Resources

'Funding for Tourism & Heritage Development' workshop

Discover Churches online workshop held on Monday 5th July 2021

Training

* A guide to acronyms

A guide to acronyms relating to church conservation & tourism

Training

* Brief guidance for potential blog/new article contributors

This brief guidance has been produced for potential blog/new article contributors on the Discover Churches Website

Training

* Churches around Bromyard with Tim Bridges

Churches around Bromyard with Tim Bridges in conjunction with Friends of Herefordshire Museum & Arts (FHMA).
FHMA Churches around Bromyard with Tim Bridges on Wednesday, 6 April 2022.

"The group was given a warm welcome by members of congregation, who provided coffee, tea, & homemade cake. Discover Churches Tourism Officer Liz Hill greeted us with organisation of the day and introduced Tim Bridges, knowledgeable about churches of Herefordshire, church architecture, and church furnishings from Saxon to modern times".

Churches visited were:- St Peters Church, Withington, St Lawrence Church, Stretton Grandison, St Mary the Virgin, Bishops Frome, St Peter, Bromyard, St Peter and St Paul, Stoke Lacy and St Mary the Virgin, Much Cowarne.

Tours

* ConferenceProgrammeFINAL

Training

* Creating the perfect welcome

Discover Churches online workshop held on Friday 20th November 2020

Training

* Footfalls and the Effects on your church

Discover Churches online workshop held on Wednesday 25th November 2020

Training

* Herefordshire Churches Tour with Tim Bridges

Thursday 28th July 2022 - A Herefordshire Churches Tour with Tim Bridges
In conjunction with Discover Churches and Rural Concierge, we themed our tour with musical connections, taking place at the same time as the Three Choirs festival in Hereford.
We visited:
Hampton Bishop, Much Marcle, Weston Under Penyard, Llanwarne (for afternoon tea and a musical surprise).

Timings: Leave Hereford BROAD STREET 10:00am
Cost: Travel costs, tour guide and church donations is £39.00 per person

Tours

* In the Footsteps of Charles Darwin 3 day break

Stay for 2 nights at a Shrewsbury Hotel based on Bed & Breakfast. Evening meals can be arranged to include specialist talks of Charles Darwin and a celebration of his life and times in Shropshire.

Tours

* Why do people visit churches

Discover Churches online workshop held on Wednesday 18th November 2020

Training

Canoeing along the Wye

Although this trail can be completed on foot, what better way to take in the Herefordshire wildlife, flora and fauna than canoeing your way down the River Wye visiting a variety of churches along the way.
The River Wye is the fourth-longest river in the UK, stretching some 155 miles from its source on Plynlimon in mid Wales to the Severn estuary. The lower part of this trail is called the Wye Valley and is a designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Starting in Hay on Wye, you can either hire a canoe or bring your own. On this relaxing trail, can take as long as you wish stopping overnight at various points, either on camp sites, in a B&B or hotel.

Tours

Cider & Hops Driving Trail

This scenic driving route follows a number of Herefordshire Churches which can be linked in close proximity to Cider & Beer producers.

Start/Finish at Hereford Museum of Cider, the trail also gives you chance not only to visit, but purchase some of Herefordshire's finest beverages along the way.
Travelling along the A417, you are following in the footsteps of the Hop Pickers who travelled along this road by horse drawn caravan to spend the summer helping out the local farmers and living on the land.

The Trumpet Inn on the crossroads was a regular stop off and meet up for the Hop Pickers each year.
Although many of the hop fields have gone, some are still in evidence with others more recently being turned into orchards.

Tours

Cycling the Long Mynd

Starting and finishing in Bishops Castle, this trail takes in the quieter roads and paths to cycle around the Long Mynd visiting a variety of Shropshire Church Tourism group churches along the way.

Tours

Cycling through the Black & White Villages

This pretty cycle trail takes in a number of Herefordshire Church Tourism Group churches.
Arrive either in Leominster by train or Kington by bus, this circular route gives you the opportunity to travel on a number of quieter roads to explore some of the prettiest villages in the county.

Tours

Every church has its own story to tell

Discover Churches online workshop held on Wednesday 2nd December 2020

Training

Golden Valley Pilgrim Way [GVPW]: Walking and Cycling - Abbeydore Deanery

This is a stunning 6/7 day circular, ‘bring your own beliefs or none’ pilgrimage route, along beautiful and ancient paths that begins and ends at Hereford Cathedral. Hereford can be accessed by public transport from anywhere in the country making this an environmentally sensitive pilgrimage option. With the route being circular if you do arrive by car you don’t have the hassle of having to find a way back to where you left the car.

https://www.abbeydoredeanery.org/gvpw/

Tours

Heart of Wales Trainline Church trail

Travelling on the Heart of Wales Trainline from Craven Arms or Llandrindod Wells, this scenic walking tour (Part 1 of 5) takes in visits to four interesting churches - Each with their own story to tell.
Travelling on the Heart of Wales Trainline from either Craven Arms or Llandrindod Wells, this scenic walking tour is Part 1 of 5 taking in visits to four interesting churches - Each with their own story to tell.

HoWL 1. Knighton Train station to Brampton Bryan Church
HoWL 2. Brampton Bryan to Leintwardine Church
HoWL 3. Leintwardine to Clungunford Church
HoWL 4. Clungunford to Stokesay Church
HoWL5. Stokesay to Craven Arms Train Station

Tours

How do visitors find out about your church

Discover Churches online workshop held on Wednesday 9th December 2020

Training

Medieval Churches in Herefordshire & the Wye Valley

This overnight Herefordshire church experience takes in the opportunity to explore some of the most historic and interesting churches in the county and borders.

Tours

Medieval Churches of Shropshire

This overnight Shropshire church experience takes in the opportunity to explore some of the most historic and interesting churches in the county.

Tours

North Shropshire Driving tour

This Scenic driving trail takes in some of the most beautiful scenery and churches in north Shropshire on the Welsh border.

For more information on what to see and other attractions to visit go to www.visitoswestry.co.uk

This pretty driving trail takes in a number of Shropshire Churches Tourism Group churches. Starting and finishing at Shrewsbury Abbey this route gives you the opportunity to explore this historic borderland where Shropshire meets Wales.

For more details on other attractions to visit and places to eat and stay along the trail go to Visit Oswestry

Tours

Shropshire Hills AONB Pilgrim Trail

Shropshire Hills AONB Pilgrim Trail

Located on the Welsh Marches border, the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an ideal area to take in the landscape on a pilgrimage, as well the magnificent views along the way.

Shropshire Hills AONB is a living landscape, loved by locals and visitors alike for its quality of environment, rich history, and for walking, relaxation and inspiration.

Covering almost a quarter of Shropshire, this 7-day trail takes in a number of Shropshire Churches Tourism group churches throughout.

With the use of public transport (train or local bus) between Ludlow and Craven Arms, the Shropshire Hill AONB Pilgrim Trail is a circular route that will be enjoyed by anyone walking for spiritual revival, resting in Churches and taking advantage of the local hospitality along the way.

Tours

The Digital Church

Fit for Function presentation held on Thursday 29th April 2021 - Exploring how to develop effective strategies for digital engagement to support Heritage & Tourism.

Training

The history of Music and Literature on the Welsh Borders

This 2-day experience is a great way to immerse yourself in the undulating scenery on the Welsh Border and discover why the county holds so many musical and literary connections.

Herefordshire and border Churches feature highly in the history that shaped some of our music and literary greats.
This tour visits many of these churches as part of ‘the history of Music and Literature’ tour.
The tour is based in Hereford in a hotel on Half Board basis for the duration.

Tours

Three Churches Walk by Bus in Herefordshire

8:45am From Broad Street, Hereford- catch the 36 bus to Monmouth, getting off at the 'Orcop turn' near St Weonards.
Follow the route to Orcop Church
After your visit to Orcop Church, follow the route towards Llanwarne Church. Spend time exploring the village with 2 churches.
For your last leg of the walk, follow the route to the pretty little church at Hentland before heading back.
From Hentland Church, walk back up to the main A49 to catch the No33 bus back to Hereford at either 16:00 or 17:20.

Tours

Tour Guide’s TEN TOP TIPS for making Visitors feel welcome in your church.

Discover Churches online workshop held on Thursday 1st July 2021
With Penny Platts on www.herefordshire.wordpress.com

Training

Using Interpretation

Discover Churches online workshop held on Monday 7th December 2020

Training