THE Finalists of this year’s Visit Herefordshire Tourism Awards have just been announced with seven local businesses being shortlisted.

These awards celebrate the best of Herefordshire’s thriving tourism sector and the shortlisted businesses will go through to the next round of judging, during which independent industry professionals will conduct site visits and assessments to determine the top entries in each category.

The local businesses are Ross-on-Wye-based The Footsteps Tours, Heavenly Homes and Gardens based in the town’s High Street and Livinloom Home, located in Gloucester Road.

Also shortlisted is the Laskett Gardens at Much Birch, the New Inn, St Owens Cross, the Lough Pool Inn at Sellack and White House Glamping at How Caple.

The winners will be revealed at the Tourism Awards Event in February next year and will automatically be shortlisted for the national Visit England Awards for Excellence.

Diane Mansell, chief executive of Visit Herefordshire, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the quality and diversity of the businesses represented in this year’s Visit Herefordshire Tourism Awards finalists.

“Now in its second year, the awards have grown significantly, with entries rising by 46– a true testament to the strength and breadth of Herefordshire’s tourism industry, which was valued at £773 million last year.”

These awards provide an opportunity for local tourism businesses to gain recognition among the country’s finest. The Visit Herefordshire Tourism Awards span 16 tourism-related categories.

In The Footsteps is a tour operator with over 15 years of experience in designing and providing top quality tours for individuals, couples and groups to heritage sites and battlefields.

Heavenly Homes and Gardens, based at the House of the Man of Ross, has a huge range of plants, pots and other garden features along with botanical wax melts, candles and a range of seasonal decorations.

Livinloom Home is a handwoven business which creates bespoke fabric products and sells fabric by the metre combined with a ceramics enterprise which together creates lamps and other projects.

Laskett Gardens has been in the making for the past 50 years by Sir Roy Strong and his late wife Julia Trevelyan Oman. They have created a manicured garden along with a range of fruit trees and bushes while the colours delight in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Garden where a sundial takes centre stage.

The New Inn offers warmth and great hospitality and has a commitment in showcasing the best local produce. Last year it won the Visit Herefordshire’s Pub of the Year award. The New Inn is a destination venue for food lovers and those seeking a relaxing, country retreat.

The Loughpool Inn has been experiencing a vibrant renaissance with its craft ales and a cellar to celebrate produce from Herefordshire orchards to the sun-drenched vineyards of Tuscany to celebrate the best of both the old and new worlds.

White House Glamping, nestled in the old apple orchard of a farm, features two cabins that overlook the Wye Valley and has a kitchen area has all the full works and fire pits that can be used as a barbecue.