The Big Apple

Seasonal Celebrations of English Apples and Cider
in the Herefordshire Parishes of the Marcle Ridge

Aylton, Little Marcle, Much Marcle, Munsley, Pixley, Putley and Woolhope

 

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October 9th and 10th 2004

The Common Core

- available throughout the weekend.

Apple sales:

Take home some quality English apples —

Cider tasting and sales in Much Marcle:

Coffee shop:

Lunches and Suppers:

Our local pubs and restaurants will be serving dishes using apple and cider recipes.

In Much Marcle:

Nearby:

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The Venues

— open both days in Much Marcle

Hellens Great Barn (GR661333)

A Feast of Apples — Displays of apples, including cider fruit and perry pears. Tastings of dessert and culinary fruit. Feast your eyes and your taste buds! Also Marcher Apple Network; ‘Jus’ apple juice; apples for sale; Tools for Self Reliance. 2 - 4.45pm. Entry: £1 (children free).

Much Marcle Memorial Hall (GR658330)

Apple teas - delicious! 2 - 5pm.

St Bartholomew‘s Church (GR657327)

Harvest church open 11am - 5pm, produce sale, tours of the bell tower.

Gregg's Pit (GR662323)

Open day — award winning, small scale craft perry and cider making in a traditional orchard, managed to organic standards. 10am to 5pm.

Lyne Down Cider (GR646312)

Open day — demonstrations of traditional cidermaking. Don‘t miss the pig roast — local pork from Orlham's Farm. 10am to 5.30pm.

Westons Cider (GR648331)

Guided tours £3.50 (children £2.50) at 11am and 2.30pm. Shire horse dray rides £2 (£1). Open for tastings and sales. 10am — 4pm.

Awnells Farm (GR659319)

Open day for the Countryside Restoration Trust. Guided walks at 12 noon, 2pm and 4pm through the farm grassland and orchards. Donations welcome.

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Special events

Saturday 9th October

Leominster Morris will dance, with a guest side from Adlington, at Westons (12 noon), Gregg's Pit (1pm), Lyne Down (2pm).

Chor-al A-ppeal at Hellens The Hills Singers from Malvern present an evening‘s entertainment inspired by the Big Apple, in the Music Room at Hellens. Proceeds to Marcher Apple Network. Apple aperitifs in the Great Barn at 7pm. Concert starts 7.30pm. Tickets £5 from the Curator 01531 660504

Sunday 10th October

Big Apple Bike Ride Ride the Ledbury Cider Route. Meet at Market House, Ledbury at 10am for 10.30 departure. Follow quiet country lanes, stopping to visit cider producers and orchards. Plenty of time in Much Marcle to picnic (BYO) and explore Big Apple events, before returning to Ledbury in afternoon. Information from Bella Johnson (01531) 635432.

Perry Pears at the Hellens Charles Martell will lead a short walk and talk to look at the historical association of perry pears with the Hellens and neighbourhood. Meet at the Hellens Great Barn at 3pm. £1

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Information

If you want to know more about this programme, then please phone Mrs Jackie Denman on (01531) 670544.

For details of accommodation available in the area, phone Ledbury Tourist Information Centre on (01531) 636147.

HOW TO FIND US

Much Marcle lies 5 miles from Ledbury on the A449 road to Ross-on-Wye, beyond the point where it crosses the road from Leominster to Newent at the Preston Cross roundabout. We are just 15 minutes from the M50 motorway, 2½ hours from London and 1¼ hours from South Wales and the West Midlands.

Dates for Next Year

Blossomtime in Putley for 2005 will be on Sunday and Monday May 2nd and 3rd.

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MARCLE RIDGE COUNTRY

Another good reason to come to the Big Apple is simply to enjoy this wonderful stretch of countryside. Hopyards, pasture and soft fruit fields mix with the orchards and woodland to create a lovely farming patchwork. The slopes of the Marcle Ridge offer splendid views across to the Malvern Hills to the east, while Woolhope, to the west, is within the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.