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Three Choirs Vineyard - Newent

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A luxury wine-lover's retreat

I bet you never thought you’d be able to wake up, open the curtains to your huge French windows and look out over acres of rolling vineyards, all from your luxury bedroom. Certainly not in England, anyway. But you can do all of this at Three Choirs Vineyards in Gloucestershire – England’s leading single estate vineyard, award-winning winery and now perfect place to stay for the weekend.

Three Choirs’ eight bedrooms are situated, side-by-side, in a long out-building at the edge of the vineyards. Each is sumptuous and recently redecorated – huge beds, squishy armchairs, big, modern bathrooms and private terraces make for the perfect place to hole yourself up in for a couple of days. But it’s the constantly changing views that make the rooms here so special, turning the big windows into a seasonal TV show. Come in the summer to see the vines green and lush, coating the valley, or how about late September/early October, when the vineyard becomes a hive of harvesting activity? Even when the vines are bare in winter, the views over the valley are stunning – and all from the comfort of your own bed!

Visitors are encouraged to wander around the 75 acres of vines and winery buildings (within reason – there’s nothing worse than an irate vintner…) and soak up both the tranquility of quiet industry, and, of course, the wine itself. Tours of the site, complete with a tutored tasting are Three Choirs’ speciality, while the The Three Choirs shop is on hand for all your bulk-buying. But for the best opportunity to taste their wares, the fabulous restaurant offers a mouthwatering menu, alongside an unsurprisingly good wine list. Head chef, Darren Leonard, has devised a deliciously heart-warming menu of British dishes with a French twist, and a splurge of puddings to die for.

Where is it?

The Gloucestershire town of Newent lies in a crossroads between some of the most picturesque corners in the UK. The Forest of Dean, the Wye Valley and the Malvern Hills are all within spitting distance, and all great for exploring. Newent itself is an attractive market town, home to The Shambles (www.shamblesnewent.co.uk Tel: 01531 822144), Newent’s own preserved Victorian village, with cottages, houses, alleyways, streets, courtyards, shops and workshops, all stuck in a nineteenth-century timewarp.

But it’s the natural attractions of the area that are its main draw. The Wye Valley is an oft-overlooked, but beautiful part of the UK, that takes in pretty towns such as Ross-on-Wye and Hay (…on-Wye - you get the idea), rocky gorges and valleys and tranquil riverside walks. The dramatic Symonds Yat rock, 15 miles from Newent, and towering above the River Wye is one of the best spots to view Peregrine Falcons in the UK, usually between April and August, while the little village beneath it is the best place to hire canoes to explore the Wye and its exciting bends and not-too-scary rapids. The Wyedean Canoe and Adventure Centre (www.wyedean.co.uk Tel: 01594 833238) offers hire, tuition and a guide if you need one.

North of Newent are 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 bike hire is easy. Cycles Clements (www.cyclesclements.co.uk Tel: 01531 632213) in Ledbury, 8 miles from Three Choirs, offers year-round cycle hire.

Ledbury is 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.

Where can I eat?

The great restaurant at Three Choirs really is a no-brainer of an eating option. Not only is the food fantastic, but you’ll be within stumbling distance of your own bed after a bottle (or three) of Three Choirs’ finest.

If you’re looking for an alternative, however, The Lough Pool Inn (www.loughpool.co.uk Tel: 01989 730236) in Sellack, a twenty minute drive from Newent, is an uber-popular country pub that’s worth the drive. In pretty Herefordshire countryside, perfect for a post or pre-lunch walk) its simple, but vibrant menus have made The Lough Pool a real local favourite. For something a bit more sophisticated, The Malthouse (www.malthouse-ledbury.co.uk Tel: 01531 634443) in Ledbury (8 miles from Newent), is situated in a pretty converted barn and offers a mouthwatering menu with both British and Continental influences, using local and seasonal produce.

If you’re into a bit of picnicking, you can’t go wrong with Truffles Delicatessen (www.wyenot.com/truffles Tel: 01989 762336) in Ross-on-Wye, an amazing deli that sells everything from cheeses to medieval mead. Ask about their huge range of local produce if you really want to get down with the Herefordshire homies.

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The Three Choirs Vineyards in Gloucestershire – England’s leading single estate vineyard and award-winning winery is now the perfect luxury place to stay for the weekend.