Holling Grange, Herefordshire, England

Holling Grange

Last weekend I had a break from photographing gardens and instead spent my time photographing a little slice of heaven. I just never would have expected heaven to be so close to Wales.

Herefordshire, England – I must admit, I was a bit disappointed when our dear friends told us they were leaving southwest France. I’ve made no secret of how much we enjoyed La Benjamine, time and time again. I did know however, that anything undertaken by Cedric and Dawn would be fabulous. Their new self-catering cottages at Holling Grange exceeded even my high expectations.

Holling Grange is a Grade II listed property with self-catering cottages in the restored barn. There are 3 cottages sleeping 2, 5 and 6 people. Each has a fully equipped kitchen, a living area with flat screen TVs, gorgeous bathrooms and plush, inviting bedrooms. Dawn and Cedric have meticulous attention to detail and at no point do you feel like you are staying in a rental property, but rather a beautifully appointed home.

Just look at what I mean:

Livingroom in Chocolat Cottage

Bedroom in Chocolat Cottage

Bedroom in Bleu-Gris Cottage

Bathroom in Bleu-Gris Cottage

Kitchen in Chocolat Cottage

Livingroom in Cerise Cottage

The setting is something out of a Jane Austin novel; all rolling hills and fields of sheep with the Black Mountains visible in the distance. I’ve not seen this many shades of green since my trip to Ireland. The nearby villages are picturesque and cozy. The narrow winding roads are a drivers dream.

Neighbours - Spring Lambs have a great view of the Golden Valley

Holling Grange is located in the village of Abbey Dore, where you can visit the beautiful Dore Abbey. You can enjoy many outdoor activities such as walking, fishing, canoeing, and horseback riding.

Holling Grange is also a great base for exploring the rest of Wales and England. The Brecon Beacons are within easy reach for walking and nature photography. The famous book town of Hay on Wye is only 19 miles away and is home to the annual Guardian Literary Festival which draws book-lovers from around England and the world.

But even with all of the other photographic opportunities, I can’t entirely escape photographing gardens. If you are a garden lover too, then Holling Grange also has something for you. Dawn is a florist and Holling Grange is always filled with flowers, inside and out. I was captivated by her black and red tulips. Her potager is also well under way and that can only mean good things for the kitchen.

Potager

Tulip

Of course staying with Dawn and Cedric always involves fantastic food and Holling Grange is no exception. Thursday through Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon, Cedric offers a four course menu for 45£ per person. This includes starters, main course, cheese selection, desert with coffee or tea and wine. Dawn and Cedric are passionate about food and use locally sources seasonal produce. In Herefordshire this offers a wide and wonderful selection of beef, pork, lamb, perry, cider, cassis, raspberry liqueurs, vinegars and cheeses.

For the times that Cedric is not cooking, there are other fabulous dining options in the area. I’ve already been fortunate enough to try several and I can say without hesitation - if you are a foodie, get yourself to Herefordshire now.

If I sound overly gushy, I appologise, but the truth is I was surprised by how much I enjoy the area. I can’t wait to go back and explore it even more.

View a gallery of even more photos of Holling Grange Self-catering Cottages

Holling Grange
Abbey Dore
Herefordshire,
HR2 0JJ  United Kingdom
00 44 (0) 1981 241 531