IT is hard to decide what is most pleasing about Ledbury. Is it the spacious High Street, with its 17th century Market Hall a focal point both visually and socially? Or is it the cobbled, medieval lane that climbs gently to Herefordshire's finest parish church?

A walk up Ledbury's historic Church Walk reveals a number of hidden treasures, one of which is the Butchers Row House Folk Museum. This museum occupies an interesting building which used to stand on the High Street, but was dismantled and re-built to fill a gap in Church Lane in 1979.

It was part of a row of 15 shops, many of them butchers, which were bought out in 1830 by public subscription, in response to revulsion against slaughtering in the main street, which filled the gutters with blood and detritus.

LEFT: Hope End

Also in Church Street stands the Old Grammar School, which dates from the late 15th or early 16th century, and the mysterious 16th century painted room. When the building was refurbished in 1988, beneath layers of plaster and paper it was discovered that a painted decoration had been applied to the original wattle and daub, a rare find indeed.

New attractions to the area include an exhibition at Eastnor Castle based on the BBC series 'Little Lord Fauntleroy' which was filmed there. Built to look like a medieval castle, Eastnor actually dates from 1812. Its tea rooms have been refurbished, and an adventure playground opened. Eastnor Castle is open on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays only, until July and August when it opens every day except Saturday.

Another new attraction to the area is Newbridge Farm Park, at Aylton, which boasts more than 50 varieties of birds and animals and lots of 'hands-on' entertainment for children. The mansion house of Hellen's at Much Marcle, was described as being in a ruinous and dangerous state as far back as the reign of Charles I. The owner undertook far reaching repairs, pulling down the over-heavy battlements and generally modernising the house, which dates from 1292.

No doubt he made a very fine job of it, the only trouble being that he made it some 300 years ago. Hennen's seems to have slept through all the great periods of prosperity, so now we see it, very dilapidated but with its character little changed through the centuries, and still lived in by the descendants of the family who built it.

Much Marcle is also the centre for 'The Big Apple' festivals in May, September and October. Visitors have the chance to walk through the orchards, during cider, taste dessert apples and see cooking demonstrations.

For more information on attractions on the Ledbury area contact the Tourist Information Centre in Church Lane on 01531 636147.