Read on to discover some of the attractions you can enjoy whilst staying at one of our Shropshire cottages. Tucked away on the Anglo-Welsh border, this county has been surprising visitors for years and by selecting one of our holiday cottages Shropshire and its many treasures can be discovered.
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If you love unspoilt countryside, visiting historic towns and experiencing a sense of the past then a holiday cottage Shropshire break could be just for you. Here, you can appreciate the sentiments of A E Houseman's personal, nostalgic poem A Shropshire Lad. You may be surprised to learn this is excellent walking country; the prominent Wrekin, the summit ridge of the Long Mynd and the more menacing jagged outcrops of the nearby Stiperstones are all a draw for ramblers, while those seeking less of a challenge head for the gentler, wooded limestone escarpment of Wenlock Edge.
There is a wealth of historic towns to visit in Shropshire. Its capital, Shrewsbury, almost an island on the River Severn, is one of England's finest medieval market towns. Further downstream is Bridgnorth; perched on a cliff above the river, its famous funicular railway links its 'high' and 'low' towns. Here, the carefully restored Daniels Mill is the largest working waterwheel to power a corn mill in England. Much Wenlock is a quintessentially English town at the northern end of Wenlock Edge. Just down the road is Church Stretton with its celebrated Stretton Antiques Market. Due to its location at the foot of the Long Mynd, it is sometimes referred to as Little Switzerland.
In the north of the county, the vibrant market town of Oswestry sits between the patchwork plains of Shropshire and the hill country of the Welsh borders, while in the south, Ludlow likes to portray itself as the small town with the large reputation for good food and drink. It's not just at festival time (in September if you're interested) that Ludlow attracts food-lovers. The town has a lively market, several speciality food shops and restaurants. The Ludlow Food Centre is a unique food shopping experience, where farming, food production and retailing come together to create a very special environment; here, 80 per cent of the food originates in Shropshire and the surrounding counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Powys. Visitors can see their food being made in glass-fronted production kitchens that surround the food hall and choose from thousands of local products. There is also the Conservatory Barn Cafe serving fresh local and seasonal food.
When it comes to staying in holiday cottages Shropshire also offers a fascinating insight into our industrial heritage. No stay at any of our Shropshire cottages would be complete without a trip to Ironbridge Gorge in the beautiful Severn valley, cradle of the Industrial Revolution. While the great icon of this World Heritage site is the Iron Bridge itself, there are many other attractions to visit here. To fully appreciate the Gorge and its place in the story of Britain's development, visitors can buy an entry pass to all ten museums and walk between them. Reminders of the past are everywhere. Sleeping furnaces and abandoned railway tracks are now mellowed by nature; in the valley, amidst the bird song, the sound of gushing of water comes not from a natural source but from the complex series of man-made watercourses that once powered industry here. All in all, a great day out and one more good reason for booking a break at one of our Shropshire cottages.
Other places to visit in Shropshire
Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
This is a distinctive area on the Welsh border where remote upland merges into pastoral lowland. There are five distinctive upland areas each with their own landscape; the Long Mynd and Stiperstones, Clun Valley, the Clee Hills, Stretton Hills and The Wrekin.
The Long Mynd and Stiperstones
The great summit ridge of The Long Mynd dominates south Shropshire and there are many fine walks in the area. Steep narrow valleys dissect the moorland including Carding Mill Valley above Church Stretton. Nearby, the long summit ridge of the Stiperstones is crowned by several rugged, jagged outcrops of rock which when silhouetted against the sky, give it a menacing appearance.
One of our Shropshire cottages near the Long Mynd.
Clun Valley
Mentioned by A E Housman in A Shropshire Lad, the Clun Valley has a remote feel with meandering river valleys surrounded by rolling upland hills. This corner of the Shropshire Hills has been long fought over, and the Welsh place names and many defensive earthworks, such as Offa's Dyke, Clun and Hopton castles, are testimony to these turbulent times. The Dyke is a linear earthwork which roughly follows the Welsh/English boundary from the Severn estuary near Chepstow, passing through Shropshire to Prestatyn on the north coast. The origins of the Dyke are shrouded in mystery so that many of its aspects are speculated upon, rather than fully understood. Whether it was intended as an agreed boundary, as a defensive structure with long-lost additional fortifications, or for some other use, is not known. Today it provides excellent walking with a long-distance footpath running the entire 177 miles. In the small town of Clun the Green Man Festival is a time-honoured springtime celebration, held on the first May bank holiday weekend of the year when the Green Man battles the spirit of winter at Clun Bridge. In August, the Clun Carnival and Show incorporates a week-long series of events and in October, the annual Beer Festival is a popular event.
One of our Shropshire cottages in the Clun Valley.
The Clee Hills
The sandstone peaks of the Clee Hills include Brown Clee Hill, the highest point in Shropshire. In medieval times coal mining and quarrying were carried out here. Today the scene is somewhat different. Quarrying still takes place on Titterstone Clee, but elsewhere nature has reclaimed the hills and remnants of rare wildflower meadows survive while the disused quarries have become home to a wealth of wildlife, including peregrine falcons.
One of our Shropshire cottages near Clee Hill.
Stretton Hills
The Stretton Hills are among some of the oldest in Britain. This range of hills, which includes the Long Mynd, provide spectacular views across the surrounding countryside. At the foot of them lies Stokesay Castle, Shropshire's (and possibly England's) finest and best preserved fortified medieval manor house. It has hardly altered since the late 13th century and comprises the castle, timber-framed gatehouse and parish church forming an unforgettably picturesque group.
One of our Shropshire cottages near the Stretton Hils.
The Wrekin
The Wrekin is a very distinctive and rather isolated hill dominates the mid Shropshire. It is said that the spectacular views from the top take in 17 counties. The summit is also an impressive Iron Age hill fort and the path guides you through the distinctive outer and inner entrances, known as Hell Gate and Heaven Gate respectively.
One of our Shropshire cottages near The Wrekin.
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