To ask for tips for Shropshire

[rosamore]

We've been here over a year now and haven't really seen all that much of Shropshire at all.... moved from London so we really don't have a clue. Google obviously gives a lot of suggestions but I'd rather hear from someone who knows the area if that makes sense.

We've seen loads of Shrewsbury and not much else... we know Shropshire's massive and are happy to drive/train/bus wherever's nice. Both with and without kids (5 weeks old and 6/7). Anywhere nice for a night or two away? A family day out? Camping? Art-y stuff? Outdoorsy stuff? We're quite easy (although honestly not sure about camping with 5 week olds...). Or anywhere in Wales we haven't thought of basically anywhere other than Barmouth?

I want to make a big list and tick them off over the next few years. I lived in Provence as a child and thought it was the most awful place on earth as we never did anything to have fun/enjoy the beauty... don't want the same for my DC.

Any tips would be happily appreciated. We really want to feel like we've seen and know this beautiful county... but we really don't!

Have you done some Shropshire hills? Long Mynd, etc?

We've been up the Wrekin with SIL who lives nearer there but other than that no we haven't! We tried Carding Mill Valley once and dd fell jumped in the stream practically still in the car park... will definitely try again though. Any other hill recommendations?

Have you been to Acton Scott Farm? Near Church Stretton. My children really enjoyed it. Bishop's Castle is a nice little town to meander round. Stokesay Castle is fun for children. Attingham Park is a lovely NT property. There's a lot going on in Ludlow if you look up their tourist page and there's also a theatre there. A lovely county! Did you know you can get a direct train to Manchester from Shrewsbury, if you fancy a city break!

Ironbridge and all the museums around there. Telford Town Park and Wonderland. The Severn Valley Railway from Bridgnorth - Kidderminster - you can just enjoy the train ride, or explore the villages along the way, or they run various "specials" like a 1940s weekend, Hogwarts Express, Santa's train etc. Brown Clee and/or Titterstone Clee for walks - not sure if the 6/7 year old would be up to those though, they're quite steep in places. There's an ancient hill fort at Nordy Bank which might be more manageable though. Much Wenlock Olympics, Ludlow for food, various festivals in the towns through the year.

Not actually in Shropshire, but not far - West Mids Safari Park near Bewdley. If you like hills, then the Malverns are easily accessible for a short break. As for Wales, there's so much more than Barmouth! Aberdyfi and Machynlleth are nice little places, there's gorgeous camping on Shell Island near Harlech where I had lots of summer trips, all of Snowdonia...

I don't actually live there any more (though my parents do) so some of these may have changed since my childhood, but hopefully there are a few good ideas there!

My parents live there so we've been discovering a few places with them. Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms is good and there's an owl sanctuary somewhere that also has loads of farm animals. Let me look it up!

Ironbridge and Blists Hill.

www.owlcentre.com

And a bit further but Hampton Court (not that one, the other one!) is good

Somewhere around there, I can't remember the name but this may jog someone's memory, there's a hill which is basically a folly - winding paths through the rocks, bridges and tunnels and a whole underground area with windows looking over the cliff. ... ah ... just googled shropshire folly ... hawkstone park

Loads of great suggestions here. My DS loves the air museum at RAF Cosford. The Cold War Museum also there is really interesting as well but quite a bit of reading so probably more suited to older children and adults.

I’d second the Ironbridge museums - the whole of the valley and Ironbridge town are so pretty and green that’s it’s amazing to think it was an industrial hellhole, but there’s loads for DC to do and your pass to the museums can be used gradually over the year.

RAF Cosford is fun if you like planes.

Ludlow Castle is pretty. And keep an eye out for local festivals; go into the Tourist Information Centre and pick up one of those magazines which tells you what’s on, and a bunch of leaflets. No sense leaving all the good stuff for the tourists.

All the ones mentioned -/ also
The stiperstones- devils chair walk
Much wenlock for a little wander round and walk around the area
Attingham Park NT gardens and house
Shrewsbury I know well, sounds like you’re well covered there tho
Wroxetter roman ruins and vineyard

Further afield-
Abersoch is gorgeous for beach and naice, also portmerion on the way is where they filmed the prisoner it’s cool and weird all at once!
Barmouth- day trip, easy beach
Chester, v Pictur esq
Centre for alternative technology in Mcyncllyth (will have spelt that wrong)

Feel free to PM me

I am a proud Shropshire lass! Love going back there.
Telford town park is brilliant
Blists hill, and the ironbridge gorge museums.
Ingenuity in iron bridge.
The British steel works near Oswestry is fantastic

You lot are amazing. Thank you! I should have posted ages ago. We're up in Manchester, Liverpool and Chester a lot visiting family so are quite good at getting out of Shropshire... but haven't been so good at getting to know where we actually live though

Haughmind Hill is lovely gentle walk and they have a summer event on. See their FB page about the Highway Rat..
The Quarry in Shrewsbury is so lovely. There is a free splash park thats next to a playing park. You can have a picnic there and in the centre is The Dingle which are gardens with lots of benches in. There are iften evebts in at The Quarry si check thie fb oage. Eg Kidsfest or the Food Festival or Thr Flower Show. Lovely local places to eat nearby too.
Theatre Severn buy the River Severn is a popular building that hosts many children's shows.

The Theatre also hosts plenty of more grown up.shows,including Severn Jesters comedy nights. Can eat within walking distance if want to at plenty of places.
Grinshill is a lively olace to.walk and you can volunteer to walk rescue dogs there toi in the mornings.
Battlefield has a small farm and shop with a butcher's and deli and a cafe.and yiu can fillow.walks there. Thete is also a falconry part.
Shrewsbury Castle. You can pay to go inside or just go in the grounds and climb the tower overlooking one of the railway tracks.
The Abbey in Abbey Forgate.is gorgeous inside.
The Art Museum in town has permanent displays but change exhibitions too. The Titanic is currently on and they often host workshops for kids too eg School.of Magic.

The park with follies that a pp mentioned is called Hawkstone Park. You didn't mention where in Shropshire you are? I am just outside Shrewsbury with a 6 year old, some of the places we have enjoyed going are Church Stretton (Rectory Wood is good for walks not to mention access to the Long Mynd). There is a lovely campsite at Ashes Hollow in Little Stretton, just outside Church Stretton. Much Wenlock is pretty with access nearby to the Wenlock Edge. Bridgnorth also worth a visit. Earl's Hill just outside Pontesbury on the Bishop's Castle road. The Stiperstones. Acton Scott Farm as pp said. I may be able to come up with more...

Rodney’s pillar
Ty mawr near Wrexham
British ironworks (Oswestry)

Park hall farm park

Ludlow dog day at Stokesay court on the 22nd... if you like dogs of course!

Read the Lone Pine series by Malcolm Saville starting with Mystery at Witches.

Lots are set there and give you plenty of places with local legends.

Mystery at Witchend
Stupid autocorrect.

Bridgnorth. You can park in Severn Park for the day, there's a little playground and then walk along the river into the 'low town' and then take the cliff railway tram up into 'high town' and explore up there!

The ironbridge museums and Ironbridge itself and its little park are lovely (but can be difficult to park, think there is a park and ride though)

Attingham Park is worth a look, its a lovely day out and some nice walks around the estate.

A quick list:

• Ludlow castle- they sometimes have special events on there too.

• 'Blists Hill' Victorian Town in Ironbridge, which your 6/7 year old/s might enjoy (and Ironbridge itself also has some lovely cafes).

• The Severn Valley Railway.

• Attingham House & park and Dudmaston (both beautiful National Trust buildings with lots of gardens for running around in and cafes)

• The cliff railway in Bridgnorth. You can take a trip from High Town to Low Town on it and then enjoy an ice cream or coffee by the river.

• There's a playbarn and cafe at Apley Farm

For Wales

• Anglesey is lovely! you'd think it was further from Shropshire than places like Barmouth but because it's on the motorway it doesn't take longer in the car. Rhosneigr is lovely and Anglesey in general feels a bit like Cornwall. If I was going to stay for a night anywhere close to Shropshire then I'd stay there!

• Closer to Barmouth, Harlech beach is nice but there is a bit of walk down to the beach, which might not be great when you have a baby.

• Much Wenlock is pretty for a little walk and a cup of coffee.

The closest zoos are the West Midlands safari park and Chester Zoo (so not in Shropshire!).

slightly off the western edge are Llangollen - world heritage area loads to see and do, Powis castle and Chirk castle. between those two are good walks, hidden sights and heritage railways.

oswestry food festival next weekend and unlike shrewsbury, free to enter!

An ex oswestrian here, the hill fort is a good walk, another vote for the iron works
The is park hall farm, and about 10 miles outside of oswestry is llanrhraeder waterfall, the longest single drop waterfall in the UK and in this weather absolutely perfect to dip your toes in