Shropshire

Planning a visit to one of Shropshire’s many unusual places to stay? Then don’t forget your notebook! Bordered by Wales, the county’s unspoilt landscapes, history, myths and legends have inspired many a creative mind over time, including A.E. Housman, Mary Webb and D.H. Lawrence. The comic writer P.G. Wodehouse even once described Shropshire as “the nearest earthly place to paradise”.

Packed with historic houses, castles and stunning gardens, you can also enjoy the delights of Shropshire’s traditional market towns, including the county Tudor town of Shrewsbury, romantically surrounded by the River Severn and famous as the birthplace of Charles Darwin.  Ludlow is a gourmet’s heaven – don’t forget to stop for afternoon tea – while Oswestry boasts one of the best-preserved Iron Age hill forts in Britain.

Steeped in magical myth, King Arthur was said to have actually been born in Shropshire. Take the King Arthur Trail to explore the legendary sites and learn more about those famous stories of Camelot and the sword in the stone.

You’ll find two UNESCO World Heritage sites in Shropshire; the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal that borders North Wales, and the famous Ironbridge Gorge, ten award-winning museums spanned by the world’s very first iron bridge – an icon of the area’s vital contribution to the birth of the Industrial Revolution.

The setting for some of the UK’s finest walking country, the Shropshire landscape is geologically unique, complete with diverse wildlife and pure, clean air. Hike through the energising Shropshire Hills, or simply meander along with the Shropshire Union and Llangollen Canals for a rejuvenating break to remember.