Camping in Dilwyn

Dilwyn sits in classic rolling Herefordshire countryside, a patchwork of orchards, hopyards and pasture threaded by the Stretford Brook and, further north, the rivers Arrow and Lugg. It is gentle walking and cycling terrain rather than dramatic hill country, which suits relaxed, low-key camping trips built around exploring the Black and White Village Trail on quiet lanes rather than tackling serious ascents.

As with anywhere in England, wild camping is not legal here without the landowner's permission, so a pitch needs to be booked at a proper campsite, farm site or certified location. Herefordshire has a decent scatter of small, independent sites in this part of the county, often on working farms, offering a simple field pitch for a tent alongside hook-ups for tourers and motorhomes. Facilities tend to be straightforward rather than resort-style, in keeping with the quiet, rural character of the area.

Late spring through to early autumn is the best window for camping near Dilwyn, when the orchards are either in blossom or laden with fruit and the ground is driest underfoot. May brings the blossom, and with it some of the prettiest scenery on the whole trail, while September and October see the cider apple and perry pear harvest in full swing, with Dunkertons Cider Mill near Pembridge a good example of the traditional production still going on locally. Winter camping is possible but this is a wet, low-lying valley landscape, and conditions can turn heavy underfoot after rain.

For those who would rather have a roof and fewer guy ropes to worry about, glamping options such as shepherd's huts, safari tents and static bell tents crop up on farms across north-west Herefordshire, giving a similar sense of being out in the orchards and hopyards without needing to pitch a tent. These tend to book up in the busier blossom and harvest seasons, so it is worth planning ahead if a fixed date matters.