Aspen House is a Les Routiers award winner and is located in the beautiful Wye Valley near Hereford.

Originally a farmhouse built in 1725, it has been lovingly restored into an environmentally friendly rural retreat that offers “just that little bit more”, from hand-made organic soaps in the en-suite bathrooms to a selection of Fairtrade teas and coffees in the 4 bedrooms. The first floor has a comfortable lounge equipped with TV/DVD, radio and CD player and with double doors opening onto a decked area overlooking the garden which guests are also free to enjoy. Relaxation is of the essence here and Indian Head massage is on offer to help visitors wind down.

Proprietors Sally and Rob pride themselves on their serious approach to food with breakfasts and dinners prepared with fresh and, wherever possible, organic ingredients.

There is also self-catering accommodation for two in the renovated Stable Cottage.

GREEN CREDENTIALS                                                                                                

Sally and Rob say they go to great lengths to minimise their carbon footprint, using energy saving light bulbs, recycling and using ecologically sound cleaning products.

All cisterns operate as low-flush and all baths have a shower option. Sheets and towels are not automatically changed towels daily.

They are gradually switching to organic cotton bed linen and eco-friendly paints as bedrooms become due for redecoration.

They source and buy local, seasonal organic and Fairtrade products and have signed up to the Slow Food movement. They say they buy fruit and vegetables direct from the growers – “apples that do not have to conform to a standard colour or shape and parsnips with a bit of mud on them!” In addition to the usual organic pasteurised milk they offer unpasteurised Jersey milk –“real milk as it used to taste”.

All organic waste is composted and the garden is cultivated to encourage wildlife.

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