The Forge, Herefordshire

Canoeing - Wye Valley Canoe Centre, www.wyevalleycanoes.co.uk, Glasbury-on-Wye, Hereford Tel: 01497 847213. A must on a nice day with beautiful black mountain scenery all around. Costs variable and depending on how far you go. Lots of picnic spots along the way.
Flying Lessons - Shobdon Airfield 01568 708369. About 5 miles away - adventure for those who love the skies with helicopter, glider or aeroplane lessons.
Golf - Kington Golf Club, Kington 01544 231320. This golf course will simply take your breath away. Views of 7 counties from the highest golf club in England; and also some fairly strenuous walking over hilly terrain. Buggies can be hired. Hazards include gorse, bracken and marauding sheep. Green fee approximately £23. Tee times can be booked in advance www.migc.co.uk/kington_golf_club.html
Hiking - Offas Dyke Path 01547 528753 Loads of fabulous walking all around us including Offas Dyke. www.offas-dyke.co.uk
Karting - Border Kart Racing, Presteigne 01544 327006. Great fun on the go-karts around a well organised track. www.kinsham-raceway.co.uk
Mountain Biking - Clive Powell, Rhayader. 01597-811343 Guiding and rental in seriously steep and beautiful terrain www.clivepowell-mtb.co.uk
Mountain Biking and Bike Hire - Mountain biking: Wheely Wonderful Cycling, Eltham, Near Leintwardine 01568- 770755. More local rental with guidance on routes - friendly folk. www.wheelywonderfulcycling.co.uk
Mountain Boarding - Tillington, 04132-760261 www.courtfarmleisure.co.uk Good fun for winter snowboarders, pros and beginners alike (take out insurance!)
Oaker Leisure - Kingsland 01547530711 www.owlactivities.co.uk. wonderful woodland adventure land for kids and adults alike, including quadbiking, paintballing, clay pigeon shooting, abseiling, rope climbing, rafting, borneo breakout, low ropes, high ropes in 175 acres of Herefordshire woods. 15 minutes away this is a wonderful day, or half day's entertainment for mature groups, family groups or kids.
Quad Biking - Trace and Vicky Phillips, Hillbrook, Craswall, Longtown, Herefordshire, HR2 0PH 01873 860291 A longish drive but through beautiful countryside and well worth the journey. www.mountainmayhem.com
Rally - Phil Price Rally School, Knighton 01547-550300 Excellent off-road rally training www.philprice.co.uk
Riding - www.tregoydriding.co.uk - situated at Glasbury just the other side of Hay-on-Wye and very close to the canoeing start point if you wanted to try to combine the two activities 01497 847351
Shooting - Griffin-Lloyd Shooting Ground, Knighton 01547-550634 Clay pidgeon ground www.griffinlloyd.co.uk
Swimming/Gym/Squash - East Radnor Leisure Centre, Broadaxe Lane,. Presteigne, Powys, LD8 2AY 01544 260302 Well heated indoor pool - call for timings. They also have a ball park for kids, gym and further squash courts
Or The Burton Hotel in Kington which has a indoor pool, hot-tub, sauna, sunbeds, steam room and a huge gym. £15 for a day's entry.. The hotel itself is in need of an uplift, but the brand new leisure centre is very well appointed. www.hotelherefordshire.co.uk/leisurecentre.html.
Tennis - Leominster Leisure Centre, Bridge Street, Leominster 01568 612540 Indoor and outdoor tennis courts www.herefordshire.gov.uk

GARDENS, HOUSES and LOCAL THINGS TO DO
Black and White Village Tour - A wonderful tour of all our local black and white timbered and unspoilt villages, including Lyonshall, Pembridge, Eardisland, Weobley etc. Eardisland - Award-winning “Prettiest Village”; Weobley - an extraordinary variety of medieval buildings; Pembridge - don't miss the Market Square and detached Church bell tower; Eardisley - with its giant oak tree; Dilwyn - with its village green surrounded by cottages. Add Kinnersley and Sarnesfield, Lyonshall and Kingsland - and, of course, the two market towns of Kington and Leominster - and you have the key elements of the now famous Black and White Village Trail www.lyonshall-village.fsnet.co.uk/home.htm will give you some historic information about our own little village
Croft Castle - Mortimers Cross 01568 780246 Beautiful National Trust 17th Century Stone manor house with lovely gardens Open Wednesday to Sunday April to September and Saturday Sunday otherwise. www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_midlands/137/croftcastle.htm
Eastnor Castle Ledbury 01531-633160 Medieval Castle with lots to do! www.eastnorcastle.com
Hampton Court - Hope under Dinmore 01568-797777 www.hamptoncourt.org.uk A castle on the meadows of the river Lugg, backed by a steep wooded escarpment and surrounded by woodland and grounds of 1,000 acres. Founded by King Henry in the early 15th century the castle has been completely restored and the Van Kampen gardens now gaining national acclaim.
Hergest Croft, Kington - 01544 230160 www.hergest.co.uk Beautiful rhododendron and azalea woods in late spring and Acers in autumn. Described as 'one of the finest collections of trees and shrubs in Britain', the gardens are sure to delight everyone.
The Amazing Hedge Puzzle- Symonds Yat 01600 890360 www.mazes.co.uk Ever since it was planted 25 years ago by brothers Lindsay and Edward Heyes, the fun of the amazing Hedge Puzzle has made it Herefordshires most popular private tourist attraction.