Campsites in Shropshire

The county of Shropshire in the West Midlands has a well-deserved reputation for being peaceful, relaxed and unspoilt. This is one of the most rural and sparsely populated counties in the UK and there are no cities to be found here.

There are, however, a number of charming and historically significant towns, impressive castles and buildings, and the famous Ironbridge Gorge to explore.

The Shropshire Hills offer amazing walking territory with stunning views. Add to this an extremely interesting collection of odd and unusual attractions, from weird museums to a country park full of magical manmade structures, and it’s not hard to see why Shropshire makes for a great holiday destination.

Don’t Miss

• Ironbridge Gorge
• Ludlow
• The Shropshire Hills
• Hawkstone Park and Follies

An unspoilt canvas

There is a huge amount to see and do in Shropshire and no one will struggle to keep themselves entertained here. The deep Ironbridge Gorge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its pivotal industrial history. In case you were worried there wouldn’t be much information, there are no less than ten fantastic Ironbridge Gorge museums.

Of these a few standout highlights are Blists Hill Victorian Town, which has successfully undergone a time warp straight back to the reign of Queen Victoria, and Shropshire’s answer to the National Science Museum, Enginuity. Coalport China Museum pays homage to the Victorian fascination with tea with a host of quirky miniatures and elaborate trinkets.

There are some great historic buildings to be found in the county, both medieval Stokesay Castle, the interestingly angled and crumbling remains of Bridgnorth Castle and Ludlow Castle are well worth a visit.

Ludlow is like the caramel in the chocolate box- a really nice surprise. You’ll wonder through streets jammed with slanting ancient doorways and tease yourself with artisan items or delicious gourmet produce. Your reward for climbing the hill is the imposing castle from 1086.

While you’re in the neighbourhood, the Ludlow Brewing Company offers a fun day trip learning about, making and tasting local beer.

If you would like to step even further back in time, try a visit to Wroxeter (Viroconium) which was the 4th largest Roman City in Britain. Be sure to make use of the excellent audio guide which really helps bring the site to life.

Some of the best religious historical buildings are Haughmond Abbey, Buildwas Abbey and Welnock Priory. All offer tranquil and beautiful ruins steeped in ancient history. Of these, the last two are very close together, making for a perfect morning trip back to the 12^th century and beyond.

Not far beyond Shropshire greets visitors with rare butterfly breeds at Press Heath Common Reserve and the dignity of Shrewsbury Cathedral.

Do not miss the fabulously eccentric and wonderful Hawkstone Park and Follies. This historic landscape park is full of crazy pathways, ravines, caves, arches, bridges, cliffs and follies. The mix of natural landscape and magical man-made structures is a truly surprising treat and you can spend hours in this park.

There are some fantastic and unusual museums to be found in Shropshire, starting with the Land of Lost Content Museum which is jam packed full of 20th century memorabilia. The excellent Royal Air Force Museum gets rave reviews. If you would like to get off the beaten track, try The House on Crutches Museum which is located inside an old timber building dating back to Elizabethan times.

If you fancy a spot of culture, fine dining or some shopping, you can’t go wrong with any of the region’s market towns. The fine Tudor town of Shrewsbury, birthplace of Charles Darwin, has an important and rich history. Oswestry is the spot to immerse yourself in black and white timbered buildings and it’s part of the Offa’s Dyke trail.

A trip on the Severn Valley Steam Railway comes highly recommended. This is one of the most popular heritage railways in the country, all the stops are worth getting off at, the scenery on route is fantastic and there is plenty to see and do on the way.

Natural beauty beneath your boots

The Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is found in the rural south of the county where there are no large towns, just stunning hills, river valleys and woodland. This is great walking country, and the Clee Hills, in particular, offer spectacular views.

Carding Mill Valley is a local gem that takes you through scenery worthy of Hollywood to a bountiful waterfall. While you’re there make detours to try orienteering, tuck into a picnic or go grass sledging.

The famously challenging Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail passes through Shropshire on its way along the Welsh border. One of the toughest parts of this 283km route, known as the ‘Switchback’, can be picked up in the Shropshire Hills.

If that’s not tiring enough, The Wrekin is a steep hill in East Shropshire and a famous natural feature in this region. The views from the top are well worth the climb, so take a deep breath!

If you prefer a set of wheels. there are a good amount of established cycle routes to be found here, from everyday paths to circular tours, long distance routes and MTB tracks.

Thanks to the rural nature of this county, horse-riding is very popular and there is a vast network of bridleways and over 20 riding centres, if you need to hire a horse.

Shropshire is a great place to see wildlife and there are a number of excellent nature reserves here. The Stiperstones is a popular place for walkers and wanderers. Fenn's, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses National Nature Reserve are interesting lowland areas full of bogs, heaths, wet woodland and peat.

If you’re keen to learn a little more about the history of the land beneath your boots, stroll to the charming Much Wenlock Museum or the Whitchurch Heritage Centre which will take you right back to Shropshire’s Roman occupation.

The Shrewsbury Museum and Art gallery is home to a varied and interesting collection, and the funicular railway, Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, holds claim to being the oldest and steepest inland electric cliff railway in Britain. It’s well worth a visit!

Tractor rides and animal encounters

Shropshire, being a rural county, has lots of good farms to visit. Park Hall Farm is one of the best, there is loads to do here including meeting the animals, taking tractor rides, and indoor and outdoor play areas.

Acton Historic Working Farm makes for a fun and educational family day out. You can enjoy a number of historic farming demonstrations here and see a variety of rare breeds and agricultural machinery.

Battlefield  Falconry Centre offers something unique and memorable with elegant birds of prey, and the horse drawn canal boat cruises at Bywater are the only ones of their kind running regularly in the UK.

Wonderland in Telford is a theme park for young children specialising in fairy tales and nursery rhymes.

Hawkestone Park Follies offer caves, bridges and climbs and is another great activity for all ages. If they normally find little to do in open spaces, Hawkestone has enough variety to keep families buzzing.

You can satisfy your curiosity about how all the county’s delicious food was once made at Daniels Mill in Bridgnorth. This mill dates back to the 18^th century and is still turning today as it mills corn.