How long should we allow for a visit?

A typical visit takes around 45 minutes. The site is compact, consisting of the church ruins within the Norman castle earthworks and the adjacent Victorian church, so it's a quick outing rather than a full day activity.

Can we manage this with a buggy and young children?

The ground surrounding the ruins may be uneven, which could make buggy access difficult. We haven't confirmed whether the site is fully buggy-friendly, so it may be worth contacting ahead if you're planning to bring a pushchair.

Is there anywhere to eat at the site or nearby?

There is no café at Edvin Loach Old Church itself. The market town of Bromyard, 4 miles away, has cafes, restaurants and pubs. Just over 10 miles north-east, Witley Court has an independent tearoom next door.

Will it work if the weather is poor?

This is an outdoor site with no buildings to shelter in, so a wet forecast would significantly affect your visit. The uneven ground may also become muddy in rainy conditions.

Do we need to book in advance?

No booking is needed. The site is free to enter and is accessible any reasonable time during daylight hours, so you can turn up whenever suits you.

Edvin Loach Old Church

Museums & Science Centres · Edvin Loach, Herefordshire

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🌳 Outdoor🆓 Free entryCastle

What’s there

Limited parking
Dogs welcome

Parking is available in the small area used by the parish church, per English Heritage. Site is reached by narrow country lanes and is unsuitable for coaches.

Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.

Edvin Loach Old Church is a free, open-air historic site in a quiet village in east Herefordshire. The ruins of a medieval parish church sit within the earthworks of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle, so a family can walk the grassy mound and outer defended area and imagine how the timber fortification once looked. The church stopped serving its congregation in the 1860s when the neighbouring Victorian church was built, and the newer building is still next door, which makes it easy to compare old and new architecture in one visit. The ground around the ruins can be uneven, so sturdy shoes suit children best. Dogs on leads are welcome. There is no shop or café on the site itself, so it works well as a stop for a picnic or as a short walk combined with a trip to nearby Bromyard. Older children interested in castles and local history will get the most from it.

Questions parents ask

How long should we allow for a visit?: A typical visit takes around 45 minutes. The site is compact, consisting of the church ruins within the Norman castle earthworks and the adjacent Victorian church, so it's a quick outing rather than a full day activity.
Can we manage this with a buggy and young children?: The ground surrounding the ruins may be uneven, which could make buggy access difficult. We haven't confirmed whether the site is fully buggy-friendly, so it may be worth contacting ahead if you're planning to bring a pushchair.
Is there anywhere to eat at the site or nearby?: There is no café at Edvin Loach Old Church itself. The market town of Bromyard, 4 miles away, has cafes, restaurants and pubs. Just over 10 miles north-east, Witley Court has an independent tearoom next door.
Will it work if the weather is poor?: This is an outdoor site with no buildings to shelter in, so a wet forecast would significantly affect your visit. The uneven ground may also become muddy in rainy conditions.
Do we need to book in advance?: No booking is needed. The site is free to enter and is accessible any reasonable time during daylight hours, so you can turn up whenever suits you.