Every family has the Christmas conversation. Whose turn is it? Where will everyone sleep? Who's doing the cooking, and who's doing the washing up?
Here's another option: all of you, on a working hop and apple farm in Herefordshire, with a tree up and decorations on in every stay before you arrive.
How Christmas works here
We have six stays on the farm: the Journeyman Treehouse (sleeps 8), the Oast House (sleeps 6) and four cabins for two tucked into the woods. Book one, a few, or all six for up to 22 guests. Over the festive period, arrival days are fixed: 23, 27 and 30 December. Minimum stays vary at this time of year, so check the calendar to see which applies to your dates.
Choosing your stays
For the whole family: the Oast House is a converted hop kiln with three bedrooms, a kitchen built for the big lunch (five-ring hob, one and a half ovens, a dishwasher, large American fridge/freezer) and a table for ten under a glass roof. The TV lives in the upstairs snug, which is handy for the Christmas film. An extra bedroom can be made available (on request for a supplement) meaning the property can sleep up to 8 people.
For the couples: our four cabins each have a king bed, a log burner and a bath, outdoors under the trees at three of them and an indoor rolltop at Foxglove.
For everyone at once: exclusive hire gives you all six stays. It's the gathering people talk about for years, and nobody has to drive home after lunch.
The week between
The days between Christmas and New Year are when nobody knows what day it is. That's when the woods are at their quietest. Arrive on 27 December for a few days of walks, long lunches and leftovers by the fire. Don’t fancy cooking? For groups, book a private chef and enjoy a locally-sourced 3 course lunch or dinner.
Winter days out nearby
Winter Glow, Malvern. A light trail, ice skating and a Christmas market at the Three Counties Showground, running from 20 November to 31 December.
National Trust Brockhampton. Orchards, woodland walks and a moated medieval manor, about ten minutes away.
The Malvern Hills. Climb to the ridge on a clear winter's day for views across three counties.
Hereford's Christmas Market. Fridays and Sundays through December in the city centre.
Malvern Hills in winter
Good to know
Dogs are welcome in the cabins and downstairs in the Journeyman. The Oast House can't take dogs.
The Journeyman and the Oast House have Wi-Fi; the cabins don't but do generally have good 4G signal. Journeyman and the Oast House have underfloor heating throughout. The other cabins are heated exclusively by woodburner.
We're near Bromyard (HR7 4LB), about 2.5 hours from London, around 45 minutes from the Cotswolds and around 1 hour 15 from Birmingham. A car is recommended.
A private chef can be arranged for a group meal. Email us once you've booked.
Book your Christmas
Tell us who's coming and when, and we'll help you plan it. Book a single stay , enquire about the whole place or give someone the gift of the woods for Christmas with a gift voucher.