Luxury Holiday Let - The Old Vicarage

Christmas is a wonderful time to bring family and friends together, and we think that The Old Vicarage is the perfect place to do just that.

With six bedrooms, a large dining table seating 12, two log burners and plenty of space to relax, the house is particularly well suited to a family Christmas. And with a private hot tub and sauna in the garden, there are a few extra treats to enjoy too!

The Old Vicarage was our family home for many years, and we've enjoyed plenty of Christmases here ourselves. We hope you'll find it just as special a place to bring everyone together.

A home ready for Christmas

We love Christmas at The Old Vicarage and our cleaner Hannah and her team consider decorating it to be the highlight of the year!

The Christmas tree in the lounge is the focal point, but if decorating the tree together is part of your family Christmas, just let us know and we'll leave the decorations ready for you. Otherwise, we'll have everything decorated before you arrive.

Either way, the house will be ready to welcome you!

Everything you need for Christmas dinner

Cooking Christmas dinner for a large family takes a bit of planning, but we've tried to make it as easy as possible.

The kitchen is spacious and well-equipped kitchen and we have a range cooker, three fridges, a freezer and two dishwashers, along with plenty of cooking equipment, crockery, glasses and serving dishes (We’ve even added an air fryer if you fancy doing your Turkey crown in record time!)

There's a large dining table seating 12, so everyone can enjoy Christmas dinner together.

A little help with Christmas shopping

All the major supermarkets deliver to The Old Vicarage, so you can arrange your Christmas shopping before you arrive.

If you'd prefer to buy locally, we can recommend some excellent suppliers for your Christmas dinner. Our mum still lives in the Golden Valley and knows the local shops and producers well. The following are some favourites

• Our regular butcher is just down the road in Ewyas Harald - Mailes. They will be happy to provide you with a Turkey or a broad range of alternatives

• If you fancy trying something a bit different, we had a great suckling pig a few years ago from Huntsham.

• For vegetables, we love to go down to Locks Garage to see the massive variety they have available. Highly recommend the plantain if that is something that appeals!

We'd suggest ordering well ahead of Christmas, particularly for meat and poultry.

If you have any questions about the kitchen or preparing Christmas dinner, just ask - I’ve done it many times myself over the years.

Time to relax together

Once the cooking and washing up are done, there's plenty to enjoy without leaving the house.

Settle down in front of one of the two log burners, get everyone together for a board game or head outside for a soak in the private hot tub or a session in the wooden sauna.

There's plenty of space for everyone to spend time together — or find a quiet corner when they fancy a little peace!

Christmas in Herefordshire

If you fancy getting out and about, there are some lovely things to enjoy in Herefordshire during the festive season.

Local Churches

We have a group of local churches who coordinate their services. If you want to know who is hosting a particular festive service, please ask. Mother will know!

Hereford Cathedral

Hereford Cathedral is particularly atmospheric at Christmas, with traditional carol concerts and Christmas services, including family-friendly services on Christmas Eve.

See the cathedral's Christmas programme.

A Christmas pantomime

A trip to the pantomime is a Christmas tradition for many families. The Courtyard in Hereford stages an annual Christmas production, making it a great option for a family outing.

Christmas at Croft Castle

The National Trust's Croft Castle traditionally celebrates Christmas with festive decorations and seasonal activities, alongside its beautiful parkland.

Local Christmas traditions

The villages around us also have their own Christmas celebrations, from carol services to festive events.

Our mum still lives locally and is a great source of recommendations, so we're always happy to help you find out what's happening nearby.

Christmas events and opening arrangements vary each year, so please check the organisers' websites for the latest details.

Walk off the Christmas pudding!

With the beautiful Golden Valley and Black Mountains on the doorstep, Christmas is a lovely time to get outside for some fresh air.

Hay Bluff and the Cat's Back are particular favourites if you're looking for spectacular views.

And there's nothing quite like coming back from a winter walk to a warm house and some mince pies!

We're happy to suggest walks to suit your group.

Make The Old Vicarage your home for Christmas

The Old Vicarage has been in our family for more than 50 years, and although we no longer live there, we still look after it ourselves. Having enjoyed many family Christmases here, we'd love to help make yours just as special.

We're always happy to help with the practicalities of organising a family gathering, whether that's recommending local food suppliers, finding Christmas services, suggesting things to do or discussing sleeping arrangements. Our mum still lives locally and is a great source of local knowledge too.

Whether you're bringing several generations together or catching up with family and friends, we'd love to welcome you.