Shropshire
Shropshire is a landlocked county bordering Wales. The county of Cheshire is to the north and Staffordshire is to the east. The counties of Worcestershire and Herefordshire are on southerly borders. Shropshire has long been known for its picturesque market towns, areas of natural beauty and industrial heritage, along with its UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
From north to south, Shropshire has a changing landscape all of which is spectacular in its own right. The Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers roughly a quarter of the county, mostly in the south. A very rural county, and one of the most least populated ones, Shropshire boasts Britain’s longest river, the Severn, which runs through the county, exiting into Worcestershire. One of the most important bogs is also found in Shropshire at the Fenn’s, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses National Nature Reserve.
Starting with one of the most well known UNESCO heritage sites in the county, The Ironbridge Gorge area covers Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale and a part of Madeley. Shropshire is also home to a number of special interest locations, including the the Shropshire Union Canal. Ancient history also notes that the area was home to a tribal Celtic Iron Age kingdom, Roman settlements, and repeated Viking incursions.
The county has 40 reserves across the region including woodland reserves such as The Ercall, Clunton Coppice and Earls and Pontesford Hill. Charles Sinker Fields, formerly known as The Flooded Fields on the edge of Whixall Moss, is a bird watcher’s paradise. Another more ancient site to visit is the aptly named Ancient Hollies on the Stiperstones which cover 37 hectares of landscape.
The county hosts a vast range of tourist destinations and attractions, but many are drawn to the area simply for its stunning scenery and areas of natural beauty. There are plenty of hiking trails throughout the county’s rolling hills and the valleys, not to mention its tranquil canal and river walks. Cycling routes are plentiful too, leaving visitors with plenty of ideas for locations to explore.
