If you're going to stay in cider country, then what could be better than glamping in a orchard? Almost half of the UK's apples are used in the brewing of cider nowadays and, here in East Herefordshire, you needn't travel far in summer to find apple pickers busy harvesting their fruit. Not that it's anything new. When Caesar invaded England in 55BCE, he discovered ancient Celts sipping on a sweet and pungent crab apple brew and it wasn't long before the Roman troops were shipping the stuff back home. Even in Rome they were celebrating the Herefordshire apple harvest.
Nestled on the edge of a small orchard of pear and apple trees, the three bell tents at Perry Tree Glamping offer a homely window into the scenic, cidery world of rural Herefordshire today. In late spring, the organic trees form a bright, humming backdrop of pretty apple blossom tended by busy bumble bees, while summer brings the full fruit itself, dangling appetisingly from the branches. The bell tents, meanwhile, pitched on raised, flat bases, look not in towards the trees, but out and over the hedgerows to the countryside beyond, while hammocks, suspended between tree trunks provide an extra spot for kicking back and taking in the view.
The decision to keep the glamping site to just three bell tents affords ample privacy and gives it all a rather exclusive feel. It's matched, of course, by some of the luxuries involved. Inside, the bell tents have proper double beds, wood-burning stoves and the obligatory dressing of fairy lights and bunting, while, outside, the facilities – toilets, showers and an area for your campfire – still ensure it all has an outdoorsy, 'camping' ambience. Belinda the donkey, who chomps her way through the adjacent field certainly approves. She's also a big fan of all the new found attention.
If you're not sampling local tipple on one of the nearby cider tours, then walking in the Mendip Hills or touring the historic towns – the timbered buildings of Ledbury or the grand cathedrals of Hereford and Worcester – is always a safe bet to occupy your time. Perry Tree Glamping also welcomes you to bring your bikes along so that you can really explore the area. Bring your wicker, handle-bar basket and you can even stock up on local goods, cider and crab apple jelly along the way. After all, when in Rome...