Stargazers Apartments

21/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/y1c6DEByWNhZhg7F/

21/01/2024

https://www.facebook.com/100063474103658/posts/870579388401190/

HEREFORDSHIRE IN TOP 40!
According to Herefordshire ranks amongst the best worldwide destinations for spectacular walking and don’t we know it 😃

With sights like these wild horses (on Garway common) to marvel at while you stride, Herefordshires nature and wildlife really are world class.

See wonderful walking routes for all abilities on our website.
And we’d love to hear where you love hiking in the county. Tag us into your pictures with

Beautiful pic by

20/01/2024

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=862851859183940&id=100063774002638

25/07/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=755294783262985&id=100063474103658

We’re never short of things to do in Herefordshire. From historical trails to vibrant experiences, City fun or rural adventures, there is always something

27/11/2022

Look what you've missed .....should have been staying at Stargazers!

16/11/2022

They call it ‘Dragon’s Breath’ when the morning mist curls low around a valley. And how apt that phrase is, it’s like a dragon has yawned it’s first warm introduction to the day.

This truly mystical sight was captured at Symonds Yat, in south Herefordshire and the Wye Valley by


What tales do your Herefordshire mornings tell?

07/11/2022

04/11/2022

The dramatic Black Mountains are the shoulder between England and Wales, or Herefordshire and Monmouthshire if you please.
I’m not sure why they have their name - is it because they always appear so black?
Let us know if you do.
Whatever, their basin in Herefordshire is home to some amazing hidden businesses like: - spirit & liqueur producers with a fabulous Gin School to experience making your own naughty little concoctions.
What a great Christmas gift … we feel a family day out coming on😃

Stunning shot by clever .keeble

11/10/2022

Only 10 minutes away away from Stargazers ....

**MAGICAL MEANDERS**
Arthur’s Stone at Dorstone is well known for its tale of giant slaying, inspiring C S Lewis The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’ and truly is an amazing landmark. It’s definitely a great spot for a legendary autumn walk.

And if you like local myths & tales, check out our page every week for our regular Folklore Friday story.

And if you love walking check out our website home page for 9 Awesome Autumn Walks to take in our golden county.

28/06/2022

**LOVELY LANES OF HEREFORDSHIRE**

Who wouldn't want to walk or cycle the beautiful lanes of Herefordshire? It's an absolute delight, the scents, the views, the wildlife and the sheer peacefulness is intoxicating.

It's no wonder we lose track of time and are in no hurry to head home.

www.eatsleepliveherefordshire.co.uk/nine-perfect-picnic-spots
Photo: Jon Simpson

16/06/2022

With all these places on Stargazers doorstep who can resist a visit?

15/06/2022

**SUNSET DELIGHT**

There's something quite lovely about travelling around the gorgeous Herefordshire countryside just as the sun is setting for the evening.

Stopping to watch a beautiful sunset is irresistible and mesmerising, as the sun gently slips away leaving a wonderful red hue in the sky.

We've been taking advantage of the fabulously sunny weather lately. It's been a pleasure to be up early enough to see a beautiful sunrise or late enough to watch the sun drop deep into the hills.

The simple things in life really are the best.

www.eatsleepliveherefordshire.co.uk
Photo: (Instagram)

22/04/2022

Just had 2 cancellations for the Hay Literary Festival.... if you'd like to come give me a call 😊

20/01/2022

**DISCOVERING HISTORY**

Herefordshire is full of history and heritage and it's not difficult to find. From the Black and White village trail, to our wonderful old churches. Lands where Kings and Marcher Lords enacted their political battles and feuds were once commonplace.

Luckily a trip across the Welsh border from the beautiful Golden Valley is not such an arduous prospect these days. Here you'll find a real historical treasure, the 900th year old ruin at Llanthony Priory.

Norman Knight William de Lacy founded a hermitage here when he turned to religion and abandoned war. Llanthony became a monastery of Augustine canons by 1118 and continued until its demise in 1539.

This incredible medieval building sits beneath the beautiful Black Mountains and it's easy to see how magnificent it once was.

It's an absolutely stunning location and definitely worth a visit if you are exploring the west of Herefordshire.

www.eatsleepliveherefordshire.co.uk
Photo: Rob Whitehouse

12/11/2021

**FOLKLORE FRIDAY**

Sometimes we hear a tale that is so incredulous it makes your hair stand on end. This week our story takes us just across the Herefordshire border into Abergavenny, a popular town and one which Herefordians love to visit. But what you may or may not know is that Abergavenny was the location for one of the most egregious massacres recorded in British History.

It all started when the Lord of Abergavenny one Henry FitzMiles was murdered along with his only son. Upon his death his nephew William de Braose, Lord of Bramber inherited his seat and castle. Battles between the English and the Welsh were frequent and brutal. Living on the border was dangerous and rarely peaceful, which invariably led to many different victors taking Abergavenny castle. This time however it was personal for William de Braose, he raged about the untimely death of his uncle and secretly plotted to take his revenge on the man responsible, the Lord of Gwent Seisyll ap Dyfnwal.

William's plan was to lure Seisyll to the castle with an invitation to a marvellous Christmas Day celebration and feast. It was under the guise of a peace offering, a move to reconcile the factions and bring peace to the area. It was to be a grand affair and Seisyll's sons, along with notable leaders and Welsh Princes were welcomed to attend. Word travelled fast and there was a willingness for peace, the leaders were tired of the constant battles and loss of men.

As Seisyll and members of his family entered the castle, they along with the other attendees removed their weapons and proceeded to enjoy the celebrations, drinking, eating and dancing into the night. William watched as his enemies enjoyed his hospitality, relaxed and unarmed, vulnerable and totally unaware of what was coming next. Revenge was about to be dealt with one almighty blow. William signalled to his men that it was time to enact his bloody plan and within moments complete chaos broke out. Every guest was attacked and mercilessly murdered, adults and children alike.

Aware that Seisyll's youngest son and wife had not attended the gathering and such was his thirst for revenge, William gathered his men, located their whereabouts and killed the boy as his mother tried to protect him in her arms. The night had been bloody and brutal and it earned William the nickname of The Ogre of Abergavenny.

Amazingly his actions were forgiven as he was favoured by King John of England and he later took up post of Sheriff of Herefordshire.

As they say karma always comes around to bite you and in 1175 The Lord of Caerleon took Abergavenny castle and burnt it to the ground. William was said to have fled to Ireland and was later seen in France where he lived out the remainder of his life dying in exile there. His wife and son were taken to Corfe Castle and are said to have starved to death in the dungeons.

If you think this tale sounds familiar, you would be right, it does. For those of you who are Game of Thrones fans you'll remember the 'Red Wedding', we wonder if this moment in history inspired George R R Martin at all?

There are more great tales and stories over on our dedicated Herefordshire History and Folklore page, why not take a look:

www.eatsleepliveherefordshire.co.uk/information/history-and-folklore
Photo: National Library of Wales



These stories are curated from many sources and retold in our fun ESL style, in the true spirit of Folklore.

05/11/2021

**FOLKLORE FRIDAY**

Our amazing city of Hereford has a fantastic history, some of which is readily apparent but other parts are still yet to be discovered. Did you know that in 2015 the mysterious remains of a boy was found within the grounds of Hereford Cathedral during an archaeological dig?

These remains were particularly interesting because no previous finds of this sort had dated back so far despite there being more than two thousand unearthed burials at the site. The boy's skeleton was thought to date to 900 AD, a whole 200 years earlier than any other previous unearthed remains. And as if that wasn't enough, archaeologists surmised that a Saxon palace may once have existed on the site of the cathedral.

It was well known that the land surrounding the cathedral had been used as a burial ground over the centuries. The original cathedral was burnt down and raided in 1055 when the rebel Welsh army destroyed Athelstan’s cathedral. Ethelbert’s shrine and many other treasures were sadly lost, however an 8th-century illuminated Gospel Book, the Hereford Gospels survived this disaster and is now one of the most precious spiritual treasures of the diocese.

You can imagine the excitement when the remains of a medieval knight were found during the dig too. Apparently investigation of the skeleton revealed injuries that could only be attributed to jousting battles, such as fractured ribs and shoulder injuries. What a brutal pastime it must have been.

Did you know that under the cathedral church is the greatest charnel-house, this happens to be a vault in which corpses or bones are piled. It is said that in 1650 cunning ale wives used to take these bones and crush them into a fine powder which they then used to mix into their Hereford ales. Apparently it rendered them more intoxicating. We're kind of hoping that there isn't any truth to this tale but we have a feeling that there may well be!

So as you wander the hallowed corridors of Hereford Cathedral spare a thought for those who walked those pathways before you, we wonder what the next discovery may bring.

There are more great tales and stories over on our dedicated Herefordshire History and Folklore page, why not take a look:

www.eatsleepliveherefordshire.co.uk/information/history-and-folklore
Photo: Andy Boucher



These stories are curated from many sources and retold in our fun ESL style, in the true spirit of Folklore.

23/10/2021

18/10/2021

**SECLUDED AND BEAUTIFUL**

Brobury House & Gardens is somewhere that delights us no matter how many times we visit. It was built in 1881 beside Bredwardine Bridge and the gorgeous River Wye.

The interesting thing though is that prior to 1881 the land beside the east bank of the river served as the kitchen garden for the vicarage.

It was Mr Houghton of Manchester however who changed all that and built the wonderful Victorian house at Brobury. Not only did it include a gorgeous turret at one corner, he made sure the gardens were equally incredible. Look out for his coat of arms which is still hung over the door.

You can glimpse the vicarage if you gaze west over the river. From here the very popular diarist Rev Francis Kilvert looked after his community and he is also buried here. Rev Kilvert is said to have planted the mulberry tree at the end of the terrace on the top lawn.

Look out for the Victorian pineapple pit which is still in situ and was a popular feature in gardens of this era. It allowed gardeners to grow pineapples and other exotic tropical fruit in colder climates like the UK.

This fabulous garden is open all year round and is a joy to explore so do pop in if you're looking for somewhere lovely to escape to.

www.eatsleepliveherefordshire.co.uk/item/brobury-house-garden
Photo: Susan Tattersall

12/10/2021

World-famous Welsh night skies

12/10/2021

Stay at Stargazers....

Star-gaze in Wales all year round, in official International Dark Sky Reserves, with some of the darkest, clearest skies in the world.

07/10/2021

📍the Central Beacons.

Have you seen Visit Wales’ latest video showcasing Wales’ dark skies, featuring Alyn Wallace Photography?

Alyn has taken so many epic photos of the Brecon Beacons dark skies, here is one of our favourites.

On a clear night in the Brecon Beacons, you can see the Milky Way, major constellations, bright nebulas and even meteor showers. It’s enough to make anyone starry eyed.

Our Park has some of the highest quality dark skies in the whole of the UK, making it the perfect destination for stargazers.

https://www.breconbeacons.org/things-to-do/activities/stargazing/10-places-to-go-stargazing

📷

03/10/2021

🆕 GEOPARK GEOTOURS

📲 A new Geotours App, featuring four walking tours in the Fforest Fawr Unesco Global Geopark is now available to download from Google Play and the App Store.

Fforest Fawr has over 470 million years’ worth of stories to tell and the Geotours App captures some of the best including ➡

🥾 Cribarth Geotour ➡️ where remnants of quarries and tramways reveal the dramatic industrial past of this spectacular mountain.

🥾 Penwyllt Geotour ➡️ takes you back to the hurly-burly of the 19th century when Penwyllt was home to a thriving local firebrick-making industry.

ℹ https://bit.ly/3ik0u32
📸 Landscapes Uncovered with Neil Mansfield Huw James
UNESCO Global Geoparks Network European Atlantic Geotourism Route

01/10/2021

Whitney Toll bridge is just a couple of miles from us.

**FOLKLORE FRIDAY**

Did you know that by 1730 Herefordshire had the largest turnpike system in Britain? An act of parliament was passed which allowed local groups (turnpike trusts) to take over the maintenance of sections of roads in the county. In return the trusts were allowed to install turnpikes and tollgates and charge people for using the routes. At this time 118 miles of road was controlled by the Hereford Trust.

We often revel at finding some of the historic milestones dotted around our beautiful county's lanes. However in 1766 they were deemed compulsory on all turnpike roads and a very common sight indeed. Turnpike trusts were then required to mark every mile along a route so that accurate timing of journeys and prices could be estimated.

Many of our Herefordshire towns were surrounded with toll gates and for non tax payers routes to market were blocked, so as you can imagine the tolls were not popular. In fact the turnpike laws were hated and reviled by locals and visitors alike as they were fiercely enforced with very few exceptions. The poor resented them just as much as the farmers whose trading was significantly disrupted. So consequently the hustle and bustle of markets dwindled as farmers and tradesmen found other places to trade and sell their goods without having to pay the turnpike fees.

Frustrations ran high, anger was at its peak and outbursts of violence and revolt were commonplace. Raging mobs gathered at the turnpikes at night and attempted to dismantle and burn them. Spirited forays of destruction were made by Welshmen who would venture across the border in Herefordshire dressed in women's clothes with their faces blacked ready to burn the turnpikes to the ground. These men were known as 'Rebecca's Daughters'. Visions of Monty Python are now coming to mind, so we hope you don't mind while we have a quiet giggle at the imagery as we write this!

Feelings ran so strong that even after an act of parliament in 1734 which instructed the death penalty for those who destroyed turnpikes, the lawbreaking continued with even more fervour. Sympathetic locals began to support raiders and offer their assistance as look outs.

Those who were caught in the act of destroying toll gates were sent to the gallows either in Worcester or Hereford. Their very public demise was used as a deterrent to quell the frequency and ferocity of the attacks. In 1867 the turnpike gates were finally abandoned much to the delight of everyone.

There are only eight privately owned Toll Bridges left in the UK one of which is at Whitney in Herefordshire, 245 years on it still spans the beautiful River Wye as a fantastic reminder of our history and the tumultuous times gone by.

There are more great tales and stories over on our dedicated Herefordshire History and Folklore page, why not take a look:

https://www.eatsleepliveherefordshire.co.uk/information/history-and-folklore/
Photo: John Savery



These stories are curated from many sources and retold in our fun ESL style, in the true spirit of Folklore.

29/09/2021

📍Craig Cerrig Gleisiad, Central Brecon Beacons National Park

A fantastic short hike through a nature reserve in the central Beacons, just 1/2 a mile down the road from Pen y Fan.

Wales Mid Wales My Way Visit Mid Wales Visit Merthyr

📷 .girlwalks

23/09/2021

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, or Mon & Brec for short, is a true hidden gem, and one of our top places to walk this autumn.🍃🍂🍁

A haven for wildlife and a favourite with nature-lovers, walkers and cyclists. The northern section forms part of the Taff Trail Long Distance Footpath, a 55 mile route that can be walked or cycled, starting at Brecon Basin and ending in Cardiff.

The navigable section of the canal runs for 35 miles from Brecon to the south of Pontypool.

Where is your favourite Brecon Beacons autumn walk?

Find out more about our autumn walks, where to stay, eat or visit in the National Park. ⬇️🍃🍂🍁

https://linktr.ee/VisitBreconBeacons

Wales Canal & River Trust

📷 https://instagram.com/welsh_scenery_dan?utm_medium=copy_link

22/09/2021

**PERFECT POOLS & LOVELY LAKES**

Did you know that there are some wonderful lakes and pools dotted around Herefordshire? Located within beautiful scenery and some hidden right from view.

One of our favourites is Brockhall Quarry, which is maintained by The Dutchy of Cornwall. A gorgeous tranquil spot with some wonderful wildlife.

Others to look out for are Kingstone Pool, Titley Pool, Canal Pool Shobdon, Stretton Sugwas Pool, Belmont Pool, Bodenham Lake, Rotherwas Lake and Kenchester Pool.

This autumn is the perfect time to get back to nature and enjoy the great outdoors. How about a bit of leaf peeping too?

www.eatsleepliveherefordshire.co.uk/area
Photo: Susan Tattersall

22/09/2021

So much to do .... so much to see .... love where we live ❤

Planning a visit the Brecon Beacons National Park this autumn?

Do check out our website and our digital guide for places to eat, things to do and visit.

https://linktr.ee/VisitBreconBeacons

Wales

📷https://instagram.com/technodean2000?utm_medium=copy_link

21/09/2021

We love Llangorse Lake here at Stargazers!

09/09/2021

So fortunate to be so close ❤

Droving in the Brecon Beacons National Park Blog by Mark Davis, Glanpant Bach Droving is the ancient process of driving cattle to market by foot. Droving livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs, turkeys and geese) from the Welsh hills to the English markets is a process that has gone on for hundreds, if not....

14/08/2021

..... and Hay is only 5 mins away from Stargazers !