Rowden Mill Station, Bromyard, Herefordshire

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Rowden Mill Station

West Midlands Herefordshire Bromyard

From £100 a night
3 Cottages Sleeping 2-4
Cabin
Cottage
Railway Carriage

Self-catering stays with vintage charm at this Herefordshire heritage railway station

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Once part of the rural rail network in Herefordshire, Rowden Mill Station is now home to three holiday cottages, the likes of which you won’t have seen before. One cottage occupies the former station building, one was the parcel office and another is a railway carriage that is now waiting at platform two. All three offer the romance of the railways of yesteryear but have been kitted out inside for comfortable self-catering stays. The location may be trackside but the line has been disused for decades, and the only thing that’s rolling around here are hills: the countryside location between the Malvern Hills and the Wye Valley couldn’t be more peaceful.

Last used by passengers in the 1950s, the station buildings have been lovingly converted into holiday lets by owners Cecilia and Paul, and it’s this era that the place evokes. Posters on the platforms, original signs and artefacts all transport you back several decades. Inside, the nostalgic theme continues, with vintage furniture and a retro style alongside character features and all the mod cons you’d want for your stay.

The most spacious accommodation is the two-bedroom Station Building, where your lounge is the former waiting room, your kitchen the booking office and the outside dining area is under the canopied roof of the platform. Ercol chairs, a log burner and a stylish bathroom are new but don’t look out of place, while a Smart TV and WiFi keep you well connected. Just along the platform, the Parcel Office is a similarly-styled studio flat that can be rented as romantic standalone accommodation for a couple or as an add-on to The Station Building for groups of up to six. It has an en-suite bathroom, a log burner, a cinema-style screen and its own kitchenette. Finally, the Saloon Coach, a converted railway carriage that can sleep up to four, is perhaps the quirkiest option – standing at a green platform just up the track and dressed inside in mid-century style.

This was all once a stop midway along Great Western’s Worcester, Bromyard and Leominster Railway, and this gives you a clue as to what’s nearby. Bromyard is the closest town, a five-minute drive away – a lovely place of independent shops that’s ideal for a coffee, a meal out or picking up supplies to cook on the barbecue back at the station. The historic towns of Worcester and Leominster are both a half-hour drive away, and the countryside in between is as good for walking in as it was for gawping at from the windows of those historic trains.

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Facilities

Rowden Mill Station can accommodate up to 4 guests (at the Station Building), a further 2 guests (at the Parcel Office ) and can sleep up to 4 guests at our railway carriage 'the Saloon Coach'

*In the main Station Building: one double bedroom with vanity suite, one bedroom with full adult size bunk beds, a luxury bathroom with bath and shower over, a fully-fitted kitchen and station lounge. A wood-burning stove provides the main heat source backed up by central heating radiators in all rooms. Guests at the Station Building can enjoy the outdoor seating and dining set under the canopy.

*In the Parcel Office : a double bed, an en-suite bathroom with shower, a wood-burning stove, kitchen facilities along with a sofa and a table with 2 chairs. Additionally we have installed a large screen home cinema in the Parcel Office. On the platform, a bistro set offers an alfresco seating area.

* The Saloon Coach: Just along the railway lines from platform one is Platform 2, our 'green' platform, now home to our Inspection Saloon Coach DB 999 508. The lounge-diner comfortably sits 4 people on 1960's styled sofas along with vintage dining set and coffee tables. There is a wall-mounted TV providing free-view channels along with cable services with access to Netflix and catch-up TV. At the other end of the corridor, there are 2 sleeping compartments: one a double bedroom and the second one with adult bunk beds. A fully-fitted kitchen, a bathroom, and vestibule with luggage rack complete the accommodation which is centrally heated.

*Site Facilities:

- Fast Wi-Fi is available in and around all station facilities
- Free-SAT TV channels, Netflix, IPlayer, etc.
- Blu-ray/DVD player
- The Parcel Office also has a large screen Home-Cinema
- Wood supply for the stoves in the Station and Parcel Office
- Outdoor furniture and Gas barbecues

*Outside: The site extends to 2.75 acres of lawns, wild flower meadows and wooded areas, includes 300+ metres of track, working sets of points, a ground frame and other GWR station technical memorabilia.

*On a quiet country lane , yet within 5 minutes by car of Bromyard with extensive market town facilities.

*On-site parking : We have room for guest parking at all our facilities. There is one or two car spaces for the Station Building, one car for the Parcel Office and one or two for the Saloon Coach. Let us know if you have specific requirements and we will do our best to facilitate.

* EV charging facilities at Bromyard, 5 minutes away, our market town. At the Station / Parcel Office parking area, we have limited ability to slow charge electric vehicles. Charges will apply.

*Minimum stay: 2 nights at the Station Building and Parcel Office *Minimum stay: 3 nights at the Saloon Coach.

Over the Christmas and New Year period, however, there is a 3-nights minimum stay throughout the properties. For longer stays, Fridays and Mondays are our preferred turn-over days, though we are flexible.

*Quiet hours: We aim to be good neighbours, Rowden Mill Station maintains quiet hours from 10pm. The station and its grounds are not suitable for parties.

*All of Rowden Mill Station is a Non-Smoking and Non-Vaping facility

*Included with your stay are:

Bedlinen, towels, and tea towels
Hand soap, and an initial supply of toilet rolls (2)
Washing-up liquid, a dishcloth, and dishwasher tablets
Cleaning products in bathroom and kitchen
Complimentary tea, coffee, sugar, and kitchen condiments
Milk bottles to refill from the fabulous 'Wild Cow Dairy' farm vending machine located 50 meters up our country lane (which through contactless payments also sells hot coffee and chocolate, milkshakes and other farmhouse produce).

*Complimentary items, available on request:

Iron and ironing board
Hair dryer

Suitable For

No trains will be passing by , however, Rowden Mill Station has platforms, rail track and other railway detail that constitute trip hazards for which we can not realistically mitigate. We suggest that our site is suitable for older children and those not yet independently mobile. Please get in touch to discuss if unsure of suitability.

Regrettably, we cannot facilitate pets

Nearby

Rowden Mill Station is well positioned to explore the Malvern Hills and the Wye River valley, as well as the cathedral town of Hereford and the ‘Black and White’ villages around Leominster. Bromyard is a 5-minute drive away with extensive market town facilities. Berrington Hall, Croft Castle and the Brockhampton Estate are National Trust properties within easy reach. For those who would like to sample the fine food and drink of Herefordshire, we are an ideal place to discover the cider circuits and perry-making trails and enjoy many roast-and-ramble walks.

Rowden Mill Station is set in rolling countryside with fabulous views of the Wall Hills in North Herefordshire. We are within 35 minutes of gourmet Ludlow and only half and hour away from Worcester and the M5.

Food & Drink

Our market town of Bromyard offers cafes, pubs and eating in places. It also has excellent bakeries, delis and local butchers. You can drop in at the Laming's Bakery or Loafers Patisserie for fresh bread and cakes. Gladwin's and Legges of Bromyard both have deli counters as well as being excellent butcher shops ; while Gilbert's offers fresh fruit and vegetables.

In the surrounding villages, recommended pubs are The Three Horseshoes at Little Cowarne, The Baiting House in Upper Sapey, or The Oak Inn at Staplow. Elsewhere in Herefordshire, The Riverside at Aymestrey or the Kilpeck Inn are fabulous gastro-pubs to discover along with the cider houses at Westons near Much Marcle or Newton Court in Leominster. Our nearest cidery is the award-winning Little Pomona in Avenbury, outside Bromyard.

Open

Open all year.
Check-in from 3:30pm.
Check-out by 10am.

Pricing

*From £100 a night (at the Parcel Office - sleeping 2), £200 a night (Station Building, sleeps 4), £220 a night (at the Saloon Coach, sleeps 4).

*Saloon Coach bookings also have a £100 breakage deposit to be paid and normally refunded within 5 days of departure

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The Owner Says

Rowden Mill Station offers unique self-catering holidays at a beautifully restored 1890s former Great Western Railway country station. Brought back from derelict in 1984, the station has been outwardly recreated to its original specifications, while internally it is now fully equipped for modern living.

The Station Building accommodates 4 guests. The magnificent canopy over the platform provides a spectacular setting for outside dining and from where to enjoy the countryside views. Along platform One is the Parcel Office, original to the station. This self-contained studio has a fabulous home-cinema. The Parcel Office provides a perfect escape for a couple while also works well as an annexe for larger families or groups of friends visiting the station.

Our Platform Two opened in 2022 with the arrival of our railway carriage ‘The Saloon Coach’, it also accommodates 4 guests. Thanks to the panorama windows, the carriage enjoys a view of the whole site from the 1960's styled lounge, and has its own dedicated picnic and bbq facilities.

The site includes rail tracks, a ground frame and signalling, a working weighbridge along with level crossings and GWR lamp posts. Proudly in 2023, we received a national award for ‘restoration on a closed line’.

With Bromyard a 5-minute drive away with extensive market town facilities, we are positioned amongst wonderful countryside.

Whether you want a quiet retreat in a setting from yesteryear or a base for your visits exploring Herefordshire, Rowden Mill Station is just the ticket!

Location

Contact Website 01885 48 210 1 Rowden Mill Station, Bredenbury, Bromyard, Herefordshire HR7 4TG

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Getting There

The nearest train station is at Leominster (20 minutes away) with Worcester Foregate, Malvern Link or Ledbury train stations within 35 minutes.

The nearest airport is Birmingham.

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Reviews

Let us know what you think of your stay.

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Rated ★★★★★ over 7 reviews

★★★★★

Great place to stay

We were absolutely delighted with our stay in the Saloon Coach Railway Carriage. It fitted the bill for my husband and I who took our 12 year old autistic grandson who is obsessed with trains. Cecilia and Paul are great hosts. Cecilia met us on arrival and explained about the carriage. The Coach provided all the facilities you would need and was very spacious and so well decorated to suit it's era. It is situated in a quiet rural area which suited us down to the ground. We made use of the gas barbecue one evening which Paul gave us a lesson on how to use. A short walk away there is a "vending machine" in a lodge style hut which is open 24 hours where you can get milk, drinks, biscuits, flapjacks etc. The Carriage is a 45 minute drive from Kidderminster where the Severn Valley Railway operates and is a good day out for adults and children alike. We can thoroughly recommend a stay at the Saloon Coach. Thank you to Paul and Cecilia who were on hand but inobtrusive.

Jul 25, 2024 by Theresa Aspey

★★★★★

A memorable stay

Great place to stay - comfortable, had everything we needed including fast WiFi for the teenager, lovely peaceful location with privacy, and we loved all the details - the retro decor, the train related books, the slam doors and the working lanterns on the platform. Thanks for having us!

Jul 25, 2024 by Kate

★★★★★

Weekend away

We booked the Station building for a long weekend as a birthday treat. We were met by Cecilia on our arrival, who showed us around. The accommodation itself is cosy, beautifully kept with little reminders that this was once a working station. The station is well stocked with everything you would need and there is a wood burner in the lounge which was great for taking that evening chill off. The surroundings are stunning, the views across the Countryside are gorgeous but the silence is breathtaking. You truly have to experience it to appreciate it. We sat outside on the station bench watching the wildlife at dusk, so peaceful and restorative. I absolutely would recommend staying here.

Jul 19, 2024 by Lucie

★★★★★

Will definitely return

We were lucky enough to be able to book the Station building for a long week. We were met by the Hosts who showed us around and explained everything before leaving us to it. This really is a beautiful place, clean, cosy and well-equipped. For me sitting outside on the station bench was so restorative, the views are beautiful but the silence is breathtaking. Just you, the birds and the wind in the trees. You really have to experience this for yourself to appreciate the beauty but we will definitely be returning.

Jul 6, 2024 by Lucie

★★★★★

What an amazing find

This is a true Gem. Rowden Mill Station is a beautifully preserved railway providing a unique and nostalgic experience. Stay in the iconic station itself; the quaint parcel office or the superbly renovated 1960s carriage, one of only three left in the country. Each offers its own individual charm and comfort. The attention to detail in preserving the railway's history is simply stunning. Walking along the platform, I felt like I'd stepped back in time to the 1950s. reminiscent of scenes from the classic film "The Railway Children," making it a perfect escape for those looking to relive the golden age of railways. Staying in the carriage was a highlight, combining modern amenities with historical authenticity. The interiors are tastefully decorated and provide all the comforts you need for a relaxing stay. Hosts, Cecilia and Paul are incredibly welcoming and went above and beyond to ensure our stay was truly memorable. Their passion for the railway and its history shines through in every aspect of the property. The station is set in a peaceful, tranquil location that offers a perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whether you're a railway enthusiast, have a love for history, or just a hopeless romantic, Rowden Mill Station is a must-visit. The nostalgic atmosphere transports you back to a simpler time, making it an unforgettable getaway. My review might sound sponsored but I can assure you it's not; I was totally in awe of this place and it totally captured my imagination.

Jun 15, 2024 by Anthony

★★★★★

Truly magical place to stay

A truly magical place to stay, a lovely old station in its original condition - just like a film set. Peaceful, quiet with beautiful views over rolling countryside. Cecilia and Paul were fabulous hosts, the accommodation spotless and provided everything we needed. Watching the swallows whilst sipping a glass of wine at our table on the platform was the perfect way to relax and destress from the frantic pace of life! We will definitely be back.

May 6, 2023 by Sharon & Kim

★★★★★

Stunning

The Parcel Office where I stayed for a few nights is an absolute gem tucked away. Cecilia could not have been more welcoming - sorry didn't get to meet you Paul. She made sure that I was happy with everything and how it worked and popped in a day or so later just to check. The views are so beautiful after exploring the nearby towns and was lovely to come back to, cook up some food and just watch the world go by, the little table and chairs needed no reservation for that end-of-the-day glass of wine. The Studio itself has all that you need - just take supplies - was spotlessly clean and loved the fact that I could watch Netflix on the projector screen. Truly an upmarket property with the loveliest down-to-earth hostess, please book it if you can… STUNNING.

Apr 30, 2021 by Elaine