Kington is one of Herefordshire’s five market towns, it was named for Edward The Confessor.

The original town clustered around the impressive church at the top of the hill and the area is reputedly haunted by a black dog – said to be Conan Doyle’s inspiration for ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’.

Beyond the church, Ridgebourne Lane leads to the famous gardens of Hergest Croft.  Here spectacular rhododendrons ans azaleas bloom in spring with sensational autumn colours from maples and birches.  A traditional kitchen garden an many champion trees are also present. (Open Easter – Oct Tel: 01544 230160 – there is an admission charge).

Kington is located on the English/Welsh border and has the highest golf club in England – over 390 meters above sea level.

Kington is an ideal centre for walking, situated on Offa’s Dyke long distance path and is also at one end of the Mortimer Trail.

In the town centre is a museum and Tourist Information Centre plus a good range of shops etc.

Kington is an historic market town on the English/Welsh border, and though on the western side of Offa’s Dyke, it has been an English town for a thousand years.

Kington possesses a most attractive riverside recreation ground which houses the town’s cricket club and is the venue for many local outdoor events. Kington Golf Club’s 18-hole course on Bradnor Hill is said to be the highest in England, over 390 metres above sea level. It is a “Border Town” in the Marches in an area where it rightly claims to be a centre for walking. The local countryside can also offer quiet country lanes for those visitors who prefer to cycle.

The town is in the shadow of Hergest Ridge, and on the River Arrow, where it is crossed by the A44 road. It is 21 miles north-west from Hereford, around a 30 minute car journey.

The west end of Kington is dominated by the tall clock tower commemorating Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887. Adjacent to this is Kington’s Museum. Standing high on a hill overlooking Kington is St. Mary’s Church.

On the edge of Kington can be found Hergest Croft Gardens where you can enjoy naturally landscaped gardens with two national collections of trees. You can also visit The Small Breeds Farm Park and Owl Centre at Kingswood, Kington.

Nearby towns include Presteigne, Knighton and Leominster.

There are beautiful panoramic views all round the town of the open countryside and surrounding hills. Kington may have derived from King’s-ton, being Anglo-Saxon for “King’s Town”, similar to other nearby towns such as Presteigne meaning “Priest’s Town” and Knighton being “Knight’s Town”.

The Web Design Business Cottage Webcraft is located in Upper Hergest, just outside of Kington.

Return to the roundabout and follow the A44 Leominster signs.  You will shortly pass Penrhos Court. a fine 14th century house on the right.  In about 1 mile you will reach Lyonshall, with it’s church on the left.

Buy a handy Map of the Trail Here….