Places to Visit

Church Stretton

Church Stretton is at the heart of the Long Mynd’s 5,000 acres of heather-covered Moorland owned by the National Trust and is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has been a popular visitors destination since Edwardian times when it earned the name of little Switzerland.

The Long Mynd and Stretton Hills provide excellent walking, strolling and bird watching for everybody what ever the time of year. From gentle walks in the valleys besides the streams to more strenuous hikes for the more serious rambler or cyclists. The surround countryside is renowned fro its walking, cycling, golfing, fishing, gliding, horse riding and bird watching opportunities.

Church Stretton is not only a haven for walkers it is the ideal spot for exploring Shropshire. Its central position makes it within easy reach of the historic towns of Gastronomic Ludlow, Medieval Shrewsbury, Ironbridge with it famous Iron bridge Gorge museums, Much Wenlock and Bridgnorth with the famous Severn Valley railway. Not forgetting a host of National Trust and English Heritage properties all within a 30 minute drive away.

Church Stretton is a wonderful, friendly shopping town with the Co-op supermarket as well as a good variety of traditional shops giving old fashioned personal service and a small bustling street market on Thursdays. There are several antique shops/market that could occupy any wet afternoon.

A variety of tea rooms, restaurants, pubs & take-away provide delicious food. Local county pubs in the surrounding villages provide excellent bar and evening meals.

The small town of Church Stretton has something for everybody.

National Trust

Attingham Park

Elegant 18th century mansion with Regency interiors and deer park

Benthall Hall, Shropshire

Handsome 6th century house and restored garden

Carding Mill Valley

The most popular spot for visitors to the Long Mynd

Dudmaston Hall

Late 17th century mansion with art collection, lakeside garden and estate

Morville Hall

Stone built house of Elizabethan origin

Sunnycroft

Late Victorian gentleman’s suburban villa

Town Walls Tower

Shrewsbury’s last remaining watchtower

Wilderhope Manor

Elizabethan gabled manor house

Places of Interest

Award Winning Secret Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms

Learn about the ecology, culture and heritage of this area through lively displays hands-on activities and simulated balloon flight – Tel: 01588 676000

Acton Scott Historic Working Farm, Church Stretton

One of Britains leading working farm museums. See milling by hand and butter making in the dairy – Tel: 01694 781306 – As seen on the TV programme the Victorian farm

Awarding Winning Ironbridge Gorge

5 museum that capture the history of the industrial revolution

Daniels Water Mill

The largest waterwheel powering a corn mill still working in England today.
Daniels Mill and it’s impressive waterwheel have been carefully restored.
Virtually unaltered since the 18th Century and still in the ownership of the same family for over 250 years.

Hawkstone Historic Park and Follies

To get to the 18th century, grade 1 listed landscape of Hawkstone Historic Park and Follies you must first go through Paradise (yes!) to arrive at this spectacular man-made folly of caves, cliffs and grottos.

Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom, Telford

Fun family day out. See the Sheep Steeplechase, Shearing and Spinning, Lamb feeding, milking and lambing – Tel: 01952 677917

Park Hall Countryside Experience, Oswestry

130 acre farm with tastefully restored Victorian farm buildings. 80% of activities under cover -Tel: 01691 671123

Castles

Ludlow Castle

A fine medieval ruined castle, set in glorious Shropshire countryside, at the heart of a superb black and white market town

Stokesay Castle

Stokesay castle is the finest and well preserved 13th century fortified manor house in England

Shrewsbury Castle

Shrewsbury castle was built in 1070 and is a Norman red sandstone construction

Gardens

Shropshire Gardens – A serious gardeners delight with 20 National Collections (including English Roses, Clematis, Campanula, Aralia and Tulips) and nearly 20 Plantsmen’s Gardens.

Dorothy Clive Garden, The Dorothy Clive Garden is a hillside garden that accommodates a wide range of choice and unusual plants, providing something of interest all year round. Features include a quarry with spectacular waterfall, and magnificent displays of rhododendrons, herbaceous borders, and scree.

Hodnet Hall Gardens the 60+ acres are renowned as amongst the finest landscape gardens in the country. Forest trees provide a wonderful backdrop for formal gardens planted to give delight during every season, woodland walks amongst flowering shrubs and a daisy chain of ornamental pools.

Powis Castle and Gardens Medieval castle rising dramatically above the celebrated garden. The world-famous garden, overhung with clipped yews, shelters rare and tender plants. Laid out under the influence of Italian and French styles, it retains its original lead statues and an orangery on the terraces. High on a rock above the terraces, the castle, originally built circa 1200, began life as a medieval fortress.

Powis Castle also displays a superb collection of treasures from India is displayed in the Clive Museum.

Shrewsbury has Dobbies and Percy Thrower Garden canters as well as the Quarry Gardens in the middle of Shrewsbury. A spectacular bedding display. Don’t forgot the Shrewsbury Flower show Held in August which is comparable to the Chelsea flower show.

And there’s still more to tempt you in Shropshire’s National Trust Gardens at Dudmaston and Benthall.