# Orcop Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Discover Orcop, a quiet Herefordshire hamlet near Hereford and the Wye Valley, famous for its oak-towered medieval church. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/orcop (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. Herefordshire's quiet oak-towered corner [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/restaurants) Orcop is a small hamlet in south Herefordshire, around eight and a half miles south of the city of Hereford, in the gently folded farmland that rises towards the Welsh border. It is a scatter of farms, cottages and a single celebrated church rather than a village with a high street, and that is very much the point of coming here: this is a corner of the county where sunken lanes, hedgerows and grazing land have changed little in centuries. The neighbouring settlement of Orcop Hill sits just to the south on higher ground, and together they give their name to the wider parish. The area sits within a landscape of red sandstone soil and orchard country that has long supported cider-making and mixed farming, with the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty beginning a short drive to the south-east around Ross-on-Wye and Symonds Yat. Hereford itself, with its cathedral and river, is close enough for an easy day out, while the Golden Valley and the Black Mountains lie to the west. It is a base for people who want genuine rural quiet, with the market towns and river scenery of the Wye Valley within easy reach. ## Getting to Orcop Orcop lies off minor lanes between Hereford and Monmouth, most easily reached via the B4347 or connecting lanes from the A466 or A49. There is no rail station in the hamlet itself; the nearest mainline station is Hereford, on the line between Newport and Shrewsbury/Manchester, with onward travel by car or taxi. Hereford is roughly a 20-30 minute drive away, and Ross-on-Wye a similar distance to the south-east. Given the network of narrow, hedge-lined lanes typical of this part of Herefordshire, a car is by far the easiest way to explore the area. ## Best time to visit Orcop Late spring through early autumn suits Orcop best, when the surrounding hedgerows, orchards and farmland are at their greenest and the country lanes are easiest to navigate. May and June bring blossom and long evenings; high summer is good for exploring the Wye Valley's river and outdoor attractions further afield. Autumn brings russet colour to the orchards and woodland, and cooler, quieter conditions for walking. Winter is very peaceful, though minor roads can be affected by mud, standing water or occasional frost, so a robust vehicle and warm layers are sensible if visiting out of season. ## Where to stay in Orcop [All hotels in Orcop →](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/hotels) About staying in Orcop Orcop is not a hotel destination in its own right, being a small rural hamlet without accommodation of its own, but it makes a peaceful base for exploring south Herefordshire if you are happy staying a short drive away in Hereford or Ross-on-Wye. Hereford offers a range of options from traditional coaching inns in the city centre to modern chain hotels near the ring road, all within easy reach of the cathedral, river and shops. Ross-on-Wye, a similarly short drive to the south-east, has smaller independent hotels and inns overlooking the River Wye, well placed for visiting Goodrich Castle and Symonds Yat. Both towns suit visitors who want a comfortable base with restaurants and amenities close by, while still being within twenty to thirty minutes of Orcop's quiet lanes and the wider Herefordshire countryside. Booking ahead is worthwhile in summer and around Hereford's cathedral events, though this corner of the county is generally far less pressured for accommodation than the honeypot towns further into the Wye Valley such as Symonds Yat or Monmouth. For longer stays, farmhouse bed and breakfasts and countryside inns scattered through the parishes around Orcop offer a more rural alternative, often with views over the orchards and grazing land that define this landscape. [Garway Moon Inn Garway Moon Inn, Hereford](https://staycation.co.uk/hereford/hotels/garway-moon-inn) [The Kilpeck Inn Castle Park, Hereford](https://staycation.co.uk/hereford/hotels/the-kilpeck-inn) [Harewood End Inn Harewood End, Hereford](https://staycation.co.uk/hereford/hotels/harewood-end-inn) [Pilgrim Hotel Ross Road, Much Birch](https://staycation.co.uk/much-birch/hotels/pilgrim-hotel) [The Bell At Skenfrith The Bell At Skenfrith, Skenfrith](https://staycation.co.uk/skenfrith/hotels/the-bell-at-skenfrith) [The New Inn The New Inn, Hereford](https://staycation.co.uk/hereford/hotels/the-new-inn) [Trelough House B&B Trelough House, Wormbridge](https://staycation.co.uk/wormbridge/hotels/trelough-house-b-b) [🏨Guest Accommodation Demesne Farm Guesthouse Demesne Farm, Monmouth](https://staycation.co.uk/monmouth/hotels/demesne-farm-guesthouse) ## Things to Do in Orcop [All attractions in Orcop →](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/attractions) Top things to do near Orcop Orcop itself is tiny, but it sits within comfortable reach of some of Herefordshire's best-known sights. - **St John the Baptist Church, Orcop** — the hamlet's own landmark, a part-Norman and 13th-century church famous for its unusual weatherboarded oak bell tower, raised on four huge oak posts that were once living tree trunks. It is known locally as the "Poets' Church" as the poet Frances Horovitz is buried in the churchyard. - **Hereford Cathedral** — the historic cathedral city is under half an hour away by car, home to the medieval Mappa Mundi and the chained library, plus a compact centre of shops, cafes and riverside walks along the Wye. - **Goodrich Castle** — a well-preserved red sandstone medieval castle managed by English Heritage, dramatically sited above a bend in the River Wye to the south-east near Ross-on-Wye. - **Symonds Yat** — a famous Wye Valley viewpoint and riverside village where the river loops beneath wooded limestone cliffs; popular for walking, canoeing and spotting peregrine falcons. - **Ross-on-Wye** — a handsome market town above a horseshoe bend in the river, with independent shops, riverside gardens and The Prospect, an 18th-century viewpoint over the Wye. - **Herefordshire's orchard and cider country** — the lanes around Orcop pass through classic Herefordshire orchard land, part of a county still known for traditional cider and perry production. [HS Activities ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/attractions/hs-activities) [🎟️Climbing & Bouldering Green Spider Climbing](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/attractions/green-spider-climbing) [🎟️Parks & Play Areas Haugh Woods Butterfly Trails](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/attractions/haugh-woods-butterfly-trails) [🎟️Parks & Play Areas The Herefordshire Trail](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/attractions/the-herefordshire-trail) [Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/attractions/wye-valley-butterfly-zoo) [The Viking Games ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/attractions/the-viking-games) [🎟️Parks & Play Areas Symonds Yat West Leisure Park](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/attractions/symonds-yat-west-leisure-park) [Goodrich Castle ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/attractions/goodrich-castle) ## Where to Eat in Orcop [All restaurants in Orcop →](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/restaurants) Food and drink near Orcop There is no pub or shop in Orcop itself, so most food and drink is found in the surrounding towns. Ross-on-Wye and Hereford both have a good spread of independent cafes, pubs and restaurants, and the wider area is known for traditional Herefordshire cider and perry, much of it still made on small local farms using orchard fruit grown in the fields around villages like Orcop. [Under the Nut Tree ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/restaurants/under-the-nut-tree) [The New Inn ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/restaurants/the-new-inn) [Pengethley Garden Centre ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/restaurants/pengethley-garden-centre) [1861 ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/restaurants/1861) [Kingstone Kafe ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/restaurants/kingstone-kafe) [🍽️Restaurant Golden Oldies @ Kingstone Village Hall ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/restaurants/golden-oldies-kingstone-village-hall) [The Potting Shed ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/restaurants/the-potting-shed) [Wye Adventures ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/restaurants/wye-adventures) ## Attractions Near Orcop [All attractions in Orcop →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Orcop. [4 mi HS Activities Hereford · ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/hereford/attractions/hs-activities) [🎟️Climbing & Bouldering 5 mi Green Spider Climbing Hereford](https://staycation.co.uk/hereford/attractions/green-spider-climbing) [🎟️Parks & Play Areas 5 mi Haugh Woods Butterfly Trails Hereford](https://staycation.co.uk/hereford/attractions/haugh-woods-butterfly-trails) [🎟️Parks & Play Areas 5 mi The Herefordshire Trail Hereford](https://staycation.co.uk/hereford/attractions/the-herefordshire-trail) [7 mi Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo Ross-on-Wye · ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/ross-on-wye/attractions/wye-valley-butterfly-zoo) [7 mi The Viking Games Hereford · ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/hereford/attractions/the-viking-games) [🎟️Parks & Play Areas 7 mi Symonds Yat West Leisure Park Ross-on-Wye](https://staycation.co.uk/ross-on-wye/attractions/symonds-yat-west-leisure-park) [7 mi Goodrich Castle Ross-on-Wye · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/ross-on-wye/attractions/goodrich-castle) ## Camping in Orcop [All campsites in Orcop →](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/camping) About camping in Orcop Orcop sits in classic Herefordshire farmland, a landscape of small fields, orchards, hedgerows and sunken lanes rather than open moor or coast, so camping here means gentle countryside pitches rather than dramatic wilderness. As in the rest of England, wild camping without the landowner's permission is not legal, so campers should stick to licensed campsites, certified sites, or land where the farmer or landowner has given clear consent. Fortunately this part of Herefordshire, along with the nearby Wye Valley around Ross-on-Wye and Symonds Yat, has a good spread of small farm-based campsites and certified sites suited to tents, campervans and caravans. The terrain is mostly gently rolling farmland on red sandstone soil, dropping towards the River Wye to the south and east and rising towards the Golden Valley and Black Mountains to the west, so pitches tend to be sheltered rather than exposed, with plenty of mature trees and hedges for shade and windbreak. Ground can be soft after wet weather given the clay-heavy soils typical of the county, so late spring to early autumn is the most reliable camping season, with midsummer offering the longest days for exploring the Wye Valley's river and walking routes. Many local sites are small, family-run affairs on working farms, which suits the quiet character of the area far better than a large holiday park. For those who prefer a roof over their head without giving up the outdoor feel, glamping has grown steadily across Herefordshire, with shepherd's huts, safari tents and wooden pods available on farms within a short drive of Orcop, several with views over orchards or the Wye Valley's wooded hills. These tend to book up well ahead for summer weekends. Whichever way you camp, this is a good area for stargazing and birdsong rather than facilities and entertainment, best suited to visitors happy with a simple, peaceful rural stay and their own transport to explore Hereford, Ross-on-Wye and the river beyond. [Burhope Farm Campsite ⭐ 4.6 · from £44/night](https://staycation.co.uk/hereford/camping/burhope-farm-campsite) [Trippenkennett Farm ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/hereford/camping/trippenkennett-farm) [Meredith Farm Camping Certificated Site ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/llancloudy/camping/meredith-farm-camping-certificated-site) [Three Castles Country Caravan Park ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/glamorgan/camping/three-castles-country-caravan-park) [Three Castles Caravan Park ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/abergavenny/camping/three-castles-caravan-park) [Old Forest Farm Getaway ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/hay-on-wye/camping/old-forest-farm-getaway) [Tresseck Campsite ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/herefordshire/camping/tresseck-campsite) [Red Lion Pub and Gardens ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/ross-on-wye/camping/red-lion-pub-and-gardens) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Orcop [All cottages in Orcop →](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/cottages) [🏡Cottage Palace Farmhouse 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £736](https://staycation.co.uk/herefordshire/cottages/palace-farmhouse-syk1122446) [🏡Cottage Palace Studio 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £275](https://staycation.co.uk/herefordshire/cottages/palace-studio-syk1123809) [🏡Cottage Mount Pleasant 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £1,191](https://staycation.co.uk/herefordshire/cottages/mount-pleasant-uk35635) [🏡Cottage Palace Bungalow 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £411](https://staycation.co.uk/herefordshire/cottages/palace-bungalow-syk1123808) [🏡Cottage Merryview Bungalow 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £323](https://staycation.co.uk/herefordshire/cottages/merryview-bungalow-ukc1202) [🏡Cottage Rose Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £401](https://staycation.co.uk/herefordshire/cottages/rose-cottage-syk1158594) [🏡Cottage Teal Barn Annexe 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £358](https://staycation.co.uk/herefordshire/cottages/teal-barn-annexe-syk933878) [Velindra Farm Cottage 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £731](https://staycation.co.uk/herefordshire/cottages/velindra-farm-cottage-syk1192441) ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Orcop Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DOrcop%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Orcop - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/orcop/restaurants) ## Staycation ideas for Orcop [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)