Kilpeck Inn

The nearby castle ruins are interesting, the unique romanesque church even more so. In its way the inn itself is rather special, too, sensitively reworked and reopened a couple of years ago. The softly lit dark-beamed bar, with dark slate flagstones, rambles happily around to give several tempting corners, for instance one with an antique high-backed settle, one with high stools around a matching chest-high table, one with a sheepskin thrown casually and invitingly over a seat. This opens into three cosily linked dining rooms on the left, with high panelled wainscoting. Throughout the mood is thoroughly up-to-date, with clean-cut décor and furnishings; well reproduced background music. They have a good choice of wines by the glass, well kept Wye Valley Butty Bach on handpump, and Weston's cider. The neat back grass has picnic-sets (and there's a bicycle rack). We haven't yet heard from readers staying here, but the four bedrooms look nice - they're very eco-minded, with a biomass boiler and rainwater recycling system.