Ewyas Harold- The village of the valley
Deep in the heart of Herefordshire’s Golden Valley, nestled between the two river valleys and the Black Mountains, lies the small village and civil parish of Ewyas Harold. This rural village on the England-Wales border has a small close-knit population of 883, and has deep ties to the fascinating history of the area.
The village was originally founded on what used to be Ewyas Harold Castle, of which today only the motte remains. Its name was derived from the Welsh kingdom of Ewyas and Harold, son of Ralph the Timid who was the Earl of Hereford in 1051.
Ewyas Harold parish has a large area of common land which is rich with wildlife, from foxes to owls, insects and herons. It’s a common sight to see deer amongst the ancient meadow saffron which grows wildly in the fields surrounding the village, a leftover from the cultivation of the Dore Abbey Monks. Some of the villagers still retain their commoners right to the land, allowing to be enjoyed by the community.
The village has a small primary school, a fire station and two historic churches. Whilst Ewyas Harold is linked to neighbouring parishes, you’ll have to travel to find built up civilisation. If you’re looking for somewhere to truly escape to nature and unwind amongst the stunning views of Hereford’s Golden Valley, you’ll be hard pressed to find somewhere as perfect as Ewyas Harold.
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