Tour cider makers in Herefordshire

Herefordshire is cider country. I know they’ll tell you that Somerset and the West Country is the true heart, but they’re wrong! Herefordshire is covered in cider apple orchards and the Bulmer brothers, Fred and Percy, started producing here in 1887. Not only that, one of the earliest references to cider was found in a Bible in Hereford Cathedral dating back to the 1400s when ‘sidr’, meaning strong drink, was mentioned. I rest my case! 

Today, Herefordshire is home to cider big hitters like Bulmers, Westons, Stowfords and Inch’s. But you’ll also find smaller, rustic producers, keen to serve you a tipple!

So, join the cider trail in Herefordshire and sample some of the best cider there is. You can pop into a pub and ask for the local brews or tour cider makers in Herefordshire and sample craft ciders made from apples you can see! 

(Oh, by the way! It’s not just cider, the county is rich in perry producers too! Herefordshire perry is a drink, similar to cider but made from perry pears. Many of our smaller producers also produce fabulous perries too).

Hereford Museum of Cider

With cider so important to the social and industrial history of Herefordshire, there’s a museum that celebrates it! 

Based within walking distance of the city, the museum was founded in the 1980’s by Bertram Bulmer and Norman Weston from two of the county’s leading cider families. It’s housed inside the old Bulmer’s factory. Initially cider was distilled into brandy in the King Offa Distillery within the museum. Although no longer operational, the distillery can still be seen by visitors. 

Trace the history of cider via industrial, social and artistic artefacts. There’s historic presses, champagne cider cellars and exhibits showing the various cider making process. 

You’ll find a shop to buy craft cider and perries, samples to be tried and a tearoom serving coffee, tea and cakes.  The Cider Museum is just over half an hour’s drive from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank and 45 minutes from Rockbridge.

Hereford Cider Museum

Bulmers Cider

Strongbow, Bulmers Original and Crushed Berries are made on an industrial scale in the Bulmers factory in Hereford. The factory produces about 350 million litres annually! Bulmers accounts for about 65% of the cider drinking market – so chances are you’ve drunk it. The brand is now owned by Heineken UK. You can’t visit the factory, but you can find its results in every pub!

You like what you like. If you like drinking cider flavoured with berries and fruit then that’s fine. But try some of the ciders and perries from the smaller, local, artisanal producers and you may find your palate will zing like never before!

Tour Cider Makers in Herefordshire 

Westons Cider 

Based in Much Marcle near Ledbury where, in 1880, Henry Weston started making cider with apples from his farm. It’s still in the Weston family and the current MD is the great granddaughter of original Henry. 

Their products are household names including the Henry Westons cider range, Stowford Press, Old Rosie and Rosie’s Pig.

You can tour the Westons cider mill daily and get the ‘blossom to bottle’ experience. The tour centres on the 17th century farmhouse and cider mill and there’s also a Westons Wildlife Walk taking in the apple and pear orchards. 

The award-winning Scrumpy House Restaurant is on the Westons site and is open daily. There’s also the Orchard Tearooms which is open during the summer months. 

Westons Cider is a 50-minute drive from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank and just over an hour from Rockbridge. If you’re a Stowford’s fan then good news – we have it on draught in the Lakeside Bar & Bistro at Pearl Lake! 

Westons Cider

Dunkertons 

(Image Visit Herefordshire)

In the 80’s, cider was being mass produced so there was a gap in the market for something more rustic. Susie and Ivor Dunkerton moved from London to a small holding in Pembridge and began making traditional cider. Their organic cider and perries soon started a trend for more traditional brews. 

Although the production part of the business moved to a state-of-the-art cidery in Cheltenham in 2016, the Pembridge shop is still open to visit. Here you can buy a huge range of Dunkerton organic ciders and perries as well as other Dunkerton merch. 

Fun fact – The Dunkerton’s son Julian is CEO of the clothing brand Superdry! He also oversaw the move of the cidery to Cheltenham. 

Close to Pembridge is the Cider Barn Restaurant based in Dunkertons Cider Mill.

Dunkertons cider shop is less than 10 minutes from Arrow Bank and Pearl Lake and 25 minutes from Rockbridge. 

Dunkertons

Newton Court Cider 

(image Visit Herefordshire)

The Stephen’s family have been creating their own cider and perry since 1991 just outside Leominster. Among their bestsellers are Gasping Goose, Dunking Duck and Panting Partridge. Worth a visit just for that! 

Newton Court also sell a keeved cider which means it’s bottled before fermentation ends leaving in natural sugars. It’s got to be one of your 5-a-day!

As you’d expect their cider tours cover the whole gamut of cider making. You’ll find out about the orchards, the apple and pear varieties, picking, pressing and tasting! All manner of cider questions will be answered. Tours are held every Friday afternoon, and you can book them via the website. 

Newton Court is about 15 minutes from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank and half an hour from Rockbridge.

Newton Court

Gwatkin Cider 

(Image Visit Herefordshire)

Founded by Denis Gwatkin (a man with a very impressive beard) in South Herefordshire in 1992. Denis and his mates began making a bit of cider to take to parties and Gwatkin cider was born! 

Now, their cider and perry is traditionally made from the apples and pears grown on the family farm where the cider is also made. Not that long ago the family opened the Gwatkin Red Cow restaurant, a traditional eatery serving up locally sourced food. The restaurant serves from breakfast to dinner as well as Sunday Lunch. And of course you can drink the cider made on the doorstep! 

The site also hosts lots of events throughout the year including ceilidhs, vintage and country fayres and the Black Mountains Country and Western Festival. 

Gwatkin Cider is around a 50-minute drive from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank and an hour or so from Rockbridge. 

Gwatkin Cider

Ty Gwyn Cider 

A craft cider and perry makers based near the Black Mountains. From the 1960’s, cider apples grown on the farm were sent to Hereford to be used in mass production. However, after a glut of apples, a craft cider was made on the farm, and it turned out to be not too shabby and Ty (pronounced tea) Gwyn was born! 

The process at Ty Gwyn is really traditional, using only local cider apples and 100% of their juice. Cider maker, Alex, presses the apples himself using a belt press – the only one of its kind in the country! 

There’s a bar and shop on site where you can enjoy draught and bottled brews, and sample before you buy. 

Fun facts: Alex Culpin who runs Ty Gwyn played in Indie band ‘Tiny Monroe’ in the ‘90s. They played at Glastonbury and supported The Pretenders (a band with strong Herefordshire links), Radiohead and Suede! 

Fun fact 2: Ty Gwyn is just up the road from award-winning Rowlestone Farmhouse Ice Cream. 

Ty Gwyn cider is just under and hour’s drive from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank and about 1hr 15 from Rockbridge. 

Ty Gwyn Cider

Olivers 

(Image Visit Herefordshire)

Olivers create posh cider and perries with minimal intervention allowing them to ‘take what the fruit gives’. Their process doesn’t add sulphur and allows native yeasts to get to work. 

There are some great names to be sampled – Eskimo Eyes, A Land of Hope and Dreams, Down on E Street and cans of Guilty Pleasure! 

The Ciderhouse shop has heaps of cider and perry to buy and some is exclusive to the shop. It’s only open on Saturdays so check the website for details.

Olivers is just over half an hour’s drive from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank and 50 minutes from Rockbridge. 

Olivers Cider

Little Pomona Orchard and Cider 

(Image Visit Herefordshire)

This is a fairly new producer for the county, founded just under 10 years ago. It started with an orchard of classic cider apple varieties in North Herefordshire but has now moved to near Bromyard. 

Owners, Susanna and James Forbes, created a first with dry keg-conditioned cider. They opened the Tasting Room and Cider Garden and have expanded their production team to include a winemaker who now makes cider! 

Between June and August the Tasting Room and Cider Garden is open on Saturdays. Tours for groups over 6 can be arranged via the website

Little Pomona is just under 45 minutes from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank and just under an hour from Rockbridge.

Little Pomona

Orgasmic Cider Company 

This is one of the most traditional craft, cider makers in Herefordshire. It’s based on a working farm with about 100 acres of cider and perry orchards. Ciders and perries are made from single fruit varieties. Among the names are Foxwhelp, Brown Snout, Yarlington Mill and Balls Bitter! 

As with so many of our local producers, Orgasmic Cider is based on a working farm. Opening times are limited so you need to check their website. You can arrange orchard tours and cider tastings for bigger groups plus there’s a shop selling their products as well as other local produce. 

Orgasmic is based is Eardisley about 20 minutes from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank and half an hour from Rockbridge.

Orgasmic Cider

Ross-on-Wye Cider and Perry Company 

(Image Shutterstock)

Another family producers who have been pressing since the 1930’s. They make small batches of single varieties and blends which you can taste and buy in the Yew Tree Inn in Peterstow, which the family also manage. 

Orchard and Tasting tours include the farm and the orchards and how to taste ciders. The whole thing takes about 2 hours because there’s an awful lot to find out! Among the top sellers are the ‘seasons’ range – spring, autumn and winter cider.

There’s a Cider Festival at the farm every summer. In 2026 it runs from Friday 4th – Sunday 6th September. 

Ross-on-Wye Cider and Perry company is based at Peterstow. It’s just under an hour from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank and just over an hour from Rockbridge. 

Ross Cider and Perry

Celtic Marches Cider

The cidery is situated at Bishops Frome in east Herefordshire, close to the Worcestershire border. Celtic Marches is single estate producer which means they grow, make and bottle their craft cider on their farm.

They’ve been making cider for 8 generations, and their ‘pip to pint’ tagline reflects their localness. They produce 3 million litres a year and only use apples from within a 5-mile radius of the farm.  

It’s another cider maker with fascinating brew names! Thundering Molly and Lily the Pink are among their traditional ciders. They also make fruit ciders including Cuckoo Penny Rhubarb and Tutti Frutti.  

Although they don’t do tours, because we stock their cider in The Lakeside at Pearl Lake you can take a mini tour our bar!

Celtic Marches

Make Discover Parks your base for cider tasting in Herefordshire

Discover Parks has three holiday parks. Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank in North Herefordshire and Rockbridge just over the Powys border in Presteigne. 

There’s a wide range of self-catering accommodation including cottages, luxury lodges and lodges with hot tubs and sauna. For tourers and motorhomes there are fully serviced pitches with excellent facilities. At Arrow Bank and Rockbridge you can also pitch your tent! 

Book a holiday!