The Benchmark B and B

The Bench Mark is a private house offering eco-friendly bed and breakfast accommodation in a beautiful part of the West Midlands. Ideally located for walking (right on the Offa’s Dyke path), cycling, driving or just mooching about, the house is comfortable and centrally heated throughout. There is no TV, which makes for a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, but if you bring along your own laptop, you are welcome to take advantage of the wireless internet access. There is a good supply of books, CDs and a variety of musical instruments.

Kington is an attractive town with pleasantly idiosyncratic shops (including England’s last traditional clog-maker), a number of pubs and a selection of takeaways and food shops. The Bench Mark is run in a reasonably eco-friendly manner and is accredited as a Green Tourism business.

Your host, Adam Watson, is a one-time bookbinder, who now weaves and spins in his spare time with occasional sallies into sculpture. He is an amateur musician, an avid reader, enjoys cooking and has a keen interest in classic cars and green issues.

Accommodation is provided on the first floor with two well-appointed bedrooms – one with a standard double bed, the other with twin beds.

Both rooms have tea and coffee-making facilities but the bathroom and toilet facilities are shared. Bedlinen and towels are pure cotton and bathroom toiletries are eco-friendly.

Breakfast is served between 7am and 9am (other times by arrangement) and is based around full English. As much food as possible is sourced locally with the bacon, eggs, sausages and black pudding all coming from the Kington area; the marmalade is Adam’s own. Vegetarians, vegans and other diets can, of course, be catered for although a little advance warning is always helpful.

Kington is ideally placed for walking (Offa’s Dyke long distance path, the Mortimer Trail, Hergest Ridge), exploring (Hereford, Leominster and the Black & White trail), antique and craft shops and, of course, books shops – the ubiquitous Hay on Wye but also Leominster, Presteigne and indeed Kington. If you are on wheels then there are many beautiful roads to drive or cycle along. There are National Trust properties (Croft Castle, Berrington Hall) English Heritage (the beautiful Stokesay Castle) as well as many gardens, including Hergest Croft and Bryans Ground. For golfers there is England’s highest golf course nearby on Bradnor Hill

Please note although we do accept credit / debit cards the facilities are not on site, therefore we would prefer cash payments.