The Hereford Beano
20 - 24 August 2026
New venue!
3 full days of cycling in the border country between England and Wales
We return to Bicycle Beano’s old home territory – some of the very first Beanos took place in this area – but at a new venue for us, on the edge of the historic cathedral city of Hereford.
The rides
Our circular day rides take us past orchards and farms, hills and forests, ancient common land and prehistoric standing stones. We venture west into wild Welsh border country, following the Golden Valley through remote villages in the shadow of the Black Mountains and passing ruined border castles and medieval churches. To the south we dip into the gentler countryside of the Wye Valley National Landscape. For our lunch and coffee stops we stop at local pubs and cafes.
The Beano starts on Thursday evening and finishes after breakfast on Monday morning, giving us three full days of cycling with no time pressures. Rides are mostly on country lanes with some sections of well-surfaced cyclepaths, plus the occasional optional offroad diversion for those who want it.
Some sections are easy-going, but there will be a few challenging hills in each ride.
As always on a Bicycle Beano, the rides are designed to give a number of options for distance, with suggested detours and short cuts to suit a range of abilities.
The venue
For the duration of the Beano we’re taking over all the guest accommodation at Belmont Abbey, a Benedictine monastery on the edge of Hereford. Forget any images of tiny monastic cells – the guest lodges have recently been refurbished to provide hotel-standard single, twin and double bedrooms, all with ensuite shower rooms. We’ll have our own dining room and lounge areas to relax in, and you’re free to take a stroll round the abbey gardens after the day’s ride. Our bikes will be tucked away indoors overnight.
There are monks living at the Abbey, but they have their own accommodation and you won’t see much of them, unless you take up the open invitation to sit in on the evening Vespers service in the splendid 19th-century gothic abbey church next door. (Belmont is a Roman Catholic community, but those of any religion or none are welcome in the guest accommodation.)
The abbey’s location gives us easy access to Herefordshire’s network of country lanes, as well as – for one of the rides – some pleasant cyclepaths through Hereford itself.
If you’re travelling to Hereford by train, Belmont Abbey is an easy four-mile ride across town from the railway station, most of it on designated cyclepaths and quiet side streets.
When
Thursday 20 – Monday 24 August 2026
Arrive Thursday evening. 4 night stay; 3 days of cycling; depart Monday morning.
Rides
The main route each day is 30-40 miles (50-65 km) with optional detours and short cuts so you can choose to ride up to 60 miles (100km) or less than 30 miles. Ride at your own pace. Some hills. Mainly on quiet country lanes with some cyclepaths and one or two optional easy offroad detours.
Availability
Sorry, we think we’re fully booked up for Hereford already! We’re just checking the numbers. If you’d like to go on the waiting list please email us.
Prices
Tell us your preferences when you fill in the booking form. If we can’t provide the accommodation type you want, we’ll offer you alternative options.
What’s included
Prices are per person and include dinner, breakfast, and tea & cakes after the ride. They don’t include bike hire (most Beanoers bring their own bikes) or the cost of lunch and coffee stops during the rides.
Prepared to share? If you’re travelling solo but prepared to share a room, let us know. If we can find someone else for you to share with, we’ll charge you the shared-room rate.
