Cider Safari

Aim

Cider Safari aims to create unique, authentic cider experiences. Imagine the best wine tour or tasting, but with apples and a lot more fun!

Welcome to Cider Safari

Discover the people, places and flavours of Herefordshire cider

My name is Gabe Cook and I am The Ciderologist.  I am an award-winning, global cider expert based in Herefordshire, UK.  I have had the joy and privilege of working in the cider industry, all over the globe, for the last 20 years.  I've worked for small farmhouse producers all the way up to the world's largest.  My cider career has enabled me to work, travel and drink cider in far flung places such as the US, Australia, Japan, Norway, New Zealand and Zimbabwe.

But I've returned to Herefordshire with an idea: to create a new way for people to discover the county's cider, its makers and the landscape that brings it to life.

Cider Safari will take small groups on guided journeys through Herefordshire, visiting independent cider makers, exploring their orchards and gaining behind-the-scenes access to their craft. Along the way, guests will meet the people behind the bottles, enjoy exclusive tastings and discover just how diverse and fascinating cider can be.

Think of it as a wine tour with a distinctly Herefordshire spirit: informal, welcoming, full of character and rooted in the place itself.

To make these experiences possible, I need your help to get Cider Safari on the road.

Herefordshire Cider 

Herefordshire is blessed with a magical landscape, bountiful orchards, some of the most renowned cider makers in the world and an incredible heritage.  Cider has been recorded as being made in Herefordshire for over 1,000 years; in fact the UK's first mention of cider is from this County.  Over the centuries cider has an important role within Herefordshire, most notably in the 1600s when naturally sparkling cider was being created - several years before Dom Perignon "invented" the process in Champagne.  That's right, it should be called The Hereford Method!

However, not everyone knows that Herefordshire makes cider - Somerset and Devon have done a much better job of marketing that over the years.  And the word 'cider' comes loaded with pre-conception for many people after ill-advised experiences as a youth.  But Herefordshire embodies the best of what cider can be: made from fresh apple juice, from traditional varieties and with myriad techniques and skilful approaches.  It's these people, these stories and these liquids that I wish to showcase.

Yet despite this rich tradition and the quality of it producers, Herefordshire lacks lacks the visitor experiences that its cider culture warrants.  And this is precisely what I wish to change this with Cider Safari.

Flagship Cider Safari

The flagship, one day Classic Cider Safari is available as a Public Safari or a Private Safari.  As the name suggests, the Public Safari is available to anyone to book a place.  This is most preferable for solo travellers and couples and is a great way to meet likeminded people!

Private Safaris provide the opportunity to have the a great cider experience with your friends and family, and you are not limited to the publicly available dates.

Here's what an itinerary will look like:

• 10am to 5:30pm
• Expert hosting and storytelling from The Ciderologist himself or another Herefordian cider evangelist
• Visits to 3 makers including entry, all tastings and lunch 
• Featured makers would include Westons, Oliver's Cider & Perry, Woodredding Farm, Newton Court and Ross-on-Wye Cider and Perry Co amongst others
• Transportation via a brand new, electric Safari Wagon, seating up to 6 in comfort
• Public tours pick up and drop off from Hereford city centre
• Private tours can pick up and drop off from your accommodation 
• Non-alcoholic options can be made available; all dietary requirements catered for
• Larger groups can be accommodated via a luxury minibus or coach
• COST: £130pp

Public Safaris will commence on Saturday 17th April 2027and will run one Saturday per month until November 2027, unless, of course, demand is huge and extra dates need to be arranged!  

Private Safaris will be available to undertake from Monday 26th April.  Dates can be negotiated to suit your group's needs - weekend or midweek.

Sustainable Safaris

To transport up to six people at a time requires a 7 seater Safari Wagon.  But these experiences require not a quality vehicle, but, given cider has deeply sustainable roots (orchard-related pun intended), this needs to be an electric vehicle. 

Cider has a naturally lower ecological footprint relative to beer thanks to its lower energy and lower water-usage production processes.  Whilst the orchards (of which we will drive through and walk into during the course of the day) are havens for biodiversity and centres of social connection.  In short they are magical places. Supporting Cider Safari not only upholds the heritage of cider in Herefordshire, but is of direct economic benefit to the cider makers and broader agricultural community at large. 

Cider Safari needs your help!

In order to turn Cider Safari into a reality I need raise £20,000.  

Once platform fees and VAT has been accounted for, this leaves £15,000.  Here's how it would be divvied up:

• £10,000 – Getting the safari on the road: a contribution towards the vehicle, licences and appropriate insurance.
• £2,000 – Making it easy to book: a dedicated website and booking system.
• £3,000 – Bringing people to Herefordshire: marketing, launch activity and promoting participating cider makers.

I already have finance in place to cover the monthly repayments for the vehicle and the running of the broader enterprise.  Alas, there is no public grant funding available to support the purchase of a vehicle, even for a sustainable tourism enterprise in rural areas. This Crowdfunder support will enable me to get this project over the line, but only if I reach my £20k target. 

Stretch Goals

Any money raised beyond £20,000 would be added onto the vehicle deposit, thus reducing the monthly repayment and achieving a quicker return on investment and further reinvestment into the enterprise.  

This would facilitate engaging the services of another driver/guide to expand both the geography of the Safari as well as the nature/type of Safari that can be offered, which could include:

• Herefordshire Cider, cheese and beer/wine/spirit Safari
• Gloucestershire Cider Safari
• Somerset Cider Safari

Tiers 

There are several tiers of support.  For just £20 you can have the opportunity to name the Safari wagon (and no Cidery McCiderface will not be accepted!).  There is also the opportunity to gain great discounts on future Cider Safaris.  And Corporate Sponsorship is also available if your company fancies having its name on the most recognisable wagon in The Shire and beyond. 

Let's Go!

So, there you have it! This is the first time I have ever sought financial support in a public setting such as this.  It comes with trepidation, I can tell you.  But I am convinced that Cider Safari has the opportunity to be a cider success story.

Wassail!!

Funding method

All or nothing – this project will only receive pledges if it reaches its target of £20,000 by 2nd December 2026 at 9:00pm