Ludlow - We are extraordinarily fond of this beautiful Medieval town for many reasons. It is unlike many other lovely English ‘chocolate-box’ gorgeous places as it is a ‘real’ town and less than 10 minutes drive. It is busy, bustling and friendly. It does not draw the masses of visitors that places like the Cotswolds and Stratford do . However, if you search for descriptions of Ludlow on the internet, you will find it is greatly admired by many! Surprising then that we in South Shropshire and our neighbouring Herefordshire and the Mid Wales border are well kept secrets. You will love it!

There is good array of independent shops. A foodie delight, many places to buy food and places to dine. A busy market in the square on most days. Ludlow sits on the river Teme and surrounded by forests in which you can walk. There is a very large castle www.ludlowcastle.com smack in the middle hosting many festivals throughout the year. 2019 sees the 25^th Food Festival – all the others throughout the country have followed on from this!

There is a lovely race course www.ludlowracecourse.co.uk shared by a golf course www.ludlowgolfclub.com . The Much Wenlock B road crosses both and on race days, one sits and waits for the horses to gallop passed! We have a military amateur jockey in the family and we are neighbours of National Hunt yard of Henry Daly www.henrydaly.co.uk so we take a keen interest in this sport.

There are a number of National Trust places close by and English Heritage sites such as Croft Castle and Berrington Hall. Stokesay Castle. As a border to Wales, you will find more castles than usual here!

There are many gardens worth visiting here. Sally will happily give you lists to go and look at. For example

www.stocktonbury.co.uk – the nearby www.stocktoncross.co.uk is worth visiting too for a drink and food.

www.hamptoncourtcastle.co.uk – gardens and events

www.bryansground.co.uk – the owners of this helped design the Hampton Court gardens

Nearby Bryans Ground is the award winning www.judgeslodging.org.uk

www.hergest.co.uk – is en-route to the next favourite town of Hay-on Wye – home to the famous Hay Literary Festival www.hayfestival.com . This is a 60 minute drive from here but the journey through the Welsh Marches is as good as the destination, perhaps detouring through the villages of the Black and White trail www.blackandwhitetrail.org

The Severn Valley Steam Railway www.svr.co.uk and the River Severn Shropshire towns of Bridgnorth and Bewdley are in the opposite direction to Herefordshire and the Welsh Borders. The journey there along our winding road is gorgeous!

Great places to eat near these locations are numerous. Ask Sally and she will ensure you get the pick of the crop!