One of the most attractive aspects of the UK is the bevvy of pretty towns and villages dotted around Britain’s green countryside.
These villages, sometimes with populations of just a few hundred, are full of variety and sometimes hold deep cultural significance despite their diminutive size.
While some villages and hamlets have helped shape Britain’s history and, as a result, are well-known to tourists, others are relatively unknown.
One of those small villages worthy of discovery is the beautiful Ombersley in Worcestershire, known for its pretty pubs and wonderful scenery.
According to travel away, it is “brimming with beautiful half-timbered houses from the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods”.
They noted that its “setting between the Malvern Hills and Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” adds to its character along with a series of shops, pubs, and other restaurants.
According to Rightmove, the average price of a house in the village is £518,500 and that sold prices in the village were down three percent on the year before. They added: “The majority of sales in Ombersley during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £419,562. Detached properties sold for an average of £631,571.”
Among the best places to eat and visit are The Cross Keys Inn, the Kings Arms, Checketts, and China City. For those looking to play instead of eat, there is a nearby golf course renowned for hosting keen golfers who enjoy a round of the classic sport. Alternatively, the main building can also be used to host events.
Writing about their experience of the club on TripAdvisor, Hilary P said: “We came for a reunion and had a most enjoyable Sunday lunch.
“We loved the setting with very good views and a well-maintained golf course. Then we discovered you can come here and enjoy all this without being a member. We will be back. It is a very civilised venue.”
Fellow user Gib73 added: “A lovely Sunday lunch today at Ombersley golf club, and it is in such a delightful setting. There was a good selection of roast meats available for the carvery with well prepared and presented vegetables with sauces and gravies.
“All the tables are well spaced, you never feel crowded or hurried. The staff are all very pleasant and friendly and nothing is too much trouble. We will be back soon with our friends.”
While Ombersley may have a quietness that may not be to the taste of all, it forms part of the gamut of villages and hamlets that make up the English countryside, one of which is hoping for a mobile upgrade.
Residents in some villages such as Stoke Abbott, West Dorset, are calling for the expansion of the 4G network to improve their lives. Speaking to Express.co.uk, holiday let owner Chris Coles said the lack of phone signal in his village was putting off customers because of the issue.
He explained: “Some guests who were renting our cottage were expecting news of the birth of their granddaughter and they were frustrated when we told them there was no signal. And every hour or so they were driving up to the top of the road to see if there had been any news. “But after a few days of that, they became p***ed off so decided to go home.”
Speaking about the issue West Dorset MP Chris Loder said: “The Government has been leading the way on investment through the Shared Rural Network and Project Gigabit to fully unlock the rural economy and to ensure rural residents can access the same opportunities as those in urban areas through enhancements in Digital Connectivity.”
