We produced an e-guide to Shropshire which is available to to view online by all members, you just need to join as a club or VIP member here . Here we detail some of the days out mentioned in the guide.
THE WREKIN
The Wrekin is one of Shropshire’s most familiar natural landmarks and a popular destination for thousands of visitors every year. This iconic hill is the pinnacle of an equally remarkable but much less widely known ancient forest landscape, where an array of plants, animals and insects has found a home amid a green network of varied wildlife sites. The Wrekin is a hill in east Shropshire, some five miles west of Telford. Rising above the Shropshire Plain to a height of 1335ft above sea level, it is a prominent and well-known landmark, signalling the entrance to Shropshire for travellers westbound on the M54 motorway. The hill is popular with walkers and tourists and offers good views of Shropshire. It can be seen well into Staffordshire and the Black Country, and even as far as the Beetham Tower in Manchester, Winter Hill in Lancashire and Cleeve Hill in Gloucestershire. The earliest mention of the Wrekin occurs in a charter of 855. There is an Iron Age hill fort on the summit almost 20 acres in size, to which the name Uriconio originally referred. It is thought the fort was built by the tribe and was once their capital. In AD 47 Roman invaders stormed the fort and set fire to it, moving the defeated tribe on to Wroxeter. explorethewrekin.co.uk
ACTON BURNELL CASTLE
Tucked away in a quiet part of Shropshire is the graceful red sandstone shell of Acton Burnell Castle. It was built between 1284 and 1293 by Bishop Burnell, Edward I’s Lord Chancellor, and Parliaments were held here twice, in 1283 and 1285. By 1420, the castle was abandoned, and it was allowed to decay while a new house, Acton Burnell Hall, was built beside it. Nonetheless, the castle remains an impressive example of a medieval fortified manor house. There are no facilities on site. Acton Burnell Castle is located roughly 8 miles from the market town of Shrewsbury, which has a variety of shops, restaurants and cafes. If you want to make a day of it, nearby Langley Chapel is a short scenic drive from Acton Burnell Castle, and Wroxeter Roman City is also nearby. english-heritage.org.uk
SHROPSHIRE HILLS DISCOVERY CENTRE
The 30-acre riverside Onny Meadows is the perfect destination for exploring, plus it’s free of charge. The riverside meadows include access paths, wild play areas, access to the shallow river and trails and geocaching, making the Onny Meadows the perfect destination for exploring with the whole family. Let your four-legged friend explore the wooded areas, the Onny river and acres of wide open spaces. There is an award-winning cafe on site and dogs are welcome in the picnic bench area outside where they can get a drink from designated water bowls. Also available is a fascinating Shropshire Hills Through Time Exhibition and a varied gift shop as well as a free craft room and relaxation area so everyone can enjoy a whole day out packed full of fun. shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk
BLISTS HILL VICTORIAN TOWN
Step back in time to the dawn of the modern age, experience what everyday life was like in 1900 and see how technological advances and industry were changing people’s lives. Visit Victorian shops and cottages, meet craftspeople demonstrating their trades and taste authentic food in our re-created working town. Here are some things you might like to do while there: Exchange your modern money for pounds, shillings and pence in the bank, inspect the unusual Victorian remedies at the pharmacy, learn how candles were made in the 19th century in the candlemakers, see our traditional printing presses in action, and climb aboard our train to go into the Blists Hill Mine. There are experiences for the whole family. You and your children can ride the old-fashioned fairground rides, try your luck on the coconut shy, give the kids the chance to let off some steam at the Madeley Wood Co. outdoor adventure playground, dress up for a portrait in our Victorian photographic studio or take a horse bus ride around the streets of the Upper Town. ironbridge.org.uk
WROXETER ROMAN CITY
Discover urban living 2000 years ago at Viroconium Cornoviorum (Wroxeter), one of the largest cities in Roman Britain. Wander the remains of the bath house and explore a reconstructed town house. Enjoy family friendly activities in the refurbished museum, discover new objects on display and a cast of Roman characters who help to bring the ancient city to life. A new handling collection includes objects that would have been used for writing and a reconstructed strigil, used in bath houses at the time to cleanse the body. Step into the reconstructed town house built with only the tools and materials available to the Romans. Visit the refurbished museum to discover personal items that shine a light on the lives of people who lived at Wroxeter, including jewellery, amulets, specialist tools and religious artefacts. Or have a go at our giant games, including Roman-themed snakes and ladders. english-heritage.org.uk
THE QUARRY PARK, SHREWSBURY
The Quarry is Shrewsbury’s beautiful, 29-acre parkland, encircled by the majestic loop of the river Severn. The quarry has been Shrewsbury’s most important site for recreation since the 16th century. It still provides the perfect place to relax, enjoy walks, picnic, fish along the banks of the river Severn, or just let off steam. At the heart of the Quarry lies the Dingle, a floral masterpiece cultivated by world-renowned gardener Percy Thrower, who served as parks superintendent for 28 years. It’s a delightful sunken garden landscaped with alpine borders, brilliant bedding plants, shrubbery and charming water features. For two days each August, The Quarry comes alive with more than three million blooms, as the park hosts Shrewsbury Flower Show. There is also show jumping, arena entertainment and top military bands, as well as a spectacular firework display. originalshrewsbury.co.uk
LUDLOW CASTLE
One of the finest medieval ruins in England, set in the market town of Ludlow, the castle has superb views over the Shropshire countryside. Walk through the castle grounds and explore the ancient lodgings of kings, queens, princes, judges and the nobility – a glimpse into the lifestyle of medieval and Tudor society. In 2005 a huge renovation project was undertaken on the building, creating three holiday apartments on the first and second floors, and a large function room on the ground floor. The Castle Gallery and Chapter 66 Cafe Restaurant, as well as the ticket office and residential apartment are also housed within this building. Tour the castle in the capable hands of an archaeologist who takes tours around the castle on the first three weekends of the month during summer, and discover the many links to the castle in houses in the surrounding area. The Chapel of St Mary Magdalene is a rare survivor of a church with a round nave. For the first time since it fell into ruin, the much-photographed Norman Chapel in the Inner Bailey was repaired and re-roofed. ludlowcastle.com
We produced a e-guide to Shropshire which is available to to view online by all members, you just need to join as a club or VIP member here . Here we details some of the days out mentioned in the guide.