The immediate locality and recommended local shops

An interactive map will appear below showing the location of Rhydd Barn. Zoom in and out of the map using the ‘+’ and’ -’ buttons on the map and move the coverage area by dragging the map (with your mouse pointer on the map hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse).

Tip: If you click on the Aerial option and then zoom right in using the map’s ‘+’ button, the blue pointer on the map will be centered exactly on the approach drive to Rhydd Barn. The aerial picture is a few years old: it shows the barn in the final stages of conversion.

As the map shows, Rhydd Barn is situated a few miles east of Malvern and the Malvern Hills—a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Immediately around the barn there is common land to the east and 14 acres of meadow to the west. It is easily accessible by road. Rhydd (we pronounce it ‘ridd’ although it is more properly pronounced ‘reeth’) is a Welsh word meaning crossing. This is a place where there was once a crossing point over the River Severn. See Severn fords and ferries in Worcestershire and the photograph the old Severn ferry crossing at The Rhydd.

Nearby places of interest include the attractive village of Hanley Swan two miles away with outstanding pub/restaurant The Swan. Barnard’s Green, a convenient and pleasant local shopping area, is less than three miles down the road towards Malvern and has most things you might need: baker, butcher, greengrocer, fishmonger, post office, banks, small supermarket, late opening newsagent/convenience store, café, various take-away food outlets and many specialist shops.

The Three Counties’ Showground is only three miles away. It hosts the Malvern Spring Gardening Show, the Three Counties’ Agricultural Show, regular antiques fairs and many other events throughout the year. A little further on is Malvern, its charm and character owing much to the beauty of the Hills rising behind and the Georgian and Victorian houses built as a result of the pure ‘spa water’ found there. Highlights include the attractive Malvern Priory, the Festival Theatre and, of course, the Malvern Hills themselves from which the views are breathtaking: on a clear day you can see 50 miles in any direction.

To the south east of Rhydd Barn is Upton-upon-Severn, a vibrant small town focused on the River Severn with Tudor and Georgian houses and shops. It is host to many festivals including a Folk Festival in May and a Water Festival on August Bank Holiday. There is a wonderful walk along banks of the Severn to beautiful water meadows.

The county town of Worcester is 10 miles to the north with the attractively situated Worcester Cathedral overlooking the River Severn and the famous Royal Worcester porcelain works (now a museum).

The Barn makes an ideal centre from which to pursue cultural and walking interests in this beautiful countryside which inspired the music of Sir Edward Elgar.

The famous Three Choirs Festival (which is hosted in turn by the towns of Hereford, Worcester, and Gloucester) is this year being held in Worcester on 6-13 August. A programme of the event is available at the website.

Recommended places

Local shop – Hanley Swan Village Stores, WR8 0DX. 01684 310890 (shop), 01684 311081 (post office). The nearest shop/post office to Rhydd Barn. Shop hours: Mon-Fri 7.30am-5.30pm, Sat 8.00am-12.30pm. Newspapers, milk, bread, range of food, off licence.

Local shop – Just So in Barnard’s Green, Malvern, WR14 3LY. 01684 566866. A great place to buy cards, wrapping and the gifts to go with them. Excellent range of quality items with helpful staff.

Local nursery – Grange Farm Nursery, Guarlford, WR14 6NT. Open seven days a week (9.00am-5.30pm or dusk in winter, Sundays 10.00am-5.00pm), beautiful family owned nursery specialising in RHS Award of Merit plants. 01684 562544

Local place of interest – Clive’s Fruit Farm, Upper Hook Road, Upton upon Severn, WR8 0SA. 01684 592664. Range of apples, pears, and soft fruit locally grown by the family run business for one hundred years. Shop, 40 acres of land, fun for children.