Shropshire really is one to watch - and that’s official!
Rolling hills, beautiful villages, historic towns, castles and fun activities for the family, the county of Shropshire is a “rural gem” that has it all for the discerning tourist, writes Ruth Brindle.
But don’t just take my word for it, ABTA, the influential Association of Travel Agents, rates this west Midlands area in its Top 10 places to watch in 2024. It sits proudly alongside such exotic destinations as Aruba, Crete, Mauritius, Vietnam and Zambia.
So, while there are no white, sandy beaches and palm trees here, there are treats of a very British nature to enjoy. I chose to sample its delights in the very pretty town of Ludlow. Famous for its September food festival, it is an ideal base. We stayed in a delightful four-bedroom cottage just a short walk from the town’s market square and shops, as well as the medieval castle.
The Maltsters was pristinely clean and stocked to the brim with everything you need for a perfect stay.
After a long drive north, my husband and I got off to a great start with a leisurely lunch in the historic, 17th century Feathers Hotel. Ancient beams added to the charm, but the food (and wine) were excellent. It was also just a short walk from our base in town.
As a multi-generational group there were lots of needs to cover - teenagers were after shops, adults wanted to find locally-made produce and everyone was on the hunt for good restaurants. For all of these the boxes were ticked very heartily. A wide range of individual shops included delicatessens and gift and fashion outlets. There is also a museum, a distillery and many walks to take in the area.
As you stroll around the town what really takes your eye is the seemingly endless array of delicious things to eat. In Vaughans, famous for its hot sandwiches, hot roast pork just begs you to ignore it at lunchtime and in The Mousetrap Cheese Shop it’s impossible to decide between local makes such as Blue Monk, Ragstone or Finn, made by Neals Yard Creamery.
The famous market is open on four week. Although we found that ek there are fewer stalls than weekend, we, again, were drawn stall - Stinking Bishop Locally-made is the watchword.
After a stroll around the market in Castle Square, a visit to Ludlow’s medieval castle ruins couldn’t be more convenient. Another castle just a short drive from Ludlow is Stokesay. We drove along leafy lanes amid those beautiful hills isolated location. It’s one of most popular English Heritage in the country. All ages in found it charming. It’s one surviving examples of a manor house, built in the 13th Century. We learnt about the ‘rules’ of sieges, which the castle inhabitants had to withstand, standing as it does in the Welsh Marches, close to the border with Wales.
The younger members of the group loved climbing the tower to the top as a look out over the land around. After this history lesson, and a lot of fresh air, we headed for Bishops Castle where we enjoyed a hearty meal at The Castle Hotel. The summer would be a great time to visit here and enjoy its gorgeous garden with panoramic views.
And keeping on the subject of food, our evening meal in Ludlow was at the colourful and fun Sourced Pizza, founded by four brothers - Reuben,
Adam, Ben and Josh Crouch. There are amazing choices, including Shropshire Shrooms and Shroppy Giuseppe, all made with as many local ingredients as you can pack on a sourdough base. It truly was the best pizza I’ve ever tasted. Tripadvisor reviews seem to agree too.
The brothers turned out also to be our hosts at Csons (the four Crouch sons), where we enjoyed breakfast on our second day of three. It is set in a stunning location on the River Teme near Dinham Weir, a wild swimming area, and a favourite spot for both locals and tourists. The menu ranged between the full CSONS with local ingredients, including Shropshire Salumi, to vegetarian and vegan choices plus exotic offerings such as The Lebanese. Sweet-toothed diners would love the pancakes.
As we reluctantly set off home after our morning treat on the river, we were all in favour of ABTA’S ratings this county is one not only to watch, but to return to as many times as possible.