Peterstow

Peterstow is a small village and civil parish in Herefordshire, tucked into gently rolling farmland about two miles west of Ross-on-Wye on the old road towards Hereford. At its heart lies a large grassy common, open to all, dotted with mature deciduous trees and ringed by a scattering of cottages, farmhouses and newer homes. It is the kind of place that rewards those who slow down: no grand attractions, just a genuinely rural corner of the Wye Valley where orchards, hedgerows and the river landscape are never far away.

The village takes its name from its parish church, St Peter's, which stands down a quiet lane north of the common in a peaceful, tree-shaded churchyard. Herefordshire's cider-making tradition runs deep here too: Peterstow is home to Broome Farm, base of the Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Company, whose sixty-five acres of biodiverse orchards are managed without pesticides or artificial fertiliser and produce some of the county's best-regarded cider and perry. With Ross-on-Wye, the southern gateway to the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so close by, Peterstow makes a quiet base from which to explore one of England's loveliest river valleys.

Top things to do in Peterstow

Peterstow itself is tiny, so most days out combine a wander around the village with trips into Ross-on-Wye and the wider Wye Valley. Here are the best of what is genuinely on offer.

• Broome Farm & the Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Company — Explore sixty-five acres of working orchards, join a guided tasting tour, or simply follow the self-guided Broome Farm Orchard Walk through the trees.
• St Peter's Church — A small parish church with Norman origins and 13th- to 15th-century features, restored by the noted Victorian architect Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1865–66 and now doubling as the village hall.
• Peterstow Common — The open grassy heart of the village, shaded by mature trees and a pleasant spot to stretch your legs or let children run around.
• The Yew Tree Inn — The village pub, a short walk from the bus stop and a natural stop-off at the start or end of the Orchard Walk.
• Ross-on-Wye — Two miles east, this handsome market town has a red sandstone church spire, a riverside prospect over the Wye, independent shops and cafes, and is the traditional starting point for exploring the Wye Valley.
• Wye Valley walking and canoeing — The River Wye loops close to Ross-on-Wye, and the valley beyond is popular for canoe trips, riverside walks and views towards Symonds Yat.

Getting to Peterstow

Peterstow sits directly on the A49 between Ross-on-Wye and Hereford, roughly two miles from Ross and around twelve miles from Hereford, making it an easy drive from both. The M50 is a few minutes away at Ross-on-Wye, connecting to the M5 near Tewkesbury, so the village is accessible from the Midlands, South Wales and the South West without much difficulty. There is a regular local bus service passing through Peterstow linking it to Ross, Hereford and Gloucester, with a stop close to the common and the Yew Tree Inn. The nearest mainline railway station is Hereford, which has services on the Welsh Marches Line towards Shrewsbury and Manchester, and towards Newport and Cardiff, plus direct trains to Birmingham and London Paddington via Newport.

Best time to visit Peterstow

Late spring and summer are the classic times to visit, when the orchards at Broome Farm are in leaf, the common is at its greenest, and long days suit walking and canoeing along the Wye. Blossom season in April and early May brings a particularly pretty display across the orchard landscape that defines this part of Herefordshire. Autumn has its own appeal for cider country: this is harvest and pressing season at the Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Company, and the Wye Valley's wooded slopes turn to classic autumn colour. Winter is quiet, but the village and its church make a peaceful stop for anyone touring rural Herefordshire out of season.

Where to stay in Peterstow

Peterstow itself has no hotels, but Broome Farm offers bed and breakfast accommodation and cabins set among its orchards, alongside its well-known campsite. For a wider choice of hotels, guesthouses and self-catering cottages, Ross-on-Wye, two miles away, has options to suit most budgets, from traditional coaching inns to riverside guesthouses, with Hereford offering further choice a short drive north.

Food and drink in Peterstow

The village's own options are refreshingly simple: the Yew Tree Inn serves as the local pub, and Broome Farm's shop and tasting room let visitors sample the Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Company's ciders and perries straight from the source, alongside its cafe for those visiting the orchards. There is also a village stores and post office serving day-to-day essentials. For a larger choice of restaurants, cafes and pubs, Ross-on-Wye's town centre is only a few minutes away by car or bus.