Things to do in Shobdon

The village of Shobdon is 15 miles north of the cathedral city of Hereford and 6 miles west of the market town of Leominster. Its first historical mention was in the Domesday Book in 1086 when it was listed as Sobedune.  

Back to the Bateman’s 

Since the 1700’s until the 1930’s the village has been home to the Bateman family who lived at Shobdon Court. In 1705, Sir James Bateman who was Lord Mayor of London and Governor of the Bank of England, bought the estate. On it was a Jacobean manor house and which he replaced with a Palladian-style mansion – Shobdon Court. It’s in the old grounds of this ancient estate that Pearl Lake Country Holiday Park now sits.  

You can read more about the history and location of Pearl Lake in our blog.

Agricultural aspirations  

In the 1870s, Shobdon was an agricultural parish of about 500 people and the large estate park was stocked with deer. The village’s history is tied up in agriculture as is much of the rest of Herefordshire.  

Shobdon sits in part of Herefordshire’s cider-apple belt. Orchards remain an important part of the agricultural landscape and there are many local, independent producers close to the village. From family businesses producing jams and chutneys and poultry buildings to mixed agricultural farms. Shobdon relies on the land today as much as it did throughout its history. If you walk, cycle or drive along roads from the holiday park, you’ll feel the weight of its agricultural history.  

The Arches (not the golden ones!) 

A short walk from Pearl Lake Country Holiday Park are the Shobdon Arches. The arches are what remains of the 12^th Century Norman church which was demolished by Sir John Bateman in the 1750s.

The chancel arch and 2 doorways (The Arches) were saved and moved elsewhere on the estate to become a romantic folly. The chancel arch is in the centre, flanked by the two elaborately carved doorways. It’s one of the most historic landmarks in Herefordshire and so well worth a visit.   

The carvings on the arches are what makes this landmark so outstanding. They’re part of what’s called the Herefordshire School of Romanesque sculpture. These were sculptors who were trained at Hereford Cathedral and worked between 1134 and 1155. Their work can also be seen at Kilpeck Church in the east of the county. The carvings feature intricate interlacing, fantastical beasts, and biblical motifs. 

The skies over Shobdon 

During the early part of WW2, a patch of land on the outskirts of Shobdon village was commandeered by the RAF. It was to be a satellite airfield to the existing RAF Credenhill. In 1942 it became the home of the No 1 Glider Training School. Pilots trained in Horsa and Hadrian gliders which were used in airborne assaults over occupied Europe. The terrain around Shobdon was pretty flat, so ideal for gliding landings. Paratrooper training also took place at Shobdon during the war. The airfield served D-Day and Arnhem airborne operations.  

After the war the aerodrome was wound down as a frontline training school. By the 1960’s it was purely for civilian flying use. Shobdon airfield became, and still is, the home of Herefordshire Aero Club. Visitors can have taster flights and flying lessons and helicopter and microlight trips. You can get your private pilot’s licence here. The airfield also plays hosts to a variety of airborne events.  

Megs cafe

Shobdon airfield cafe is renowned – and not just pre-flight! Meg’s The Hotspur Cafe serves food and drink including the all-day breakfast menu as well as home-made pies and cakes. In 2021, Meg’s was named Herefordshire’s Best Cafe. It’s just a couple of minutes’ drive from Pearl Lake or a leisurely 15-minute walk. 

Walks from the Park 

There’s a variety of walks around the village including Shobdon Circular which is about 5miles. There’s a shorter stroll just taking in the Arches. Further afield is the Mortimer Trail which passes close to Shobdon. There’s also the Black & White Trail which can be accessed at Arrow Bank Country Holiday Park. A handy 10-minute walk from the Pearl Lake Country Park is the village shop, which stocks just about everything and also has a Post Office counter.  

Eating out – the Bateman and Beyond 

Named after the historical first family of Shobdon, the Bateman Arms is a classic English pub serving great food and is also dog friendly. It’s just a short walk from Pearl Lake Country Holiday Park. If you fancy trying other eateries in the area, then there’s plenty of choice.  

The Grange at Mortimers Cross used to be pub but is now a cafe, restaurant, antique and craft shop. In the village of Kingsland, just 5 minutes by car from Shobdon, there are two pubs – the Angel and the Corners. Both serve locally sourced food and great selections of wines, beers and lagers.