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Old Country House - Malvern

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Country cosiness at its best

If you thought staying on a farm would mean noise, smell and distinctly basic accommodation think again. Old Country House, a gorgeous, 600-year-old farmhouse in beautiful Worcestershire, is the epitome of calm, comfort and warmth, and the perfect place to while away a relaxed weekend in the country.

The house’s three double bedrooms are country cosiness at its best – great big beds with mounds of comfy linen, eclectic furniture, uneven floorboards and low ceilings. One has its own en-suite bathroom, while the others have private bathrooms close by. The rooms’ windows look out over Old Country House’s breathtaking gardens, and the 220 acres of woodland, orchards and farmland beyond.

This is just the place to escape the fast lane, with telly being pleasantly off-limits and the big farmhouse kitchen and cosy sitting rooms free to explore and chock full of books to borrow and read by the fireplace. The space at Old Country House is such that you never feel like you’re treading on anyone’s toes.

Outside, the feeling of space is all-encompassing. The acres of land close to The Malvern Hills and belonging to Old Country House are there to be explored – ancient woodlands, green orchards, and some of the best gardens in the area. Paths lead through the farm and past the picturesque cider house and hopkilns, while secret nooks make for lovely spots just to ‘be’.

Where is it?

Old Country House sits at the foot of the stunning Malvern Hills – officially a British Area of Outstanding Beauty. On the borders of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, the 15km range of hills, appears to rise from nowhere and offers amazing views of the three counties beyond. This is, of course, amazing walking country, with dozens of paths and trails to follow, including the complete end-to-end Malvern Hills trail. The Malvern Hills official website (www.malvernhillsaonb.org.uk) has downloadable maps to follow. The area is also fantastic for cycling, and Old Country House has bikes that you can borrow free of charge.

Ledbury is the nearest town to Old Country House, and a good place to visit in itself. An ancient market town, it’s best known for its pretty black-and-white Tudor architecture, literary connections, annual Hunt and locally-made cider. Elizabeth Barrett Browning and John Masefield (author of The Box of Delights) both lived in the town, and have inspired Ledbury’s best-known annual event – the Ledbury Poetry Festival (www.poetry-festival.com Tel: 0845 458 1743). Held in July, the UK’s biggest poetry event attracts an amazing array of talent and is guaranteed to have something for everyone. If it’s the cider rather than the stanzas that floats your boat, however, the world-famous Weston’s is made in nearby Much Marcle, and the brilliant Weston’s Cider visitors centre (www.westons-cider.co.uk Tel: 01531 660233) is a mecca for all scrumpy-lovers. Just outside Ledbury is the romantic Eastnor Castle (www.eastnorcastle.com Tel: 01531 633160), with its fairy-tale towers and beautiful lake, arboretum and deer park. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon potter.

If you’re still looking for distractions, the Worcestershire Spa town of Great Malvern, famous for its spring water, is 15 minutes’ drive from Old Country House. Apart from the waters, which you can still sample at St Ann’s Well, just above the town and its famous 900-year-old priory (www.greatmalvernpriory.org.uk), Great Malvern has strong cultural connections, with its main claim to fame being Edward Elgar, the town’s most famous son. The huge Elgar Festival (www.elgar-festival.com Tel: 01905 611427) takes place each summer, in venues in Malvern and Worcester, while its cheeky sibling, the Elgar Fringe Festival (www.malvernfringe.co.uk) brings a slightly more off-the-wall programme to Malvern around the same time. For even more culture (albeit of the squished variety), you could visit The Theatre of Small Convenience (www.wctheatre.co.uk Tel: 01684 568 933) – the smallest theatre in the world (built inside a Victorian loo. Obviously).

Where can I eat?

The Bell Inn at Bosbury (www.thebellatbosbury.co.uk Tel: 01531 640285) is a gorgeous pub in a gorgeous village, within walking distance of Old Country House (well, just over two miles away). Still very much a local pub, the restaurant nevertheless serves pub grub a real cut above the average, with the Bosbury Steak & Guinness Pie a highlight. For something a bit more sophisticated, The Malthouse (www.malthouse-ledbury.co.uk Tel: 01531 634443), situated in a pretty converted barn, offers a mouthwatering menu with both British and Continental influences, using local and seasonal produce.

For the best-ever Sunday lunch, however, the award-winning Seasons Restaurant at Colwell Park Hotel (www.colwall.co.uk Tel: 01684 540 000), just 4 minutes’ drive from Old Country House, is fantastic. Named by The Times as one of the nation’s top ten places for a great Sunday roast, its slow-cooked meats, local and seasonal produce and delicious puddings will almost certainly necessitate an extra night’s stay!

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Old Country House, a gorgeous, 600-year-old farmhouse in beautiful Worcestershire, is the epitome of calm, comfort and warmth, and the perfect place to while away a relaxed weekend in the country.