FAQ’s
We have as much or as little info as you need to arrange an experience, shop online or visit us atThe Oldfield Forge.
These are listed alphabetically & combining individual experience times into one heading to highlight the overall inclusions. If you would prefer speak to us, please contact us.
General FAQ
The Surrounding Area
General Support
Oldfield Forge is situated 10 miles from Hereford, 9 miles from Ross-on-Wye, 9miles from Monmouth and 11miles from Abergavenny. So, enjoy the beauty of our surroundings, whether you’re looking for a couples break away or group event, family holiday or a day out, Oldfield Forge Experience Day’s has put together a local tourist pack for our local area.
Shopping
Our local Towns are Hereford, Ross-on-wye & Monmouthshire and they all offer good shopping options.
Local Attractions
- Garway Hill – walking attraction to see the wild ponies
- Garway Common – local park
- Pengthley Farm Shop & Garden Centre
- Skenrith Castle
- The Viking Games
- Westons Cider
- Blue Elephant Cafe
- Mountain Mayhem
- Hillside Brewery
- Hereford Cathedral
- Canoe the Wye
- Locks Garage – Whippy ice creams
- Rowlstone Ice Cream
Local Restaurants
- The Garway Moon Inn
- The Kilpeck Inn
- The New Inn
- The Bell At Skenfiths
- The Bridge At Kentchurch
- The Royal – Ross on Wye
The forge site is partially wheelchair friendly, however, if you work with our team, we can try and cater for your requirements. We do apologise if on occasion if we are unable to cater for your requirements. Please contact our booking team if you have any further questions.
We don’t have accommodation available on site however we have built good relationships with surrounding campsites, B&B’s and hotels. Here is a list of our recommended accommodation options when visiting Oldfield Forge:
B&B
- The Kilpeck Inn
- The Bell at Skenfrith
- The New Inn Herefordshire
- The Cider Mill at Little Garway
- The Old Dairy Farmhouse
- Penburren at Minster Farm West, Much Birch
- Premier Inn hotel Hotels in Hereford, Ross-On-Wye & Monmouthshire
Campsites
- The Dragon Gate
- Trippenkennett Farm
- Burhope farm Campsite
- Woodland Tipis
- Apple Tree Cabin
- Buckholt House Farm Glamping
- High Gardens Shepherds Hut
Hotels
Group Accommodation
Please check out our jobs board here for any new or current vacancies available at the forge. Please note we can only accept volunteers 18 yrs+
We do not allow camping on our property and our car park isn’t very big so unfortunately we do not allow caravans or trailers on site.
Unfortunately we do not have charging points on our site and are unable to facilitate this. The nearest charging station is located in Ross-On-Wye and there are also more points in Hereford and Ledbury.
We do not allow any pets on site. We will refuse entry to anyone who brings their dog to wait in the car whilst they take their experience. We are sorry for the inconvenience but we are not able to accommodate any animals on our site.
No refunds will be given in this case.
This applies all year round, as we are also a working sheep farm and aim to allow the sheep to be able to graze peacefully.
This is not only due to health and safety, but our friendly forge dogs do not like to share their home or attention!
Failure to arrive on time can impact your booking and other customers workshops. Please note our car park opens from 8.30am every day however you are only required to be here ten minutes early if possible.
A t-shirt (with a jumper in winter) is preferred, no flammable tops such as lycra are allowed to be worn. Jeans or trousers are recommended to be worn. No vests or crop-tops where skin is exposed is advised. No loose cuffs or torn clothing are to be worn, as these can act as a snagging hazard. Shorts or skirts are also not permitted. Overalls can be worn, however, leather aprons are preferred and provided.
If you have steel toe capped boots or supportive footwear then this is preferred. For examples; trainers, ankle boots, walking boots. Open toe shoes or trousers tucked into boots are not allowed.
We do ask for long hair must be tied back and to remove rings, watches or bracelets in the workshop as these pose a snagging hazard.
Our office hours are Monday- Friday from 9am until 3pm.
Please email info@oldfieldforge.co.uk allowing up to 48 hours for our team to respond to your email. We aim to reply to all enquiries and booking requests within 24 hours.
We are a family run company, if your call is urgent please contact 07716152354.
Please do not worry if you have lost your ‘Tempering Guide’ sheet. If you email us at info@oldfieldforge.co.uk we can send you a digital copy.
Located in rural Herefordshire on Old Field Farm near Garway Hill. You can use our postcode HR2 8HA to find us.
We definitely recommend bringing your own car or a friend willing to drive you if at all possible.
Our nearest train stations are Hereford and Abergavenny.
If you aren’t coming in your own car we recommend booking a taxi in advance to get you here and back again as unfortunately there isn’t public transport to our location.
Please pre-book your taxi as phone signal isn’t always guaranteed here on site. Make sure to also let your blacksmith know on the day so they can make sure you finish on time!
Please note lunch is not automatically included with your workshop. We have a small tuck-shop on site where you can purchase snacks, drinks and pastries. Everything sold is on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Please be aware there is a minimum £10.00 spend on card therefore cash is recommended when buying snacks and for our hot drinks machine which only accepts change.
You are welcome to bring your own lunch with you and if you have any dietary requirements we do recommend this.
Unfortunately we do not have the facilities or specialism to offer this service here on site. We would recommend searching for a local engraving company who could assist further.
On arrival for your Knife Making workshop your Blacksmith will discuss all of our blade and handle possibilities. Detailing the potential shape and style for your creation. We have an amazing display in our showroom for you to view and pick from. This includes forging a full metal handle to have a completed knife by the end of your day!
If preferred you are able to select a half or hidden tang option to then add a wooden handle yourself at home. We aim to provide as much knowledge on how to do this as we can, and also have a variety of materials available to purchase in our showroom such as brass pins, scales and after care tools.
Booking Support
E-Vouchers are automatically sent to the email address entered for all of our voucher purchases. We also offer premium printed gift vouchers available to purchase for £6.00 with 1st class Royal Mail delivery included.
The forge does not accept any responsibility for lost vouchers via Royal Mail. All of our premium printed gift vouchers are posted out the next working day to the order details provided. Please note we are unable to deliver to an alternate address and you will receive the voucher inside a sleeve suitable for gifting to your recipient.
Failure to arrive on time can impact your booking and other customers workshops. Please note our car park opens from 8.30am every day however you are only required to be here ten minutes early if possible.
A t-shirt (with a jumper in winter) is preferred, no flammable tops such as lycra are allowed to be worn. Jeans or trousers are recommended to be worn. No vests or crop-tops where skin is exposed is advised. No loose cuffs or torn clothing are to be worn, as these can act as a snagging hazard. Shorts or skirts are also not permitted. Overalls can be worn, however, leather aprons are preferred and provided.
If you have steel toe capped boots or supportive footwear then this is preferred. For examples; trainers, ankle boots, walking boots. Open toe shoes or trousers tucked into boots are not allowed.
We do ask for long hair must be tied back and to remove rings, watches or bracelets in the workshop as these pose a snagging hazard.
Groupon vouchers are running at a highly discounted rate and therefore are limited to the available items you can forge during your workshop. Unfortunately Groupon vouchers are not able to be upgraded to other experience packages.
You can choose to forge one of the below:
- Beam hooks
- Bottle Opener
- Scroll Knife
Our vouchers are valid for a full 18 months from purchase therefore we are only able to offer extensions in limited circumstances at the discretion of the company.
Please email our booking team ( info@oldfieldforge.co.uk ) with your voucher information and request in writing to be assessed. If agreed upon, payment of our extension fee is required and your workshop booking is restricted to attend on a weekday only within your new expiry date.
We operate with limited spaces on weekends and therefore can only accommodate valid voucher requests for these workshops. Please refer to our full Terms and Conditions agreed to upon purchase for additional information.
We offer a full refund on unused vouchers, within 28 days of purchase. The return period will expire 28 days from the day on which you made your purchase. After the 28 days of purchase a full refund will not be permitted. Should you be deemed eligible for a refund, the absolute maximum amount you will be entitled to is the total you have paid to us and will not extend to consequential loss or claimed inconvenience or stress, howsoever caused. No exceptions are made in this regard. If you have taken part in any of our experience days packages, regardless of the circumstances or conditions under which you took part, then this will negate any refund claim. Direct bookings with a confirmed attendance date are not eligible for a refund under any circumstances.
To receive a full refund:
- It must be less than 28 days since you purchased your voucher.
- You must have proof of purchase, such as your receipt, e-receipt, delivery note, or your order confirmation email.
- If you have a voucher, the date must not have been booked yet.
- Provide a reason for your refund. If there is not a valid reason for a refund, an admin/transaction charge will be applied.
- If your booking has been made after the 28 days of purchase and you wish to down grade to an alternative package, the outstanding amount is none refundable.
If you don’t have proof of purchase, we cannot offer you a refund.
Vouchers are valid for a full 18 months from the date of purchase and must be used during this period. After the expiry date the voucher cannot be used unless an extension period has been agreed with us in writing and the appropriate extension fee has been paid. Voucher extensions are at the discretion of the company and restrict re-booking to weekdays only (excluding Bank Holidays).
For more information please see our Refund Policy.
The largest group we can currently accommodate is 22 people.
Our office hours are Monday- Friday from 9am until 3pm.
Please email info@oldfieldforge.co.uk allowing up to 48 hours for our team to respond to your email. We aim to reply to all enquiries and booking requests within 24 hours.
We are a family run company, if your call is urgent please contact 07716152354.
Vouchers purchased directly from us are valid for a full 18 months from the date of purchase and must be booked and your workshop attended during this period.
After the expiry date, the voucher cannot be used unless an extension period has been purchased and agreed with us in writing. These restrictions form an important part of your contract with us and we do hope you agree they are fair and reasonable. They are imposed simply because we cannot expect to replace a cancelled booking in less than 14 days.
Groupon Vouchers are valid for 4 months and can be used to attend a workshop Monday – Friday.
Please also check with your retailer if your voucher has been purchased from a third party reseller.
To redeem your voucher visit our voucher page and select “redeem voucher”. On the menu shown, select where your voucher was purchased from and follow the step-by-step booking instructions. Please note there is a £1.50 booking fee.
Please do not worry if you have lost your ‘Tempering Guide’ sheet. If you email us at info@oldfieldforge.co.uk we can send you a digital copy.
Located in rural Herefordshire on Old Field Farm near Garway Hill. You can use our postcode HR2 8HA to find us.
We definitely recommend bringing your own car or a friend willing to drive you if at all possible.
Our nearest train stations are Hereford and Abergavenny.
If you aren’t coming in your own car we recommend booking a taxi in advance to get you here and back again as unfortunately there isn’t public transport to our location.
Please pre-book your taxi as phone signal isn’t always guaranteed here on site. Make sure to also let your blacksmith know on the day so they can make sure you finish on time!
If you would like to have a quick look to check available dates and times for your specific workshop then please click the Book Now button shown under each experience.
After selecting the number of tickets you wish to check for, press next and this will show you our live booking calendar. Dates highlighted in green have available options to book, when selected they will show you the different time slots for that workshop. Please note our system is a live calendar and therefore availability can update frequently and weekends do sell out fast!
Any date or time highlighted in yellow is already fully booked and will only allow you to register your interest to be added to our waiting list.
Please note lunch is not automatically included with your workshop. We have a small tuck-shop on site where you can purchase snacks, drinks and pastries. Everything sold is on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Please be aware there is a minimum £10.00 spend on card therefore cash is recommended when buying snacks and for our hot drinks machine which only accepts change.
You are welcome to bring your own lunch with you and if you have any dietary requirements we do recommend this.
We are sincerely sorry, as much as we appreciate your hard work and effort in looking after the country, we are unable to offer any discount on our vouchers.
Unfortunately we do not have the facilities or specialism to offer this service here on site. We would recommend searching for a local engraving company who could assist further.
If you have a valid voucher purchased from us then in order to upgrade you need:
- A valid voucher code
- Your voucher expiry date
- To agree and make payment for the cost of the upgrade
Unfortunately, Groupon vouchers and Redletterdays/Buy a Gift vouchers are not available to be upgraded.
Vouchers cannot be downgraded or refunded.
Virgin Experience Days Vouchers have to be upgraded through Virgin directly, please contact them to upgrade your voucher.
Please email our booking team with your voucher details if you need any further clarification or would like to check further information.
We require a minimum of 14 days notice prior to your scheduled workshop date for cancellations and re-booking requests. All requests must be sent and recieved in writing to info@oldfieldforge.co.uk with your voucher/booking details.
In the event of cancellation or booking amendments made less than 14 days before the event (due to reasons including, but not limited to, medical conditions, family bereavements and family/work commitments,) or failure to attend the event, you will forfeit your booking. Unfortunately, no exceptions can be made.
In such circumstances, Oldfield Forge Ltd shall be entitled to retain full payment and shall charge an appropriate fixed cancellation fee (as outlined in the table listed within our full Terms and Conditions), which is reflective of the direct losses we would incur by losing the booking.
For the avoidance of doubt, in relation to potentially adverse weather conditions, Oldfield Forge Ltd will operate experience days only when it is safe to do so. If you wish to cancel a booking due to your perception of the weather (when we have deemed it is safe for an experience day to proceed), you will forfeit your booking.
Group bookings of over four people require you to provide a minimum of 6 weeks’ notice, in order to re-book without incurring a cancellation charge. Please check our Cancellation Policy for more detailed information.
On arrival for your Knife Making workshop your Blacksmith will discuss all of our blade and handle possibilities. Detailing the potential shape and style for your creation. We have an amazing display in our showroom for you to view and pick from. This includes forging a full metal handle to have a completed knife by the end of your day!
If preferred you are able to select a half or hidden tang option to then add a wooden handle yourself at home. We aim to provide as much knowledge on how to do this as we can, and also have a variety of materials available to purchase in our showroom such as brass pins, scales and after care tools.
We are sorry Groupon vouchers are available at a highly discounted rate and therefore do have to be used Monday – Friday and within the four months they are valid for. Extensions are not possible for Groupon voucher bookings.
Yes, of course, nobody is excluded from our packages! We do recommend you speak directly to our office to run over your visit to ensure we are fully equipped for you on your visit.
Workshop Support
We operate 7 days a week with all of our workshops running each day, subject to availability. This means we are able to offer both a 9am and 1pm time slot for you to choose from for most of our experience days.
We break for lunch between 12 – 1pm so please factor this in when considering the duration of your time here with us at the forge. Please note our 3 hour Just For Fun course is only available at either 9am or 4pm.
We run a 9am, 1pm and 4pm start time. Please allow time to arrive ten minutes before your booked time slot so that we are able to sign everyone in and keep on schedule.
Failure to arrive on time can impact your booking and other customers workshops. Please note our car park opens from 8.30am every day however you are only required to be here ten minutes early if possible.
Groupon vouchers are running at a highly discounted rate and therefore are limited to the available items you can forge during your workshop. Unfortunately Groupon vouchers are not able to be upgraded to other experience packages.
You can choose to forge one of the below:
- Beam hooks
- Bottle Opener
- Scroll Knife
As you would imagine, the longer you have in the forge, the more you can achieve! We have lots of great options for you to choose from during our three or five-hour packages. Please note Groupon bookings are limited & have a seperate selection.
Here are some ideas, how adventurous do you feel?!
Three-Hours
- Selection of hooks
- Fire poker
- Candlestick
- Bottle opener
- Pen holder
- Towel Rail
- Herb Chopper
- Cheese Knife
- Toasting fork
- Rose – between two people
- Small Cabinet Handle
Five-Hours
- Rose – for one person
- Fire Poker
- Dragonfly (garden ornament)
- Hanging basket bracket
- Boot Scraper
- Doorknocker
- Candlestick
- Wall sconce for candle
- Pen holder
- Herb chopper
- Scroll/Viking knife
- Fire tools
- Butchers hooks
- Spear Head
Our one-day ring making package uses stainless steel. Stainless steel does not stain, corrode, or rust like ordinary steel. If you are unsure whether you have a metal or nickel allergy, then this is the preferred material to work with. You can wear it in everyday use and do not need to take it off during showering. A Care sheet can be given on request.
The forge site is partially wheelchair friendly, however, if you work with our team, we can try and cater for your requirements. We do apologise if on occasion if we are unable to cater for your requirements. Please contact our booking team if you have any further questions.
We would recommend contacting your airline ahead of your workshop as they can often accommodate requests to transport swords or knives however this is at their discretion. Alternatively we would recommend organising a courier service for collection and delivery.
Please do not worry if you have lost your ‘Tempering Guide’ sheet. If you email us at info@oldfieldforge.co.uk we can send you a digital copy.
Your personal protective equipment is provided on arrival. Please do not feel you have to buy this for your visit. However, if you do have your own at home and prefer to bring this with you, then you are more than welcome to.
Unfortunately we do not have the facilities or specialism to offer this service here on site. We would recommend searching for a local engraving company who could assist further.
The simple and quick answer is yes!
We love welcoming family and friends to the forge to share the experience in any way they can. We have our woodlands area, showroom and viewing area for you to capture the experience too.
Please note that entry cannot be guaranteed into the forge for visitors without a ticket. Anyone attending and entering the forge is subject to our health & safety briefing and completion of a waiver.
Please do tag us on social media with any action shots taken on camera!
As our workshop is dedicated to forging, we do not have the facilities in place to provide woodwork as part of this experience currently.
On arrival for your Knife Making workshop your Blacksmith will discuss all of our blade and handle possibilities. Detailing the potential shape and style for your creation. We have an amazing display in our showroom for you to view and pick from. This includes forging a full metal handle to have a completed knife by the end of your day!
If preferred you are able to select a half or hidden tang option to then add a wooden handle yourself at home. We aim to provide as much knowledge on how to do this as we can, and also have a variety of materials available to purchase in our showroom such as brass pins, scales and after care tools.
Our expert Blacksmiths will guide you through ring making to your desired shape and size. We always check you are happy with your forged ring before you leave however understand things can change. If you wish to request ring alterations at a later date, please email our team with full details including photographs. Please note there may be a charge for any alterations and you will be required to arrange postage as needed.
Yes, of course, nobody is excluded from our packages! We do recommend you speak directly to our office to run over your visit to ensure we are fully equipped for you on your visit.
Unfortunately not, we do require a parent/guardian to remain on site for the duration of the workshop. For certain workshops only adults can use the equipment so you may also be asked to help out.