I love shopping almost as much as glamping. I get a serotonin high from shopping. Not online shopping but old school walk-through-the-door shopping. Give me a mid-sized town, a spider’s web of streets and windy lanes and I will spend many a happy hour tracking down independent stores and wallowing in the sensory pleasure derived from feeling the weight and texture of a fabric, feasting one’s eyes on the real colour of a piece of clothing and hell yes, trying on something before taking it home. Our high streets have been decimated by Covid and click of the button retail but slowly, surely, wonderful independent stores are rising up from the ashes of high street Armageddon and making their shopfronts known. Ross on Wye is one of the prettiest market towns in Herefordshire and the Wye Valley and a 7 minute drive from the Glampsite or 1.5 hr amble along the river. It boasts a wealth of joyful independent shops and talented makers/craftspeople. Here are some of my favourites for you glampers and Hayloft guests to get stuck into on rainy days, sunny days and glamping days.
Livinloom Home: 18 Gloucester Road. Open Thurs & Fri currently but always check as depends on season.
Super talented Gaby Devitt’s subterranean base for her range of beautiful handwoven lampshades, footstools, rugs, throws and cushions, some of which feature in The Hayloft. Her designs are stunning and you can also buy fabric by the meter. The shop also showcases work by other established and emerging makers living within a 25 mile radius and includes printed linen fabric, ceramics and slipware pottery, felting, jewellery and beeswax candles and soaps.
Walker & Walker: 18a Gloucester Road.
A clothing and homeware store located next door to Gaby. Owner Nic lives above the shop where she beavers away making the softest most sustainable loungewear. If you love an item but can’t find it in your colour of choice or the length you like, no problem, Nic will make it bespoke for you. Special mentions too for beautiful quilts/throws made from upcycled saris (I have one on my bed), very reasonably priced leather bags from Portugal and sunglasses by Gemma Styles (as in Harry’s sister).
Heavenly Homes: 35 High Street.
Beautifully curated shop specialising in faux flowers and plants where you’ll also find home accessories and garden items. Great for presents and home decor you never knew you needed.
The Architectural Store: 35 Brookend Street.
Great for knobs, knockers & salvaged ironmongery, lighting, Little Greene paint, vintage bits & pieces. Well priced with helpful staff.
Relics: 28 Brookend Street. Open Thurs-Sat 10am – 5pm.
We love all things vintage and not just vintage caravans. Relics is lovingly curated by Sally and stuffed full with fine antique jewellery, glass, designer clothing (Jean Muir, Biba), handbags (Osprey, Mulberry, Louis Vuitton) mirrors, china & where she can squeeze it in, the odd bit of stand-out furniture. I have purchased many pieces over the years including the painted chest of drawers in The Hayloft main bedroom.
Rossiter Books: 7 High Street.
Long live independent bookshops. To be cherished. Happy to have this wonderful one on our doorstep. Regular talks by authors, super helpful staff and a good source for local walking guides & maps.
Baileys Home: Whitecross Farm, Bridstow.
Located just outside Ross on Wye, no list would be complete without Mark & Sally Bailey’s eco homestore heaven. Fans travel from far and wide to visit and were someone to come up with a Seven Wonders of the World for shopping, I believe Baileys Home would be up there.
It’s curated like an art gallery, with the layout and displays constantly changing. As you enter the shop you immerse yourself in a network of connecting rooms and barns stuffed full of homeware booty, ceramics, kitchenware, clothing, lighting, sofas, soft furnishings, garden furniture and many more upcycled goodies. Over the years I have purchased sofas, mirrors, rugs, cushions, lamps, taps, books, food and quite literally the kitchen sink.
When my kids were young I’d take refuge in its oasis of tranquility, arriving a tired, frazzled mum and exiting a calm, sane human being! So much more than just a shop…. think of it as the retail equivalent of a holistic massage.
Happy shopping & Hope to see you soon
Jo & Al
