Cycling UK Forum

I'm leading a couple of day rides soon, based on Ledbury.
Does anyone know of any good cyclist-friendly tea shops between Hereford and Ross on Wye?
I've seen on the Cyclists' cafe website a mention of the Bottle Museum Cafe at Weston's in Much Marcle but can't find any others, preferably away from the A49 area.

Hopefully the CTC-friendly cafe in Upton on Severn will be open on the Sunday and we'll probably want another cupa around Malvern.

Any ideas gratefully received.

By the way, I have trawled through the listings on the Tea Shop section, but nowt in the area.

Ta.

Towards the west (Malvern) side of Herefordshire, try Bonne Bouche in Colwall, The Kettle Sings on Jubilee Drive (just on the west side of the ridge), Queen Anne's Tea Room (if you are feeling particularly adventurous and are happy with an impossibly steep stretch of tarmac). In Ledbury you are spoilt for choice. I'd go for Miss Muffins (toeards the church) but there are plenty more. More towards Ross, you can always pop into The 3 Shires Garden Centre (On the B4216 north of Newent, but I think the name might have changed).

"Queen Anne's Cafe" is at St. Anne's Well, above the A429/B4211 junction. It's vegetarian, or was last time I went in. The path/road up is 20% ish.
At Weston's cider, the cafe is furthest from the entrance - there's a restaurant as well
Newent garden centre & cafe is at the B4216/A449 roundabout, on the SW side of Newent, not north. I generally use one of the cafes in the middle.


Other places I've used:

Verzon's garden centre, on A438 about 1km E of Trumpet
Craft centre, just S of Bishop's Frome (not open Sunday iirc)
Newent town, possibly not Sunday
Garden centre on B4215 N of Newent
Huntley garden centre (by church, off A40 just W of Huntley)
Craft centre, off A4136 between Longhope and Micheldean
at the campsite at SO645184, just north of Drybrook
Ross
garden centre at Three Ashes, B4521 SO510227
Bromyard

[quote="andrew_s]Craft centre, just S of Bishop's Frome (not open Sunday iirc)[/quote]
Oh yes it is. The Hop Pocket http://www.thehoppocket.com/

In Great Malvern, the railway station has a nice little tea room with decent cakes etc. Just wheel your bikes onto the platform and you will see the cafe towards one end.

Outside Upton on Severn there's Clive's Fruit Farm at grid ref 843407, a bit draughty if the weather is bad.

Not tea rooms, I know, and they might have changed from a few years back, but I like The Cottage of Content at Carey, and The Ancient Camp at Ruckhall. Both lovely in their own way.

I suspect that they might have gone a bit gastro or b and b now, but to have tea, or scrumpy, on a summer's evening overlooking the Wye from Ruckhall is superb.

Folks, thanks for the replies and suggestions.

Ross Garden Centre, Three Ashes looks a likely candidate for the Saturday ride, heading SW from Ledbury.

Clive's Fruit Farm near Upton looks a good one for the Sunday ride too.

As mentioned, either Verzon Fruit Farm or The Hop Pocket will do for the short Monday ride.

We called at The Kettle Sings last October and arrived pretty hot and sweaty, which didn't seem to be much appreciated by the clientele there, although we did sit out on the terrace.

I can't seem to locate Queen Anne's Cafe that is mentioned. Googling it comes up with either Edinburgh or Seattle.
A bit far for a day ride, methinks.

I'm quite keen to try the cafe at Weston's, although how our group of 15 or so will cope if they sample too much cider.....

We called in at Westons after a good days ride around the area. I ordered a pint of "special" but It was "accidently" drunk by an older lady in the group thinking it was for her.
Wobbly all the way back to base.
Fred West was born in Much Marcle.

fausto copy wrote:I can't seem to locate Queen Anne's Cafe that is mentioned.

That's because the name is wrong. It is St Ann's Well Cafe http://www.hillsarts.co.uk/stannswell/

Aha, gottit now, thanks.
Although, just looked at the link and it seems it may not be open due to trying to evict current proprietor.

Have been searching website all afternoon and it looks like Pengethley Garden Centre is favourite for Saturday now,
assuming we can negotiate a bit of the A49 safely.

The Garden centre mentioned in previous posts at Three Ashes also seems to have been "mis-named".
I think it's actually Newlands Garden Centre and it's not conclusive whether they actually have a cafe.

I've located quite a few other caffs but they seem to be just a little beyond our boundary.

The railway station at Gt. Malvern sounds an interesting one though, especially as we have a railway enthusiast amongst our midst.

Thanks tata and
ta-ta.

andrew_s wrote:Ross
garden centre at Three Ashes, B4521 SO510227

meant
cafes in Ross (various)
garden centre cafe at Three Ashes, grid ref SO 510 227 (here)

OK Andrew, thanks for clarification.
As mentioned, wasn't sure if they had a cafe but will suss it out on way over to Ledbury.
Could be better option than one on the A49.
Cheers (tea only!).

Just out of interest, as you appear to be a local....
I've read somewhere that there are a couple of cycleable paths through the private Eastnor Estate.
I can't locate any public bridlepaths on my OS maps.
Have you managed to find any routes on your travels?

fausto copy wrote:cycleable paths through the private Eastnor Estate.

Try asking here http://www.worcesterctc.co.uk/contactus.php
There is a Ledbury CTC group but I have no contact details.

The only track I've ridden through the deer park goes from the A449 grid ref 757402 to the A438 grid ref 733373. I've used it in the north to south direction (down hill).

The cafe on Great Malvern station is shown here http://www.worcestershiretouristguides. ... m_1859.asp and here http://www.ctc-maps.org.uk/cyclists_wel ... shment/357

fausto copy wrote:Just out of interest, as you appear to be a local....
I've read somewhere that there are a couple of cycleable paths through the private Eastnor Estate.
I can't locate any public bridlepaths on my OS maps.
Have you managed to find any routes on your travels?

I've used this track a few times, including club rides: googlemap
I don't think it's a right of way, but nobody has objected.
It's probably best done north to south, as (a) it's downhill, (b) it's just follow your nose, without much chance of getting on the wrong route, and (c) there's no keep out sign, which there may be at the south end.
It's perfectly rideable on 25mm road tyres, but can get muddy patches in the northern section.

Thanks once more.
I''d spotted the track you both mention, but don't think I'll be heading that way.

Bit miffed about the station cafe as it's closed on Sunday's and that's when I was hoping to do that route.