Lyonshall House perfectly combines Victorian grandeur with C21st facilities in the secluded Herefordshire countryside. As well as being the perfect place for self-catering groups this is an exciting venue for small wedding parties, golden wedding celebrations, university reunions and family get-togethers where guests can make the most of the outdoor heated pool, the huge garden, the squash court, as well as all the indoor facilities.

How does one begin to describe the ultimate in self-catering? No faded curtains and half finished decor. No compromise on room size. No problem with bathroom space or hot water. No concessions on modern facilities such as TVs, DVDs and computers. The house provides the most comfortable, spacious and relaxing environment for self-catering luxury, or for an exclusive corporate retreat. Each of our eight bedrooms has its own bathroom, some with roll top baths, some with showers and some with both.

All our walls are adorned with fantastic art produced by local artists. The art is all for sale and we would encourage our guests to look around each and every room to see local talent at its best from the very figurative to large abstract canvasses.

Bedrooms
All bedrooms have TV; and independent kitchen areas. All beds are pocket sprung and have 100% Egyptian cotton sheets, with king or superking duvets. On the lower ground and ground floor the heating is underfloor and on the first floor stunning black Italian radiators. All bathrooms have modern taps. If there is no shower in the bathroom then there is also a bath shower-head. Towels provided are all bath sheet size.

Bedroom 1 - Kingsize double with mezzanine with 3 full sized singles (bath)
Bedroom 2 - Kingsize double with mezzanine with 1 full size single (bath and shower)
Bedroom 3 - Twin (bath and shower)
Bedroom 4 - Superking double (bath)
Bedroom 5 - Kingsize double (bath and shower)
Bedroom 6 - Superking double (shower)
Bedroom 7 - Superking double with bed on mezzanine (bath, wetroom and dressing area)
Bedroom 8 - Kingsize double on mezzanine; single bed downstairs, large studio apartment with kitchen and sitting room (shower room)

Other Rooms
There are 3 distinctive living areas in the house so whilst the whole party can eat together at any, or every, meal there is also the facility for each area to cater for themselves for breakfast, lunch, tea or dinner with four separate kitchens. The kitchens are sleek and smart with all the mod cons and each of the four living areas has TV, DVD cinema surround sound and stereo system. Sky Plus is available in two of the sitting rooms and can be fed back to the bedrooms. There is also an X-box with a few games.

The Parley
The largest of the three living areas  has 6 bedrooms all with en-suites. The marble hallway, with a family suite either side, leads into a large sitting area, that is completely glass fronted onto the courtyard. The two family rooms have mezzanine floors - one with an additional four beds in two separate areas and one with an additional two beds and an enormous adjoining bathroom. This bathroom also has a TV with DVD and video player.

The sitting room at the top of the hallway has a hole-in-the-wall fire and some sink-into sofas with TV and X-box. Some double doors open into the huge dining area and chill zone/cinema. The chandelliered dining room can be cleared and used for large dinner parties of up to 40, otherwise it can seat 16 or more around a single round and expandable table. There is a computer for our guests use and full broadband connection with a wireless router.

A second sitting room is situated in the old tack room with all the original boards on the wall. This houses a second Sky Plus TV so that those who want to settle down to afternoon sport can leave the kids to watch the big screen next door. Two bedrooms are accessed from this tack room sitting room via a dining area. The other two bedrooms are accessed via the main sitting dining room. Both pairs of bedrooms have additional catering facilities; one with a full kitchen/diner and one with a kitchenette area.

The Discourse
This was originally stables for up to 6 horses and is now an enormous open plan room with kitchen and dining table one end (seating up to 40) and comfortable seating and Plasma TV/DVD cinema at the other.

The bedroom lies in the old carriage room. This spectacular room has a roll top bath on a mezzanine floor with a wonderful round window looking out onto mature trees. There is a wetroom and dressing room beneath the balcony as well as a day-bed on the mezzanine.

Rosemary’s Garden
The final apartment  is accessed through the main dining room and along the long terrace. This is a compact but private apartment with quirky charm. The bed on the gallery looks out through a round window onto the walled garden. The French windows below directly access the terrace from a large sitting and dining area. There is a large shower room and a similar size glossy red kitchen with all the mod cons.

A large boiler room provides communal washing and drying facilities. The central heating is gas and the water is from a mains water supply.

Outside
The one hectare walled garden was built in the early 1800s and is a safe-haven for families as it is enclosed and gated on all sides. A well-lit long terrace runs along the south side of the Stables – a perfect spot for an evening drink – with a larger dining terrace and brazier style barbequeues situated adjacent to the pool area.

A shared swimming pool can be used privately for your group during mutually agreed periods daily (usually between 10am and 12pm daily). The Squash court has its own WC and washing facilities. Rackets, balls and shoes are provided. Our hot tub, sauna and health room can be found in the Old Potting Shed near the car-parking area. All these facilities may be used free of charge by any of our guests however, you may have to book a slot for some of the above. The Potting Shed is a self-contained, heated area. There are also changing rooms for the outdoor swimming pool which is open between May and end of September. Our swimming pool is fenced off for children’s safety and is open between 9am and 8pm daily.

*Please note, locations shown on the maps are approximations only

Local Activities
Art - Old Chapel Gallery has become recognised as a centre of excellence for the arts, where work by both reputable local and nationally known artists and makers can be seen alongside innovative work by talented newcomers. The emphasis is on quality and originality, from glass, ceramics, jewellery, iron-work, sculpture, furniture, to textiles and knitwear and a diverse range of original watercolours, oils, pastels, etchings and aquatints.

Canoeing – Wye Valley Canoe Centre. 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 about 5 miles away - adventure for those who love the skies with helicopter, glider or aeroplane lessons.

Golf – Kington Golf Club. 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.

Hiking – Offas Dyke Path. Loads of fabulous walking all around us including Offas Dyke.

Karting – Border Kart Racing. Great fun on the go-karts around a well organised track.

Mountain Biking – Clive Powell, Rhayader. Guiding and rental in seriously steep and beautiful terrain. Wheely Wonderful Cycling, Eltham, Near Leintwardine. More local rental with guidance on routes.

Oaker Leisure - Kingsland. Wonderful woodland adventure land for kids and adults alike, including quadbiking, paintballing, clay pigeon shooting, abseiling, rope climbing, rafting, borneo breakout, low 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 –  A longish drive but through beautiful countryside and well worth the journey.

Rally – Phil Price Rally School, Knighton. Excellent off-road rally training.

Riding – 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.

Shooting – Griffin-Lloyd Shooting Ground, Knighton. Clay pidgeon ground.

Squash Coaching - We have an affiliated coach who will come out over the weekend and help you with your game, or start novices from scratch. Can provide rackets and balls and coaching in groups or on a one to one basis at a price of £20 per hour.

Swimming/Gym/Squash – East Radnor Leisure Centre, Presteigne. Well heated indoor pool. They also have a ball park for kids, gym and further squash courts. The Burton Hotel in Kington has a indoor pool, hot-tub, sauna, sunbeds, steam room and a huge gym.  £15 for a day's entry.

Tennis – Leominster Leisure Centre, Leominster. Indoor and outdoor tennis courts.

Pubs and Restaurants
The Bell Inn - Yarpole.  Really good new pub restaurant with friendly service and a good menu. Owned by renowned French chef Claude Bosi, this gastro-pub is well worth a visit.

Boat Inn - Whitney on Wye. Good food with a lovely view onto the River Wye.

Bridge Inn - Michaelchurch Escley. A good pit stop on the way to walking in the black mountains.

The Clive -Ludlow. Used to be excellent food as The Cook House.

The Drawing Room - This a real jewel of a restaurant run by husband and wife team.  It is a 40 minute drive over the border into Wales just beyond Builth. Lovely food, and they serve a great Kir Royale.

Emily's Tea Rooms & Restaurant, Presteigne. This is a lovely small establishment to grab a cup of delicious tea (of which they hold many varieties of Chinese, Indian and Green) and cake, having visited the Judge's Lodgings and wandered round the pretty border town of Presteigne. Or otherwise they serve delicious dinners in the evening.

The Royal George, Lyonshall - a 2 mile walk across the fields to a very welcoming family pub with good home cooking and a fire usually burning in the hearth.

Hibiscus - Ludlow. One of the best of the Ludlow Foodie Cluster.

Royal Oak - Gladestry. A bracing 4 mile walk over Hergest Ridge from Kington brings you to this quirky Welsh pub with standard pub food.

Stagg Inn - Titley. We are very lucky to have this wonderful Michelin starred pub within walking distance and would definitely recommend a visit during your stay.

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.

Bryans Ground – Presteigne. Lovely interesting garden with wonderful yew hedging. Only open at certain times or by appointment

Croft Castle – Mortimers Cross. Beautiful National Trust 17th Century Stone manor house with lovely gardens Open Wednesday to Sunday April to September and Saturday Sunday.

Eastnor Castle Ledbury. Medieval Castle with lots to do!

Hampton Court – Hope under Dinmore. 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 – 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. Ever since it was planted 25 years ago by brothers Lindsay and Edward Heyes, the fun of the Amazing Hedge Puzzle has made it Herefordshire's most popular private tourist attraction.

Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo, Symonds. Experience the delight of nature's most serene and beautiful wildlife. At the Bufferfly Zoo you can walk with free flying exotic butterflies and see them supping nectar, finding their mates and laying eggs.

Catering – If you want to take the hassle out of catering then we can provide a series of different options. Our two main listed below caterers will need plenty of notice as they get booked up well in advance.

James Moss lives on site and is a professional chef in a local gastro-pub. With his partner Bev who is also your on site housekeeper they can provide you with a fully serviced evening, or alternatively James can supply you with a simple drop off meal such as Lasagne and salad; Thai Chicken Curry and Basmati rice, or perhaps a Boeuf Bourguignonne.

Eddie Cleal at Rococo Catering has also recently done some work for us and can supply a very good standard of food and the again waitresses and staff.

Tapas Delivery - you might like to consider a full tapas drop. We tried them for our huge family Christmas - 28 of us, and found them to be totally delicious. These Tapas Boxes bring together selections of (chilled) cold and hot (frozen) Tapas, that are authentic, exclusive and developed to treasured family recipes.  They can be delivered to the property.

Andrew Darwin Fine Wines. A great selection of wines from the old world and the new. He lives so locally he can probably drop something off for you at any time (within reason!).

Beautician - My Personal Sanctuary can provide you with as many treatments as you require. The fully qualified and insured staff are at hand for delivering a Beautiful Relaxed Cosy Day in the Country.

Ice Sculpture - Eddy and Tania Morris will create some wonderful ice sculptures for a celebratory party. This can include a sculpture of your choice along with delivery and pick up of drip tray on the day after the party.

Welcome Pack/Village Farm Shop - They supply all our welcome packs with local produce. Local fruit and veg alongside home made jams, cakes and other delicacies.

The house attracts a variety of businesses looking for comfort, quality, style, full technical ability and a real sense of individuality. The great benefit of coming here is that you are totally free to structure your stay as you wish; and the exclusivity of being here alone means that there are no rules of engagement. If you want dinner at 6pm or 10pm, or brunch rather than lunch, it’s your choice!

20 people can be accommodated in the main house and other buildings within the grounds. For conference groups the Parley boardroom with full media centre for presentations and Overhead Projector provides a comfortable and informal environment for group sessions, The huge dining area in The Discourse provides a welcome retreat for refreshments. In any case there are four sitting areas if groups need to split off to discuss different company issues.

Catering facilities are also highly recommended – our in-house cook and catering manager – James Moss comes with a great track record and efficiency, original menus and attention to detail. We can offer a continental breakfast, or lunch and dinner aswell for a variety of budgets or tastes. We are also fully licensed.

We can help our guests with organised local sports, including go-karting, mountain boarding, riding, walking and orienteering. We can also get you to local delicious restaurants and hostelries, or help you with almost anything that you will need during your stay. A relaxation in our hot-tub or sauna or a good work out in our squash court could all help your stress levels. Or we could organise a masseuse, acupuncturist or beautician to provide you with further respite from the rigours of a normal workday.

This peaceful area of our beautiful country is the perfect solution for a corporate getaway. You can use the house as your own private hotel during your stay but enjoy facilities that high quality hotels would covet for themselves.

- Capacity: The property comfortably sleeps 16 adults and 6 children or teenagers. The website price is only valid for groups of up to 16. If you number over 16 people additional charges are incurred of £100 p/p for weekly bookings and £80 p/p at weekends.
- Security deposit: £200. This is paid prior to arrival and will be refunded in full after departure subject to damage inspection.
- Linen & towels: All linen and bath towels are included in the rental price.
- Energy costs: Included in the rental price.
- End of stay cleaning: Included. Please leave the property in the state that you found it.
- Arrival time: 4pm onwards.
- Departure time: 10am.
- Pets: No.
- Smoking: No smoking in the property.
- Changeover day: Weekly rentals run from Friday to Friday.
- It is recommended that all guests take out insurance to cover against potential cancellation and any accidental damage caused during your stay at the property.