Discover the Black and White Villages of Herefordshire




Leominster-black

 

  Leominster is an ancient market town on the River Lugg, which grew up around a Saxon monastery, founded about 660AD.

In medieval times Leominster was famous for its fine wool, produced from the local Ryeland sheep.

The Priory church, intricately carved Grange Court, the wealth of half-timbered and historic buildings and the many antique shops make Leominster well worth a separate visit.

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Leominster is an attractive market town in Herefordshire, England, and is located at the confluence of the River Lugg and its tributary the River Kenwater, approximately 12 miles (19 km) north of the city of Hereford and 11 miles (18 km) south of Ludlow.  It has many Black and White buildings and is well worth exploring.  Leominster is the traditional starting point for The Black and White Trail.

With a population of approximately 11,000 people, it is the largest of the five towns in the county that surround the City of Hereford and the town centre has a number of interesting shops that are worthy of a visit.

The town takes its name from a minster, that is a community of clergy in the district of Lene or Leon, probably in turn from an Old Welsh root lei to flow. Contrary to certain reports, the name has nothing to do with Leofric, an 11th-century Earl of Mercia (most famous for being the miserly husband of Lady Godiva).

The Welsh name for Leominster, still used today on the Welsh side of the nearby border, is Llanllieni.

At the Tourist Information Centre in the center of Leominster you can obtain a paper guide to the Trail;  you can also purchase an audio guide to the Black and White Village Trail to play as you drive around the route. The Tourist Information Website is a useful source of information.

Leave Leominster on the A44, signed Rhayader, turning left about a mile from the town centre, at Barons Cross. After about a mile you will reach Monkland.
Detour turn right off the A44 signed Cheesemaking, to visit Monkland Cheese Dairy, where “Little Hereford Cheese” is handmade to original recipes. Café and farm shop open daily Easter – mid October. Nov – Easter Mon-Sat. Cheesemaking days Mon, Wed and Fri 10-12.30.

Rejoin the A44 and after about 3 miles turn left to Dilwyn

Buy a handy Map of the Trail Here….