendly welcomes at The Trumpet, The Three Horseshoes and the Bunch of Carrots.
The Gruffalo trail at Queenswood, Newbridge and Raglan farm parks, the playgrounds and obstacle course at Eastnor and Croft, and the ship playground at Aylestone Park.
Hereford Cathedral and the Mappa Mundi, a foodie day in Ludlow, Hay's secondhand bookshops, Westons cider mill, or a show at Malvern Theatres.
Closest of all: the walk to the village church · Bromyard Downs · a pint at the Green Dragon · dinner at The Trumpet · Wye Valley Brewery up the road · provisions at Legges or the Bromyard Co-op.
Our own guides to the towns around us — where to eat, walk, shop and explore, from people who live it.
Our village — walks from the door with a hand-drawn map, the 12th-century church, the sunflower farm track, and the donkeys who love carrots.
The county city — the cathedral & Mappa Mundi, Church Street, the Old House and a walk along the Wye. About 25 minutes.
Guides coming soon.
Check dates and book directly, or find us on the usual places. Once you're confirmed, your private stay pack follows with everything you need.
Direct bookings run through our secure checkout — the best price, with no platform fee. You'll also find us on Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo.
Follow the story
We share the history as we uncover it, room by room. Come along.