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Wheelbarrow Castle, Leominster

Guest Rating
Rating
4.6
out of 5
Sleeps up to 17
Pets 1
Hot Tub
Bedrooms: 7

Wheelbarrow Castle is a massive 7-bedroom country house near Leominster in Herefordshire. This historic property sleeps up to 17 people and sits in elevated grounds with spectacular views. It's the perfect base for large groups looking to explore the stunning Welsh Marches region. Huge kitchen-diner perfect for socialising makes this accommodation special for family gatherings.

The house is surrounded by gorgeous countryside with the market town of Leominster just 2. 5 miles away. You can explore the Black Mountains, visit historic Hereford or spend a day in beautiful Ludlow. After a day out, why not grab a drink at one of the local pubs? They're only 2 miles away.

 

About Wheelbarrow Castle

Wheelbarrow Castle is a massive 7-bedroom country house near Leominster in Herefordshire. This historic property sleeps up to 17 people and sits in elevated grounds with spectacular views. It's the perfect base for large groups looking to explore the stunning Welsh Marches region. Huge kitchen-diner perfect for socialising makes this accommodation special for family gatherings.

The house is surrounded by gorgeous countryside with the market town of Leominster just 2.5 miles away. You can explore the Black Mountains, visit historic Hereford or spend a day in beautiful Ludlow. After a day out, why not grab a drink at one of the local pubs? They're only 2 miles away. Multiple living spaces mean plenty of room to spread out - ideal when you need a break from your in-laws!

Accommodation includes a ground floor twin with en-suite, three first floor bedrooms (two king-size with en-suites, one double) and three second floor rooms including a family room with three singles. The house features two separate lounges - one with TV and one with a cosy woodburning stove. The garden room offers additional space to relax.

Visit Hereford Cathedral (15 miles, 25 minutes) to see the famous Mappa Mundi. Ludlow Castle (18 miles, 30 minutes) offers medieval history and fantastic food markets. The Black Mountains (30 miles, 45 minutes) provide spectacular walking trails. Several National Trust properties are within easy reach for day trips.

Wheelbarrow Castle is perfect for milestone birthdays, family reunions or just because you fancy a hot tub with a view. The 6-person hot tub is brilliant for evening relaxation with a glass of prosecco bubbly!

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At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

More Cottages With Hot Tubs You May Like

What Guests Love

Discover why our guests keep coming back to Wheelbarrow Castle

Spacious Kitchen

The kitchen is a fantastic social space where families can cook, eat and chat together. Perfect for big group meals.

Hot Tub Relaxation

The 6-person hot tub is a hit with guests. Great for unwinding after exploring the countryside, though it's cooler in mornings.

Multiple Living Areas

Two separate lounges give groups flexibility - watch TV in one while others enjoy quiet time by the woodburner.

Perfect for Large Groups

With space for 17 people across 7 bedrooms, there's room for everyone. Great for milestone celebrations and family reunions.

Character Features

The historic building has loads of character with interesting features throughout. A unique place to stay.

Enclosed Courtyard

Dogs love the secure courtyard area. Guests appreciate having outdoor space where pets can roam safely.

Getting To Wheelbarrow Castle

Find your way to your perfect countryside retreat

By Car

To reach Wheelbarrow Castle by car, take the A49 to Leominster and follow local signs. The property is about 2.5 miles from Leominster town centre with ample off-road parking available for multiple vehicles.

By Train

For rail travellers, Leominster station is the closest, approximately 2.5 miles from the property. From there, you'll need to take a short taxi ride to reach Wheelbarrow Castle.

Ample off-road parking
Leominster station (2.5 miles)
Accessible from the A49

Attractions & More Nearby

Everything you need within easy reach

Hereford Cathedral
Distance: 15 miles
HR1 2NG
Ludlow Castle
Distance: 18 miles
SY8 1AY
Hampton Court Castle & Gardens
Distance: 8 miles
HR6 0PN
Black Mountains
Distance: 30 miles
HR3 5RJ
Queenswood Country Park
Distance: 5 miles
HR6 0PY
Croft Castle Estate
Distance: 7 miles
HR6 9PW
Leominster Town Centre
Distance: 2.5 miles
HR6 8LZ
Ludlow Market
Distance: 18 miles
SY8 1AY
Hereford Old Market Shopping Centre
Distance: 15 miles
HR4 9HR
Leominster Bus Station
Distance: 2.5 miles
HR6 8NJ
Leominster Train Station
Distance: 2.5 miles
HR6 8JL
Hereford Train Station
Distance: 15 miles
HR1 1BB
Hereford Cathedral
Distance: 15 miles
HR1 2NG
Ludlow Castle
Distance: 18 miles
SY8 1AY
Hampton Court Castle & Gardens
Distance: 8 miles
HR6 0PN
Black Mountains
Distance: 30 miles
HR3 5RJ
Queenswood Country Park
Distance: 5 miles
HR6 0PY
Croft Castle Estate
Distance: 7 miles
HR6 9PW
Leominster Town Centre
Distance: 2.5 miles
HR6 8LZ
Ludlow Market
Distance: 18 miles
SY8 1AY
Hereford Old Market Shopping Centre
Distance: 15 miles
HR4 9HR
Leominster Bus Station
Distance: 2.5 miles
HR6 8NJ
Leominster Train Station
Distance: 2.5 miles
HR6 8JL
Hereford Train Station
Distance: 15 miles
HR1 1BB

Is Wheelbarrow Castle Right For You?

Discover why this cottage is ideal for different types of visitors

For Families
Wheelbarrow Castle offers plenty for children with spacious grounds to explore and multiple living areas. The elevated garden provides space to play, while the two separate lounges mean kids can watch TV while adults relax elsewhere. Two travel cots and highchairs are available for babies. The large kitchen-diner is perfect for family meals and nearby attractions like Queenswood Country Park offer woodland adventures.
For Couples
While Wheelbarrow Castle can accommodate couples, it's designed for larger groups and might feel too spacious for just two people. However, couples within a larger party will appreciate the three king-size bedrooms with en-suite facilities. The hot tub offers romantic evening relaxation and the woodburning stove creates a cosy atmosphere. The property's location is ideal for exploring Herefordshire's romantic countryside and market towns.
Pet Friendly
Dogs are welcome at Wheelbarrow Castle with an enclosed courtyard providing a secure area for pets to roam. The surrounding countryside offers excellent walking opportunities. Local footpaths start near the property and the Black Mountains provide spectacular terrain for adventurous dogs. Remember to keep pets off furniture and clean up after them in the garden areas.

Dining & Cafes

Taste the local flavours during your stay at Wheelbarrow Castle

The Lion Hotel

Located 2.5 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: HR6 8JA

The Riverside at Aymestrey

Located 7 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: HR6 9ST

The Corners Inn

Located 3 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: HR6 0QE

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to our most common questions about Wheelbarrow Castle

Does this cottage have a hot tub?
Yes, Wheelbarrow Castle has a 6-person hot tub in the courtyard area. Some guests mention it may not be as hot in the mornings as in the evenings.
Is it pet friendly?
Yes, dogs are welcome at Wheelbarrow Castle. The property has an enclosed courtyard where dogs can safely roam, though some guests suggest a dedicated fenced area would be helpful.
How many people can stay at Wheelbarrow Castle?
The property can accommodate up to 17 guests across 7 bedrooms. There are also two travel cots available and two folding beds can be provided on request.
What are the bedroom configurations?
The house has seven bedrooms: a ground floor twin with en-suite, two king-size rooms with en-suites and one double on the first floor, plus a king-size with en-suite, a twin and a family room with three singles on the second floor.
Is there parking available?
There is ample off-road parking at Wheelbarrow Castle. You won't have any issues finding space for multiple vehicles when your group arrives.
What facilities are available in the kitchen?
The kitchen is well-equipped with an electric range oven and hob, microwave, two fridge/freezers, washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher. It's a spacious area with dining facilities, perfect for group meals.
Are there any accessibility issues to be aware of?
The property has some uneven floors and a steep staircase to the second floor. The garden is elevated with steps, which might be challenging for guests with mobility issues.
What time is check-in and check-out?
Check-in is at 4pm and check-out is at 10am. A good housekeeping bond of £350 is required when staying at the property.

Wheelbarrow Castle Reviews

Plenty of room for our family get together,including three children and two dogs. The welcome hamper was appreciated. The kitchen was extremely well equipped, probably the best range of pans, crockery etc that Ive been offered. It was a shame that some of the kitchen fronts were not fixed. The hot tub was very welcome and lovely and hot. Some of the rooms need a bit of TLC. Overall, we enjoyed our stay. The area has plenty to offer including walks, National Trust houses, local historic towns etc.
Denise
Large property that was a great size for our family holiday. We did enjoy our time away. The property was well equipped and we spent most of our time in the kitchen which was a lovely space. However we all felt that the property needed attention. We were generally quite disappointed and felt that the property needed a lot of TLC. So, here are some examples of our experience Main kitchen door was unusable and needed attention so we didnt use it and just used the other. Kitchen floor and oven needed a good clean. Cobwebs. Plaster falling off the walls. Leaking shower over the kitchen. Broken kitchen draws etc Broken toilet roll holder downstairs which had been replaced with a stand but the broken one was just left on the wall. Garden furniture was rotten. Cheap bedsmattresses down stairs No hand rail in the downstairs shower room. We felt that a fenced area for the dogs would have been good to have. We did use some garden furniture to make an area but obviously not ideal. Outside area is not really suitable for disabled individuals, parents were unable to explore due to the steepness of the garden. Hot tub was nice but again looked tired and not sure it was as hot as it should have been. We understand the property is old but it just felt like it wasnt maintained as well as it should be. Unfortunately we wont be returning.
Thomas William
Great place , Hosts really helpful and accommodating
We had a wonderful family stay at Wheelbarrow Castle, it was perfect to get everyone together. Plenty of space for everyone more than we expected! The hot tub was a lovely treat too, although it did get very dark out there on an evening and the timed lights went off very quickly. Some outdoor lights that stayed on would be helpful.
Judith
Absolutely ideal for our needs. All of us had a great time during our weekend. There was an initially an issue with the WiFi which was promptly fixed when we raised the issue.
We were a large family gathering with children and older people. The accomodation was much better than expected and the facilities were wonderful. David showed us around after greeting us and was available over the weekend to assist with any questions. We have a meetup with family from all over the UK every year and this has been the best place we've stayed at. The only things to improve the house facilities is having an enclosed garden and glasses in the bathroom for our morning tablets. But overall it was a wonderful stay and we would recommend the place to anyone wanting to get together over the festive period. We had lunch at the Grove golf course Hickories .... Very close and good service.
Alistair
Wheelbarrow Castle was an excellent venue for our extended family weekend and attending a wedding in the area. The hosts are friendly. The house is great, with loads of character and loads of space, including two separate lounges with and without TV. Woodburner was a nice feature. Well appointed kitchen. Nice hottub even in October but not very warm in the mornings. Obviously, with it being a 'real' house rather than a purposemade apartment to rent it is quirky and 'livedin'. This makes it a very comfortable place to stay.
Kathryn
The most amazing house and an absolutely perfect house to get family of all ages together. Great socialising space which is very well equipped. A slightly unusual layout in parts led to the best game of hide and seek for the kids and adults that never got old! One point of note is the very limited WiFi. For the most part, not a problem as we were there to socialise not browse! However, accessing work emails wasnt possible at all. We would all absolutely go back and David the host was very friendly, helpful and informative.
We had a really lovely weekend at Wheelbarrow Castle. Plenty of room for 8 adults and 9 kids to have their own space. The house is beautiful with good facilities, the hot tub was a great addition providing a fun activity during rainy weekend! Our host was very welcoming and particularly helpful in returning my daughters swimming costume to us which she left in one of the many bathrooms and had caused a few tears when she got home originally!
There were positives and negatives to our three night stay. We were a group of 11 female friends, in our 60's. I hope by providing constructive feedback this will help similar groups like ours who have had this annual weekend together in self catering houses for the past 27 years. The positives are the downstairs areas are very spacious, warm and comfortable. The largest Reception Room is cosy, welcoming and an excellent base for drinks and games. The kitchen is extremely well equipped a spacious dining area, we liked the garden and there was ample car parking. The property is very well located for NT properties and we really enjoyed visiting Hereford and The Fishermans Arms. All the beds were comfortable and the four ensuite rooms were very well presented. The negatives are that we had underestimated the size of two of the bedrooms on Floor 3. The website is not misleading but until you see the bedrooms you do not realise how small they are. If we had been aware of this we would not have booked the property. Whilst the beds were comfortable there was very limited storage space, no tables or mirrors or places to put any belongings. It did negatively impact on the experience and enjoyment of the friends who used those rooms. The kitchen is well equipped but needs to be sorted out some equipment needs replacing or upgraded. A number of the wooden drawers were broken, crockery was chipped and cutlery dirty. Overall, as a group we would only give the Wheelbarrow Castle 3 Stars for our experience.
Joanna
Loved our stay. It was perfect for 60th celebration for 16 of us. All very easy for catering easily with large kitchenutility area adjacent for dining room, square table ideal David was very flexible in sorting out our bedding arrangements Would definitely return. Garden area lovely
Wonderful location for a 10 year reunion of a group of 15, ranging from 7 yrs old to 47 years old. Thank you for superb weekend David. We are already discussing coming back again!
Thomas
We loved our time at Wheelbarrow Castle. 12 adults 8 kids. Would 100 recommend.
We stayed for a weekend at Wheelbarrow Castle, 14 of us from ages 3 to 73. The owners were very friendly and helpful, and the welcome basket was a lovely touch. Its equipped with everything you need high chairs, baby cots, zbeds, tonnes of cutlery, crockery, pots and pans. Beds were comfy and there is so much space! Considering the size of the property it stayed lovely and warm. We had such a lovely time there, its a little dated but its got a lot of charm.
It was the perfect location and property size for a group of 15 friends to celebrate my 60th Birthday. The space meant we could all spread out if need be or come together in the communal areas. Nothing was too much trouble from our host too, great weekend
Natasha
We had a fantastic time at Wheelbarrow Castle! The house was an absolute gem, even with 17 of us it felt spacious and David was incredibly helpful over the weekend. The hot tub was a great addition and there's also lovely areas to walk nearby. Would happily stay here again!
Frances
Property full of character but is tired and in need of update. One small family bathroom not suitable to service three bedrooms accommodating 7 people. Larger of the bedrooms on first floor didnt have facilities for hair drying as it didnt have a mirror and the curtains were falling of the curtain rail. The light didnt work in the shower in the bathroom. Family room didnt have a mirror either. Whilst the kitchen had plenty of cutlery and pots and pans there was a definite shortage of serving dishes for a party of 16. The cooker definitely needed a deep clean as there was a lot of food down the vents at the back. There wasnt enough fridge space for our five day stay a second larger fridge would have been beneficial as the small fridge in the kitchen wasnt big enough. Whilst there was a large table in the dining area we couldnt all sit together, I did read it couldnt fit the whole party you shouldnt advertise the house to accommodate 17 when only 14 could sit at table for a meal. We were disappointed with the poor amount of Christmas decorations. Christmas tree in the main room with just a few pieces in the sitting rooms. The internet was very poor. It would have helped if we could have attached a cable directly into the modem for streaming. We ended up using one of the guests 4g phone data. On the plus side the house was warm and we had all the family together for Christmas. The owner was helpful when we arrived.
Our family of 12 plus a baby had a wonderful preXmas week at Wheelbarrow Castle. It is a fantastic property and we really enjoyed all the space this house provides. Some of us took advantage of the hot tub too. Our only moan was that the internet was very patchy but it didn't spoil our stay. We would love to return in the future.
We were very happy with our stay and found everything just as described and just how we needed. We found everything easily and were grateful for the generous amount of cutlery, crockery, pots and pans. The weather became much colder while we were there, but Wheelbarrow Castle remained warm and comfortable. It was a great base from which to discover Herefordshire. Thank you.
Rosemary
We loved Wheelbarrow Castle had a big family reunion there and it was magical! Thank you so much and I hope we can come again in the future
Stacey
Great holiday house for our large family gathering to celebrate my mum's 90th. Room for the children to run around & well equipped. WiFi is not great & bathrooms not over plenty but is an old house & comfortable enough to share. Kitchen & dining area a great space for communal meals & games afterwards. Enjoyed our stay very much.
Billie
We have had a bad experience with the owner but the property overall is a good property for a large group. It has good amenities, spacious etc. I would suggest it is more appropriate for a family rather than a large group of friends due to a few negatives we experienced, which I list below. A few considerations before booking which we didnt realise The garden is not secure so if you have dogs please bare this in mind. The owners property is connected, music considerations etc. Finally, the owner contacted me a few weeks after our stay berating us for a list of items he sees as negative. Very unprofessional and should have gone through Sykes rather than directly emailing guests. We had caused no damage so he was unable to claim on our bond which I thinks makes it clear the items he raised werent important. A good example is that he complained about the amount of rubbish we produced which we left by the bins in bin bags. So beware before you book, you might have to take your rubbish with you if you dont want to receive condescending emails.
Absolutely fabulous rental! We stayed for a week as a group of 6 children and 11 adults. The house is clean, kitchen very well stocked and any request extra tea towels and scales haha was dealt with promptly. Plenty of space for people to split off and relax kids one end, adults the other and a lovely big dining area for everyone to meet back up and share a meal together. Only downside would be the WiFi, dont bring anything reliant on WiFi as its not going to connect no Fifa tournaments or movie nights We will definitely be booking up again.
This is a perfect house for a family get together. The kitchen is well equipped for family catering and the large lounge is ideal for a party. Everywhere is really comfortable and warm but not so pristine that you need to worry about the children spoiling anything. The outside space is lovely if the weather is good and the hot tub was much appreciated. We had a wonderful weekend and would highly recommend.
Vernon
We were a family group of 16 and we all thoroughly enjoyed our weekend stay. The location is excellent, within easy reach of National Trust properties, Ludlow, Hereford and Leominster. The accommodation is great. The younger members of our group enjoyed the attic room. The entrance is only suitable for minis! Kitchen very well equipt, the TV room very comfortable but the highlight is the huge sitting room with log burner a fabulous place for family fun. We had a minor problem with a radiator but this was quickly overcome by the provision of electric heaters. All round, a great place.
Had a brilliant family stay at Wheelbarrow Castle over Christmas. The house had everything we needed to accommodate 14 of us plus dogs with plenty of room to spare. Wheelbarrow Castle was welcoming and homely and even decorated for Christmas. The children enjoyed the ample space they had to roam and play. It is in a great location and despite the weather we did manage to venture out locally. We had a few issues which David rectified almost immediately. Thank you for helping us all make some lovely memories.
This house is perfect for large groups. It was warm and comfortable and there are lots of lovely walks nearby. We had an early family Christmas and therefore we pushed the kitchen to its limits regarding pans and baking trays and oven capacity there were 11 of us. But we managed and these limitations were more than made up for by the warmth and comfort of the rest of the house. Thank you David.
Patricia
Couldn't have chosen a better place to celebrate my 65th birthday. Its a most wonderful house in beautiful surroundings and only a stones throw from home. Big is an understatement, it's huge with plenty of room for everyone. We didn't want to leave.
We have just returned from a family celebration at Wheelbarrow Castle. It fitted our requirements perfectly. We even managed to sit everyone down in the dinning room 15 of us! David was most welcoming and very helpful our daughterinlaw arrived early and needed to work and he let her use his office! Everything we needed was provided and in abundance. The younger members loved the hot tub. We visited Berrington Hall which is near by and worth a visit. I don't think we could have found anywhere that better suited our needs. Thank you David.
House was just as described. Very spacious for our family gathering so we could all spread out and not feel like we were on top of each other. The huge living room was perfect for all being together in the evenings with plenty of sofas for everyone to sit. The owner was very helpful, providing a small single bed so that the smaller children could all share a room. We had a brilliant stay and the children especially loved the hot tub!
Really enjoyed our stay. Great property for large groups. The house was so warm and had everything we needed. Wish we could have stayed longer.
We really enjoyed our stay at Wheelbarrow cottage it was the perfect blend of feeling like you were on holiday whilst the comforts of your own home. Highly recommend it to big groups!
Charlotte
The house was absolutely perfect, and was well set up to cater for a large group of people to stay. We weren't expecting the beautiful view from the garden it really was stunning. David warned us the WiFi could be slow, and that was indeed the case, hence the score on facilities but it wasn't an issue. Hot tub was fab. One small thing having a dishcloth would be useful
Angela
Everything was as promised and we all enjoyed our stay very much. We were fourteen adults and there was plenty of room for everyone. Really loved the hot tub and the courtyard sitting area. Beautiful surrounding countryside and amazing views that all added to the charm.
Jeremy
Wonderful property and location absolutely perfect for a family gathering. Thank you very much to our host for making it such a comfortable stay.
Everything you need is provided at Wheelbarrow Castle plenty of kitchen items which was a good bonus and we loved the large lounge which was our main focus on an evening for family get togethers enjoying a relaxing chat and playing fun family games. It was a week for us without the need for TV and tabletsphones and we just had so much loved prime family time together which is priceless. There are walks directly from the cottage and there was loads of leaflets provided for walks locally and surrounding area. We were four families meeting together with various ages from 8 months to 65 with the hot tub being a favourite with the teenagers. We all had an amazing week and would highly recommend the cottage there was a lovely welcome gift on arrival thank you
We were happy with our stay at Wheelbarrow Castle, it was a multi generation family stay to celebrate a big birthday and the house suited the occasion, there was enough room for all 15 of us plus the dogs and the location was great. We made use of the hot tub which was a great extra to the property. We did think an additional fridge freezer would be beneficial. Overall we enjoyed the stay.
What an amazing house! Our trip was from the 25th Feb to the 4th March. We were a party of 11 and ample space for all of us. The space in the house was perfect for us, we used 6 of the 7 bedrooms. Having various gathering rooms was great so that our party could space out, but our time was mostly spent in the dining room huge dining table and the sun room out to the garden. We made great use of the hot tub and the younger ones in our group used it every day, we were lucky to have good weather on the weekend. There was never an issue with cutlery and crockery as there is so much of it! Very well equipped, lots of pots and pans, well pretty much everything you can think of, right down to weighing scales. The kitchen is big and has a central work area breakfast bar so it was easy to cook meals for our large party. We have a few walkers in our group so they enjoyed venturing out and enjoying the beautiful surrounding area. We saw deer, wild horses and rabbits, pheasants, to name a few. We were lucky to have baby lambs in the field opposite the house who were a joy to watch in the mornings. Lots of games, cards and jigsaws were a must for us on the rainy days. We found a great pub called the Fisherman's Arms close by, only popped in for a snack! But the starter portions were huge. A very warm welcome from everyone. Monkland Cheese factory close by also worth a visit, where they make their own cheese and we had delicious warm cheese scones with our coffee. And a supermarket within 15 minutes was a bonus when we needed bits and bobs.David, the host at Wheelbarrow, very kind and attentive, nothing we needed was any trouble to him. As a family we have stayed in many cottageshouses across the UK and we all loved this one. Think the space and facilities top most of them! We would highly recommend Wheelbarrow Castle, would be great in the summer to make use of the garden area on warm evenings.Thanks David and Nicola
We had an absolute fantastic stay. There were plenty of beds and bathroom for us all to be comfortable and lots of space to sit and relax. We loved the hot tub! The Wheelbarrow Castle really helped us to celebrate our uncles 50th Birthday in style. Thank you so much!
Jeanette
Was a great place for all of our family ranging From little ones to adults. Was very well equipped for all of our needs. A beautiful place in gorgeous surroundings. Would Definately recommend it
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Suite 3B, Skylon Park, Hereford Enterprise Zone, Rotherwas, Hereford, HR2 7SR