Celebrations of English Apples and Cider
in the Marcle Ridge Parishes of Herefordshire
Aylton, Little Marcle,
Much Marcle, Munsley, Pixley, Putley and Woolhope
May 6th and 7th 2007
Blossomtime
Cider Talk
Small scale cidermaking specialist Andrew Lea (of www.cider.org.uk) is giving a talk entitled “The cider revival and the science behind it”, at 11.30am on Sunday 6th May at Dragon Orchard Farm, Putley, HR8 2RG. All welcome - please come along.
GRAND CIDER TASTING AND TEAS - Putley Village Hall, HR8 2QN (Map)
Sunday 6th May 2pm to 6pm and Monday 7th May 12noon to 5pm
Cider, perry and apple juice tasting £1.50 for 6 tokens on door.
Each May The Big Apple runs a competition for the craft cider and perry makers of the region (and beyond) to compete for the title of Cider Maker of the Year and Perry Maker of the Year. These trials were held on Saturday 5th May and you can sample the winning products on Sunday and Monday - you may have to be quick as the winning entries may have all been drunk! Some of the makers have stalls where you can buy their prize-winning products.
Apple teas will be served in the village hall.
Paul Hand of ‘Bees and trees’ will be with us on both days with fruity activities.
Both Days
Aylton Church - Aylton Past and Present. A pictorial display of Aylton through the ages, in this special church which will also be decorated with local flowers. 10am - 4pm.
Open Garden at Old Castle. Visit the beautiful grounds. Refreshments (am only) and plant sale. Entry £2. Proceeds to Aylton Church. 10am - 4pm.
Special events
Sunday May 6th
9.30am. Marcle Ridge Walk. 7 mile walk along the Marcle Ridge and through the orchards of Putley, led by David Walker. Steep in places. No dogs please. Donations welcome. Meet Ridge Car Park (GR631346).
11.30am to 1pm Guided walk through the orchards and fields of Putley, leading to Aylton where lunch will be available (separate charge). Meet at Putley Village Hall. Charge: £1.50 adult, children free.
From 12.30pm. Ploughman’s lunch, Court Farm, Aylton. A fine selection of local breads, cheeses and pickles. £5/£3 (adult/child). Proceeds to Church. (Map)
Monday May 7th
10.30am to 12 noon A guided walk through the orchards and fields of Putley. Meet at Putley Village Hall. Charge £1.50 adult, children free.
From 12 noon Delicious lunches will be available at Putley Village Hall, proceeds to the village hall.
3pm Leominster Morris will dance at Putley Village Hall. (Also 2pm at Royal Oak, Much Marcle.)
Further afield
Weston's Cider, Much Marcle Open all weekend, 10am to 4pm. Guided tours £4.00 per person, 11am, 2.30pm. Dray-rides. Visit the Bottle Museum and Garden. Light snacks served.
Lyne Down Cider, Much Marcle. Open all weekend 10am to 6pm.
Little Verzons Fruit Farm From 9.30am. Coffee shop, farm shop and plants (A438 towards Ledbury)
Jus Single variety apple juice
Nearby pubs: Hopton Arms, The Verzon
Woolhope: Butchers Arms, Crown Inn
Much Marcle: Royal Oak, Scrumpy House, Slip Tavern, Walwyn Arms
In Ledbury: Mrs Muffins Teashop and Café Sez make use of our Big Apple recipe book.
Local Information:
Other attractions
As well as the the Big Apple events you can come simply to enjoy this wonderful stretch of countryside. Fields, orchards and woodland create a living farming patchwork. The slopes of the Marcle Ridge offer splendid views across to the Malvern Hills to the East and to the West, Woolhope is within the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
How to Find Us
Putley lies South of the A417 Ledbury to Hereford road. If you have Satellite Navigation, the post code of the village hall is HR8 2QN and you can view a map here. A key point is the Trumpet crossroads with its garage and inn. We are just 15 minutes from the M50 motorway, 2.5 hours from London and 1.25 hours from South Wales and the West Midlands. For details of accommodation in the area phone Ledbury Tourist Information Centre tel 01531 636147
For Further Information
If you want to know more about this programme then please telephone (01531) 670544.