A Wonderful Day Trip with Ageing Well Swansea
“Didn’t we have a lovely day, the day we went to Hereford…”
That might not be the official title of a song, but after our wonderful day trip to Hereford, it certainly felt like one. A day filled with friendship, laughter, history, good food, beautiful scenery, and just the right amount of tomfoolery from certain members of the group!
On 15th July 2026, we enjoyed a fantastic day out to Hereford, organised through Social Care and Wellbeing for Adults 50+ in Swansea as part of their Ageing Well programme.
Firstly, I would like to say a huge thank you to Pauline Anderson for arranging such an enjoyable trip. A special mention must also go to Rachel, who planned our group itinerary, organised where we were going, and took charge of making sure we got the most from our day.
Sometimes it is wonderful not having to worry about planning everything yourself. You simply turn up, follow the person with the itinerary, and enjoy the adventure!
Setting Off from Swansea
Our journey began at 8:30am, leaving from Wellington Street in Swansea. The coach journey gave us plenty of time to chat, catch up, and look forward to discovering somewhere new.
We arrived in Hereford shortly after 10am, with the bus dropping us off on Broad Street, just a short walk from one of the city’s greatest landmarks — Hereford Cathedral.
Exploring Historic Church Street and Coffee at The Garden Café
Our first walk took us along the beautiful Church Street, one of Hereford’s most picturesque historic streets. With its narrow layout, charming buildings and views towards the cathedral, it gives visitors a wonderful sense of the city’s medieval past.
Church Street has long been an important route through the heart of Hereford. The area around the cathedral developed over centuries, with many buildings reflecting the city’s religious, commercial and architectural heritage.
Before exploring further, we decided that a coffee and cake stop was essential!
We discovered the delightful The Garden Café, tucked away in the charming Capuchin Yard, just off Church Street. This hidden gem provided the perfect place to relax, enjoy refreshments and prepare ourselves for the rest of the day.
You can read my full review of The Garden Café on Satisfy Your Taste:
After coffee and cake, some members of the group decided to explore independently, enjoying some shopping and wandering around the city.
The rest of us decided to put our trust in Rachel’s carefully planned itinerary — or perhaps we were simply enjoying having someone else make the decisions for the day!
Discovering Hereford Cathedral
Our next stop was the magnificent Hereford Cathedral, one of England’s most historic and impressive places of worship.
The cathedral’s history stretches back over 1,300 years, with Christianity on the site dating from the 7th century. The current building contains architectural features from many periods, including Norman, Gothic and later Victorian influences.
From the moment you enter, the scale of the cathedral is breathtaking. The huge stone columns, impressive arches, detailed stained glass windows and peaceful atmosphere create a real sense of history.
As we explored inside, different members of the group were drawn to different aspects of the cathedral. Some admired the incredible architecture and craftsmanship, while others were fascinated by its religious history and the many stories connected to the building.
One of the cathedral’s greatest treasures is the famous Hereford Mappa Mundi, a medieval map of the world created around the year 1300. Although we did not spend all day exploring every corner, it was fascinating to experience a place where centuries of history are still very much alive.
After spending around half an hour exploring, we decided it was time to continue our adventure.
A Stroll Through Castle Green
Leaving the cathedral behind, we made our way towards Castle Green, a beautiful open space in the heart of Hereford.
Castle Green sits on the site of the former Hereford Castle, which once played an important role in defending the city. Although the castle itself disappeared many centuries ago, the area remains a peaceful reminder of Hereford’s medieval past.
The park provided the perfect opportunity for a leisurely walk, taking in the surroundings before heading to our carefully chosen lunch destination.
Lunch by the River Wye at CSONS Hereford
After our morning exploring the cathedral and enjoying Castle Green, Rachel had selected somewhere special for lunch.
Situated beside the River Wye, CSONS Hereford immediately impressed us with its modern design, relaxed atmosphere and beautiful riverside location.
The setting was perfect — good food, great company and wonderful views. It was exactly the kind of place you want to discover on a day trip.
You can read my full review of CSONS Hereford on Satisfy Your Taste:
Walking Along the River Wye
After lunch, we continued our walk through Castle Green and crossed Victoria Bridge, which has become an important crossing point over the River Wye.
The bridge offers lovely views across the river and provides a perfect viewpoint to appreciate Hereford’s riverside setting.
We continued along the pathways beside the River Wye, following the route towards Bishop’s Meadow. The peaceful riverside scenery was a complete contrast to the busy city centre, with plenty of opportunities to stop, chat, take photographs and simply enjoy being outdoors.
One of our favourite moments was looking back across the river towards CSONS, where we had enjoyed our lunch earlier in the day.
As we continued our walk, we came across the sculpture of “Dan the Dog”, a much-loved piece of public art unveiled on the Hereford riverside.
Naturally, this became another opportunity for laughter within our group. One unnamed member of our party — who shall remain anonymous — decided to create a few gestures that definitely cannot be included in a family-friendly blog!
The reaction from everyone, including three girls nearby, was instant laughter, followed by the classic comment:
“You can’t take him anywhere!”
Moments like that are what make days out memorable.
A Well-Deserved Drink Before Heading Home
Continuing along the river, we eventually reached The Saracens Head, just before St Martin’s Street Bridge.
After a full day of walking, exploring and laughing, a well-earned drink was certainly appreciated.
It was the perfect way to finish our adventure before making our way back towards Broad Street for the coach journey home to Swansea.
A Day to Remember
As we travelled back home, it was clear that this had been much more than just a bus trip.
It was a day of friendship, discovering a beautiful historic city, enjoying wonderful food, walking through stunning scenery and sharing plenty of laughs along the way.
A big thank you again to Pauline for organising the trip and to Rachel for creating such a brilliant itinerary.
So yes, you could almost write a song:
“Didn’t we have a lovely day, the day we went to Hereford…”
Although perhaps the final verse would need to be written in the style of a Jasper Carrott comedy routine — especially with the amount of mischief and laughter provided by certain members of our group!
Here’s to the next adventure.
Location
The route: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8PtMTRN6UKLjsKXq5
36 min (1.6 miles)
via Broad St and Church St
Mostly flat
| Trip at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| 📍 Destination | Hereford, Herefordshire |
| 🚌 Travel | Coach from Swansea |
| ⏱️ Journey Time | Approx. 1 hour 45 minutes each way |
| 🚶 Walking Distance | Approx. 3.5–4 miles (5.5–6.5 km) |
| ⏰ Time Walking | Around 1 hour 15 minutes |
| ☕ Coffee Stop | The Garden Café |
| ⛪ Must-See | Hereford Cathedral |
| 🍽️ Lunch | CSONS Hereford |
| 🌳 Scenic Highlight | River Wye & Bishop’s Meadow |
| 🍺 Final Stop | The Saracens Head |
| ⭐ Overall Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent day out with great company |
Useful links
Hereford Cathedral
Discover the history, opening times, the famous Mappa Mundi, Chained Library and visitor information.
Hereford Cathedral
Visit Hereford – Visitor Information
Find city maps, attractions, events and practical visitor information for Hereford.
Visit Hereford Visitor Information
Hereford City Guide
Learn more about Hereford’s history, shopping, attractions and heritage before your visit.
Hereford.org.uk City Guide
The Garden Café, Hereford Review
Read my review of this hidden café in Capuchin Yard on Satisfy Your Taste.
The Garden Café Hereford Review
CSONS Hereford Review
Read my review of our delicious riverside lunch at CSONS Hereford on Satisfy Your Taste.
CSONS Hereford Review
Ageing Well Swansea
Find out more about Social Care and Wellbeing’s Ageing Well programme and activities across Swansea.
Ageing Well Swansea