Bishop's Frome: Church, Hop Growing and Paths along the River Frome

Bishop's Frome combines visible village history with paths through the countryside along the River Frome and reminders of the former importance of hop growing. This creates a varied mix for planning your trip: you can discover historic details, plan a walk or schedule a visit with a tour and tasting. The community shop is also part of the local character and complements the attractions with an everyday perspective.

Church of St Mary and the history of hops

Only the chancel arch and the south doorway remain from the original Church of St Mary, dating from the late 12th century. The lower parts of the tower date from around 1300. Anyone interested in church architecture and older village history can identify several historical building phases in these architectural elements.

Bishops Frome once played an important role in the hop harvest. At the beginning of the last century, the village's population rose from 700 to 5,000 people during the hop harvest. This historical dimension makes the hop industry a defining theme of the place. The Hop Pocket Shopping Village also houses a “Year of the Hop” museum, presented by the Bromyard and District Historical Society. It offers another way to access this regional history.

River landscape and different paths

If you would like to include some activity in your stay, the Herefordshire Trail provides clear guidance: from Bishops Frome, it crosses the River Frome and leads to the steep Fromes Hill. The route therefore combines a riverside landscape with a notable ascent. When planning your day, bear in mind that the path does not only follow the water but also continues to Fromes Hill.

Another option is the circular walk from The Hop Pocket Shopping Village. It follows a riverside footpath to the church of Bishops Frome and the village playground. This allows you to combine an outing with several different stops. When planning, you can choose between the longer route with the steep Fromes Hill and the circular walk featuring a riverside section, church and playground, depending on which focus better suits your day of travel.

Tours, tastings and choosing your accommodation

Frome Valley Vineyard lies in a bend of the River Frome and offers tours and tastings. From April to September, the vineyard is open for these activities; participation is by booking through the website or by telephone arrangement. If you would like to include this experience in your plans, it should therefore be incorporated into your travel arrangements at an early stage. The seasonal opening creates a different emphasis from a spontaneous walk through the village or along the river.

When searching for holiday accommodation in Bishop's Frome, you can use your preferred way of structuring your day as a starting point. For a cultural stay, Church of St Mary and the “Year of the Hop” museum are the main attractions. If you prefer to be out and about, plan the Herefordshire Trail, Fromes Hill or the circular walk along the River Frome. Tours and tastings at Frome Valley Vineyard, on the other hand, are tied to the period from April to September and require advance booking.

If you would like to compare other places, you can find Whitestone, Eardisland, Lugwardine, Upper Sapey, Ross-On-Wye, Pontrilas, Madley and Middleton on the Hill here.

For the higher-level travel overview: County Of Herefordshire.