Vale Villages
Worcestershire and the Vale of Evesham are home to some of the most picturesque villages in the country so be sure not to miss out this springtime.
Bredon Hill
Encircled by many attractive villages, this 991ft hill stands majestically above the River Avon
at the edge of the Cotswolds. It is an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the subject of the famous poem by A. E Housman. It is also
the venue for an annual cycle event, the Bredon Hill Bikeaway around the delightful autumnal Worcestershire countryside which has a choice of 3 routes to suit all age and abilities.
Bredon Hill is one of the most important wildlife sites in England. Part of it has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the European Commission Habitats Directive and
a National Nature Reserve. The hill contains a range of habitats including limestone grassland, scrub and ancient woodland, and is an important habitat for rare invertebrates, such as the violet click beetle.
Bretforton
An ageless village built almost entirely in the
17th Century appealing to visitors from all over the World. It has been used in the making of a number of films and TV shows, including Martin Chuzzlewit, Robbie Coltrane’s ‘B Road Britain’, ‘The One Show’ and most recently the BBC period drama ‘Land Girls’. The village’s most famous attractions are the Bretforton Silver Band, the only village band left in Worcestershire and The Fleece Inn, owned by the National Trust, home to the famous Asparagus Auctions.
Elmley Castle
Where you can witness the remains of the medieval castle from which the village derives its name. This picturesque village at the foot of Bredon Hill was visited by Queen Elizabeth l in 1575. Come and see the fascinating church with superb alabaster figures and an intriguing carving of a rabbit in the church porch.
Fladbury
Thriving traditional English village sited on the banks of the River Avon. It was mentioned in the Doomsday Book, indicating that the community is over 1000 years old and boasts many historical buildings including a 16th century mill, a 12th and 14th century church, a manor house, and a remnant of the ice age in the form of a stone outside the church. During the war Wood Norton Hall, near Fladbury, was the location of a secret base for the BBC, from where hours of programmes were broadcast. Wood Norton Hall was reopened in 2012 as a luxury 19th Century hotel.
Offenham
One of only five villages in the country with a may pole. This village was the scene of the massacre of Simon De Montfort’s troops, following the Battle of Evesham in 1265. It is also the centre of innovative horticultural development.
The Lenches
This group of villages includes the hamlets of Ab Lench, Atch Lench and Sheriff’s Lench as well
as the larger villages of Church Lench and Rous Lench, and situated on the hikers’ long distance Wychavon Way. The hilly countryside overlooking the Vale of Evesham provides stunning views across Worcestershire.
Wickhamford
Mentioned in the 1086 Doomsday Book under the name of Wiquene, when it was owned by Evesham Abbey. The manor was built in the 16th century and later purchased from the Crown by Sir Samuel Sandys. The 13th century parish Church of St. John the Baptist shows a close connection of the Sandys family with the American colonists. Penelope Washington, whose mother married Sir Samuel Sandys and moved to the Manor House, was a distant relative of George Washington, the first president of the United States of America.