I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love this time of year. The daffodils are starting to flower and there is the promise of warmer days to come. In my opinion, to really experience the UK at this time you have to go off the tourist trail and into the countryside. Herefordshire is one of my favourite places; the scenery and landscape are just magical and so peaceful. That’s why I was super-excited when we were invited to review the Queen Bee Cabin. Nestled in the sleepy village of Much Birch, it was exactly what I needed. Here is our review; spoiler alert – it’s amazing!
How do I get to the Queen Bee Cabin?
The Queen Bee Cabin is easy to find as the entrance is just off the main road (A49). It is quite a busy road, so make sure the address is locked into your phone first as it’s not easy to stop on the side of the road. The location is ideal for exploring the local area. Hereford is only a fifteen minute drive away. On our first night we went there to grab some food and it was a really easy drive.
If you are coming from down South, I would definitely recommend sticking to the main roads. Our phone took us the scenic route across the countryside which, whilst lovely, was a bit slow.
The Queen Bee Cabin – Garden Area
We were greeted by our lovely host, Temi. He made us feel right at home and showed us around the large paddock. In the first area were many beehives and he explained his love of natural beekeeping. I did not realise until a bit later on, but Temi is quite a big deal in this area.
He walked us through a gate into the second paddock where the Queen Bee was located. It was clear that a lot of attention had gone into the small details. The cabin was so tastefully done, and the fences, chairs and plants had been selected perfectly. Temi said that each part had a bit of history; his wife even weaved part of the fence!
The real heart-stopper was the scenery. We were told that we could see three counties from our position. The rolling hills, forests and rivers appeared to go on forever. We were well and truly in the wilderness, and I loved it. The small seating area was the ultimate place to enjoy a drink or a meal and we spent a lot of time there.
In the Summer, I imagine that this is even more beautiful. Even in February though, I still liked the plants that were out and about; the pussywillow in particular was a great addition.
As part of your stay, Temi will leave some binoculars in the cabin for you. These are great for admiring the scenery and for bird-watching. Another example of something that has really been thought-through. At night also go star gazing – you will be able to see them so clearly.
The Queen Bee Cabin – Inside
As you walk into the cabin, you will see a hand-carved kitchen directly opposite you. It has every appliance and utensil that you could need. In the centre was a large butlers sink and a very clever little draining board. We had also been left freshly-laid eggs, along with fruit, crisps and some hand-made apple juice. I should quickly say that this homemade apple juice was the best I’ve ever had; reason enough to book!
The floor was a rich oak and made the area warm and cosy. To the right of the kitchen was a small reading area, complete with a hand-carved chessboard. There were faux fur rugs to warm up your toes and an extra-large bed next to it. The real show-stopper though was the hand-carved oak beams. The shape, colour and texture of these made me feel as if I was in a fairy-tale.
The bed was also extra cosy. The mattress was genuinely perfect and the bedsheets were soft. The colours of the bedsheets also went perfectly together; Temi really does have an eye for decoration!
The bathroom was also very well done. A warm, powerful shower is in the corner and shampoo and shower gel is provided. The wash basin and toilet were all spotlessly clean and featured yet more bee decoration.
I remember Temi said “if you are going to do something, do it properly” when I said how stunning it was. He was absolutely right; the Queen Bee Cottage was really impressive. Again, perhaps most impressive is the attention to detail. Have a look around for all the bee-themed fittings – they have all been so tastefully done.
What to do in Much Birch
On our first evening we decided to walk to the Pilgrim Hotel for some food. It was only a few hundred metres away but, being so remote, it was very dark so be prepared. I fancied some scampi and chips, whilst Jack went for the venison burger. The food was really good and I think that they are planning to upgrade everything soon. It was also very reasonably priced and was a great way to spend the first evening. I would highly recommend.
The next morning, we awoke to birds singing and glorious sunshine. We had had a great sleep and were ready to go exploring. With our hiking shoes on, we hit the road up to Athelstan’s Wood. These are the main woods that you can see from the cabin and are a good twenty minutes or so walk away.
We followed our map, through fields and other small villages, and shortly arrived. One thing I love about Herefordshire and Shropshire are the pine trees. They are so different to Oxfordshire and are seriously pretty. We spent a good hour walking through the woodland, watching out for different birds and insects. I would definitely suggest exploring whilst here. As you are in a village, you have lots of great options for walking.
If you are in the mood to go further afield but do not have a car, there is a bus-stop in the village. The bus takes you directly to Hereford and takes about twenty minutes or so. It is surprisingly well-connected for a small village.
Hospitality at the Queen Bee Cabin
From the warm welcome at the start, we knew that Temi was going to be a fantastic host. In fact, at around 16:00 on our second day, Temi asked whether we would like to have a drink with him. I really liked that our host wanted to get to know us and definitely added to our experience. We spent a good few hours speaking together, sharing stories and interests. It was here where we learned a bit more about how he came up with the Queen Bee Cabin, as well as his love of natural beekeeping.
I genuinely do not think that I could have asked for a better host. He was very communicative, friendly and welcoming. The welcome gifts, along with the equipped cabin, were really well thought. On the second day, he also brought us more freshly-laid eggs and wine. He seriously made our experience memorable.
The Verdict
As weekend getaways go, I can sincerely say that the Queen Bee Cabin has topped many of my rankings. I have never seen such a meticulously decorated place; every inch has been thought out. The location was also breath-taking, and our host did everything you could want one to do. I feel very lucky that I got to experience it and I cannot recommend it enough. If you want an eco-minded, luxury weekend escape, look no further. You’ll be itching to get back soon.
Website: www.thequeenbeecabin.co.uk
Price per night: From £120 for 2 people
We were guests of The Queen Bee Cabin but opinions are my own.
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Other posts that may help you:
- The Prettiest Villages in the Cotswolds
- A Trip to the 3 Counties | Part 2: The Hills of Herefordshire
- A Holiday in Herefordshire
- What’s on my UK Bucket List?
Thank you for reading and I hope that you enjoyed my post on our stay at the Queen Bee Cabin! Let me know if you have any questions about our stay in the comments below.
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Happy exploring,
Love Victoria X
