Lesley and Mark Andrews have award-winning Townend Farm in Bosbury. (From Hereford Times)

Hop farm from Bosbury get highly commended in National tourism competition

7:00am Thursday 5th January 2012 in Farming By Mark Bowen

A COUNTY hop farm and holiday cottage has been highly commended in a national tourism competition.

The Cornmill at Townend Farm in Bosbury, near Ledbury, has been named as a runner-up to find the best experiential farm holiday let.

The Fields of Opportunity campaign, launched by holiday letting agency The Hoseasons Group, set out to find the most entrepreneurial farmers who have diversified and created a successful holiday letting business.

The entries were judged by a panel which included members of The Hoseasons Group and the National Farmers Union.

Mark and Lesley Andrews, who own Townend Farm, run one of the last remaining family owned hop farms in the country.

The former grain mill was restored to provide high quality holiday accommodation on the farm, which benefits from uninterrupted views across Herefordshire and to the Malvern Hills.

Further renovations of old agriculture buildings have lead to the development of both a garden room and games room and guests can purchase farm produce including hop garlands in the farm shop.

The couple have also developed a marked walk around the farm estate where guests can be guided by Cindy, the resident farm dog.

Simon Law, property director at The Hoseasons Group, said: “Holidaymakers are increasingly looking for different types of breaks and so working farms are a great way for families to explore the British countryside and get a taste of rural life.

“As an agency we are constantly on the lookout for properties which offer customers something unique.

“We’ve been thoroughly impressed by the standard of entries received.”