The Riverside at Aymestrey is a 16th-century traditional inn, located on the southern edge of Mortimer Forest near Leominster in Herefordshire.
Each room is individually furnished, with some featuring 400-year-old exposed beams. One room is said to be charmingly haunted by the friendly lady from the river. The suites are spacious and include a sitting room and an en suite bedroom. The Hayloft Suite overlooks the river and opens onto the ornamental terrace gardens, offering breathtaking views of the valley. The Stable Suite, which opens onto the courtyard, is ideal for guests with reduced mobility. Many of the rooms overlook the River Lugg and the surrounding Aymestrey countryside, and each is equipped with a flat-screen TV, Noble Isle toiletries, and homemade biscuits.
Breakfast is freshly prepared to order, using locally sourced ingredients, including freshly laid eggs from the village—an essential component of the inn’s signature scrambled eggs recipe.
The bar and restaurant maintain a traditional and welcoming atmosphere, featuring log fires, candles, oak beams, exposed brick, and stonework, with hops adding a rustic charm. When the weather permits, guests can dine by the river or in the terrace garden, with a kitchen garden nearby, which visitors are encouraged to explore. The inn serves hand-pulled real ales from Cleobury Mortimer and Stoke Lacey, as well as cider from Tenbury Wells and Leominster.
Committed to supporting local producers, The Riverside at Aymestrey sources ingredients from North Herefordshire, the Welsh Border, and South Shropshire farms. The kitchen team regularly forages in the meadows, hedgerows, and riverbanks for wild garlic, elderflower, nettles, and other seasonal ingredients, incorporating them into the menu.
The surrounding area offers a variety of circular walking routes, ranging from 3 to 15 miles. One of the most popular trails leads to an Iron Age Hill Fort before continuing to Croft Castle, which boasts 1,000 years of history. For those seeking a longer adventure, a two-to-three-day walk from Ludlow to Kington showcases some of the most stunning views in Herefordshire.
Using The Riverside Inn as a base, visitors can explore five golf courses, the Black and White Village Trail, Ludlow, Hereford, historic houses and gardens, heritage sites, breweries, cider presses, cheesemakers, visitor centres, and country parks.
