Property, Houses and Flats for Sale in Herefordshire, England

The county of Herefordshire

Located on the border with Wales, Herefordshire provides the gateway to the magnificent Brecon Beacons to the west, whilst to the east lie Worcestershire and the Malvern Hills. Easily accessible by road and rail, the county remains one of England's best kept secrets, and offers an excellent quality of life to the 175,000 people who live there. Herefordshire is an agricultural county, famous for its hops, fruit farming and production of cider. The natural beauty of the tranquil countryside, picturesque villages and lively market towns make Herefordshire a great place to live for those seeking a quiet retreat from city life. With the exception of one city and a few small towns, the countryside is punctuated by quiet villages, hamlets and farms clustered around a church and market square. The city of Hereford is the county town, and the major location for employment, health services, education facilities and shopping. The five market towns of Leominster, Ross-on-Wye, Ledbury, Bromyard and Kington are the other principal centres.

Living in Herefordshire

Families who are searching for property for sale in Herefordshire will find that there are excellent primary and secondary schools in the county, and several good independent schools. There are also several colleges in Herefordshire, including the UK's leading college for people (16+) who are blind or partially sighted. Herefordshire College of Art and Design has consistently been rated as one of the finest in the country. The population of Herefordshire as a whole is healthier than nationally or regionally, and overall crime rates are significantly lower than other parts of the UK. People who are relocating and looking to buy property in Herefordshire will be interested to learn that unemployment in the county is low. There are a few large employers and many small to medium sized businesses, and a high rate of self employed people. The wholesale, retail and repair trades sectors employ the most people, followed by manufacturing and health and social work. A higher proportion of the workforce is employed in farming, forestry and fishing compared with regionally and nationally.

The cathedral City of Hereford is the commercial and artistic heart of the county and also the biggest location with approximately one third of the population of Herefordshire residing there. People searching for houses for sale in Hereford will find a good selection advertised by a number of estate agents in Hereford. The types of property for sale in Hereford include; Victorian terraced houses and cottages, modern family houses, Edwardian town houses, bungalows, period properties, as well as flats and apartments in purpose built blocks. Residents of Hereford benefit from excellent amenities, including a railway station, a modern shopping centre at the heart of the city which has a number of major high street store names such as Marks & Spencer, Boots, Tesco and Argos and a monthly Farmers' Market. Another key town in Herefordshire is Leominster, which dates back to the 7th Century and is named after Earl Leofric, the husband of Lady Godiva who famously rode naked through the streets of Coventry on horseback. People searching for property for sale in Leominster will discover a wide variety of architectural styles in the town, from the medieval overhangs in Drapers Lane and School Lane, to the Georgian splendour of Broad Street. The town centre recently became semi-pedestrianised, recreating the bustling atmosphere of a market town. In the town centre you will find a wide variety of specialist shops, cafés, tea rooms and antiques shops, the folk museum, as well as art galleries, a post office, and the town library. Further afield there is lots to see and do. A short ride south on the A49 is Queenswood Country Park, a woodland park with numerous footpaths and a picnic area ideal for family outings. There is also Berrington Hall, a National Trust property with a park by Capability Brown. If you are searching for houses for sale in Leominster, expect to pay £210k+ for a three bedroom property.

Leisure activities in Herefordshire

As England's most rural county, the opportunities for enjoying the countryside are numerous. The Offa's Dyke Path, which follows the 8th Century barrier between the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia and Wales, offers beautiful walking. Outdoor pursuits have a high profile throughout the county and include horse riding, mountain biking, helicopter training, trekking, quad biking, and mountain boarding. A range of water sports including rafting, canoeing, kayaking and fishing can be enjoyed on the River Wye. Additionally, Herefordshire has a range of sporting facilities - leisure centres, gyms, bowling centres and swimming pools. The county has a number of excellent golf courses, and the city of Hereford is home to a racecourse and the Courtyard Theatre, constructed entirely of wood in the style of a Jacobean playhouse. People who enjoy shopping won't be disappointed - shopping ranges from the large high street retailers to the small traditional shops scattered through Hereford City and among the county's market towns. There are also a wide range of museums and historical sites, which include the 11th Century Cathedral in Hereford, Folk Museums, Heritage Centres and the distinctive timber-framed Tudor buildings, which form the 'Black and White village' trail.

Travel and transport links in the county of Herefordshire

Herefordshire, deep in rural countryside, is more accessible than you might first imagine. By road the M5 and M50 provide excellent links with other UK motorways. Birmingham, with its international airport, is approximately one hour's drive away and London can be reached in just three hours. Bristol and Cardiff are easily accessible in one and a half hours, and nearer still are the popular towns of Worcester and Gloucester, which can be reached in less than one hour. Railway stations at Hereford, Leominster and Ledbury provide regular services to all major cities in the UK. Both London and Manchester can be reached by train in just over two hours, and Cardiff in one hour. Public transport within the county is available although services are limited in the more rural parts of the county. The nearest major international airport is Birmingham, with daily scheduled flights to America and many European hubs.