To try to visit Shropshire AND Northumberland or just do Shropshire? Also, what area to stay in Shropshire?

[Fredflinstoneswife]

Ok, so this is my second post on the subject of holidaying in England! In my first post I listed many of the things/places I like for holidaying and most responses were to go to Northumberland or Shropshire. I feel pretty set (I think!) on Shropshire. We are coming over to England on the ferry from NI with a touring caravan (first time with a caravan) with our two children (3 and 1) and I am wondering could we do a week in Shropshire and a week in Northumberland? We would have about four days to allow for travelling to and fro, and in between. Would this be too much travelling about?

I am also wondering what part of Shropshire to stay in?

Two years ago we were in the Lake District which I LOVED. Last year we happened to be in Lewes which I also loved- what friendly people!

I like:
Areas that have historic/pretty towns and/ or villages. Independent shops that have good local makers and antique shops/fairs. This was why I loved Lewes.
National trust properties.
Prefer forested areas and I do like mountains but I could forego the mountains for one year lol.
Things to do for a 3 year old.
I also love rivers for paddling/swimming, beach would be a bonus but it's not a must.

Thank you for any help you can give!

:D

I don't think you'd need more than a week in Shropshire. You've got Attingham Park, Dudmaston Hall and Powys Castle for NT choices plus the Long mynd for walks and streams to paddle in.

www.ironbridge.org.uk/plan/ticket-prices/ for museums

Towns worth visiting: Ludlow and Shrewsbury

While you're in the Shropshire area, head slightly north to Chester. Its a beautiful small city with medieval buildings and some roman remains. Also, just across the Welsh border, there's a lovely town called Llangollen. You can visit Plas Newydd and there is some stunning scenery nearby.

Northumberland beaches are undeveloped for a reason - the sea is cold. They are beautiful.
You could do both counties but it is quite a hike.
If you are coming via Wales, you could probably find a beach there.

If you are visiting Alnwick Castle, it might be better to wait until the DC are a bit older.

Ironbridge is fabulous for kids

stay anywhere nearby.
Bridgnorth is nice and fairly well centred for Ironbridge

I would just stick to Shropshire and around there to minimise travelling time with you f kids - it's a long way from Shropshire to Northumberland and back!

There lots of nice things to do/ see in Shropshire and you can easily Chester, Wales and other nearby places as well.

I think you could spend 2 days at Ironbridge easily. A day at carding mill valley - hills, streams, and a reservoir for proper swimming. Trip to Ludlow for town, food and castle. Day in Shrewsbury, Indy shops, museum, park & splash park, canoing on the river. RAF cosford museum, several NT places. Severn valley railway is good too,but not cheap.

That said we had a fab few days in Northumberland too. Alnwick is fab. Castle, gardens, and ran out of time for barter books. Seven stories and the science museum in Newcastle. Beaches. Lindesfarne. Hadrian's wall.

You've enough for 2 separate holidays, without a day traveling between them.

Both are great, but don't do them back to back. Personally I could easily spend a fortnight in either, so save Northumberland for another time. With kids of that age, I'd suggest as well as all the countryside and NT places in Shropshire do to West Midlands Safari Park, Severn Valley Railway, Apley Farm Park, Weston Park, Ironbridge (do it over more than one day).

Or combine with somewhere closer like the Wye Valley/Forest of Dean, Chester or North Wales.

If I hadn't already got our summer holiday booked, I think I'd be going to Shropshire again as you've got me remembering what a great time we had!

Ahhhh I SOOO appreciate all these thoughts. Thank you so very much!!!!

I have decided to save Northumberland for a separate trip and I am so excited about Shropshire.

I am thinking along the lines of spending about a week or so near ironbridge and as @AliMonkey has suggested, spending sometime somewhere else close by. Maybe wye valley? I see the Malvern hills are nearby too... are they worth seeing?

I have seen a fair bit of north wales and I've been to chester before so it would be nice to see somewhere new.

If there are any good areas for paddling or anything else to do that is free/cheap and cheerful for the children in the shropshire area I would greatly appreciate any input.

Also, I am a massive fan of living history museums... I can hardly express how much in words 😆.. and I am wondering whether to do Blists Hill or the Black Country living history museum at Dudley. I have been to Beamish...love it!!

I see you're from N.I. (where I have lived) and thinking of taking a 1 and 3-year-old on holiday I'd want to stay "put" - think Anrim Coast, Portstewart, Portrush, Derry and over on to Donegal. It's all so stunning.

But I get it if you want to go "abroad". Something completely different. Enjoy!

Thanks for your comment. The north coast is pretty much where I call home now so really wanting a change of scenery!

Actually, if I was wanting to spend a few days on the way home from Shropshire to Cairnryan (the cairnryan boat is a lot cheaper than to go via anglesey and handier from the NI side) would anyone have any suggestions for pretty areas/ historic towns/beautiful forested areas which wouldn't add a lot of mileage? It might be daft to go further south (wye valley) from shropshire hills area, perhaps it would make more sense to go somewhere else on the way back north to the boat.

@Fredflinstoneswife

Yes. I totally get it.

I lived a bit further south from you. And also always enjoyed going over to England (and Wales and Scotland).

If you're going back via Cairnryan, you could go through Dumfries and Galloway which is beautiful. I'd be more inclined to take the Cairnryan ferry both ways, go via Dumfies and go to Northumberland. The journey from Cairnryn to Northumberland is probably 3-4 hrs with stops.

Thanks for your thoughts! Sorry, I should have stated- we will be getting the cairnryan ferry both ways. I think we should maybe try to stick to the m6 side of the yorkshire dales without adding northumberland in too as we will already be doing quite a few hours going from cairnryan to Shropshire and back. I'm wondering where else we could spend say 5 days that would be nice to see but not too far off our return track. Dumfries and galloway could be a possibility!

Of the two museums I prefer the Black
Country, there’s more content there and they’re starting to open a section relating to the 1960s now (think it’s just a pub that’s open so far but there’s a whole 60s ‘town’ being created).
There’s also a coal mine that you can go down which is very good.

Shrewsbury is lovely, a great town with decent shops and places to eat. The surrounding Countryside is stunning in the warmer months

Malvern Hills are lovely for walking and scenery but wouldn’t be my top choice with young children. If you’re driving to/from Scotland then maybe Yorkshire Dales? Or just go back to Lake District - I’d happily holiday there every year if it was closer to us.

Oh I love Shropshire. I would go to Bridgnorth and Iron bridge. You could go on the Severn Valley Railway. I’d go to Blists Hill just because of the location being better than the Black Country Museum. You could go to the area round Church Stretton and the Long Mynd - lovely place to walk and your kids could paddle in the stream there. Ludlow is a nice historic town. Shrewsbury is also great and definitely worth visiting. Much Wenlock and the Abbey near there is nice too. There are also quite a few national trust properties in Shropshire. The RAF museum at Cosford is excellent, free and great for kids. If you like gardens the rose gardens at David Austin near by are definitely worth a visit.

If driving from Scotland, you could drive down on the A1, taking in a bit of Northumberland and N.Yorks, Peaks, Shropshire then go back up the M6.

I live in Shrewsbury and would definitely recommend. Is it the summer you are visiting? Visit the town, the market is a must of you like independent shops and have a walk down to the Quarry. You could take the DC on a boat ride along the river and we also have a park with a splash park for the little ones, lots of places to eat and drink also loads of history. Ludlow is also very pretty and the castle is worth a visit. I am sure you will love it it is such a beautiful part of the country.

[[https://originalshrewsbury.co.uk/business-directory/quarry-park

[[https://www.shrewsburymarkethall.co.uk/

The market looks drab from outside but has a wonderful vibe but visit on a day when it is fully open.

Park Hall farm in Oswestry is great , definitely a full day out . Telford Town Park is lovely and it's free , Shrewsbury is fab - quarry , park , splash park , walk along the river , boat trip and that's without even going into the town ! A lovely day out is Chirk castle then drive a few miles to Llangollen. You will have a great time .

Another vote for Park Hall farm for little kids - one of my kids best days out! And it's definitely a full day of activity!

Yes to Shropshire

There is a campsite called love 2 stay with a "beach" area and eco swimming pool a bit £££ but for s couple of days no need to leave site

Love ironbridge, Ludlow and the longmynd)Sp) - there is a viewpoint that feels in the middle of nowhere but approx 5 mins from a nt car park.

In fact there is a larger nt car park with stream - although it gets busy - church stretto's

Love to Stay at Shrewsbury is a campsite with plenty to do there.
Definitely visit Cardingmill Valley and paddle in the stream. There are some quite basic campsites in the area too.
Attingham Park is a NT property near Shrewsbury & very close to Love to Stay.
Spend a day in Shrewsbury.
Ludlow Castle.
Severn Valley Railway at Bridgnorth.
Museums at Ironbridge/ Coalbrookdale- Blists Hill is ace.
Telford Town Park.