One of the many things I love about being alive in this modern day and age, is reading the marketing material that slides through my inbox from time to time.
Usually it’s hot off the presses from an over excited publicity dept and brings a smile to the face. In this case, the flyer concerned a part of the country which was being heralded as the Lake District of Shropshire.
Hmm. An unusual claim. And a pretty bold one too.Â
However, after thinking about it, not entirely without merit. From my own experience, I know that Shropshire is very pretty, comfortably quiet and chock full of pleasant surprises.
Basically, you never know what you’re going to find up there. After visiting a few times in the past, I now just adore the place.
Finding a section of it that resembled the Lake District would not be entirely out of character. If you’re looking for charm and a change of scene, this is the perfect shire to visit.
All of which is why I decided to take the publicity flyer at face value, pop along to this small piece of that particular shire, check it out for myself, see if it lived up to the claim.
Spoiler alert, it did. Sort of. In some ways, it even went over and above.
The Lowdown
Getting There
Living in the southwest as I do, the journey up to Shropshire is a game of two halves, if you’re driving.
First you have to jump onto the M5 motorway and head north, then, second, the best bit, you head off cross country passing through some of the prettiest countryside you could ever hope to see.
Rolling fields, distant hills and half forgotten rural villages full of half timbered houses. All of it bathed in a rich soupy broth of history and happenstance.
If the sun is shining whilst you’re up there, by the way, it’s hard to beat. It’s postcard pretty.
At a Glance: Getting There
The Barns at Blackwater Meadow, Ellesmere
We were staying at the Barns at Blackwater Meadow, Ellesmere. A couple of dozen, brand spanking new lodges, less than a couple of years old.
All sprinkled round the edges of a grassy meadow fringed with trees, along with a couple of picturesque ponds sitting prettily in the middle.
Running along the length of one side is the Shropshire Union canal, Llangollen arm. All of which makes it an idyllic spot, a setting with more charm than a cupboard full of goldfinches.
Inside
Although they were known as barns, our place was actually a luxurious 2 bedroom lodge, attractively clad in a mix of matt black metal with well framed woody bits.
Looked fantastic from the outside and was even better on the inside. After parking up beside the front door, we went in.
There was an open plan living room, kitchen and dining area, a mighty fine bathroom along with two generous double bedrooms, one of which had a cutesy ensuite and walk in wardrobe.
When we arrived, the heating was on, sunshine was flooding the rooms with light and a welcome hamper filled with biscuits and goodies was waiting for us beside the kettle. Which is always a good way to start a holiday.
Never ones to let time, or free biscuits, go to waste, we immediately made a brew, munched a couple of cookies and got comfy on the chairs outside.
Which sort of set the seal on our stay. From the moment we arrived, it felt like we had found ourselves in an oasis of calm.
A perfect place to relax. With show home vibes and oodles of comfort on tap, it’s hardly surprising that some folks end up buying their very own lodge at this site, so they can visit whenever they wish. Lucky blighters!
Outside
There was a wooden deck, complete with swing chair.
Beyond that there was a gravelled area filled with assorted tables and chairs, all perfect for soaking up the rays whilst sipping on something refreshing, watching the ducks splashing around on the pond next door and seeing the occasional heron pop by to pick up some fish for supper.
Hot Tub
All of the above would have been more than enough to make our holiday a complete carpetbag of carefree comfort, but there was more.
Much more. Off to one side of the decking there was our very own private hot tub. Obviously, we made sure to use it at least once, or twice, a day.
Lying back staring up at a sky full of stars whilst bubbles blew around our ears was just about the perfect way to let the stresses and strains of the outside world melt away like biscuits in the night.
Out and About
When you step outside your barn and hop onto the canal towpath next door, you have two distinct choices.
Turn left, and a five minute stroll takes you to Blake Mere, a large lake surrounded by woodland, covered in assorted ducks and geese and with a brooding air of wilderness all around. Very Lake District.
Ellesmere
However, if you choose to turn right along the canal when you leave the barns, a five minute meander takes you into the pretty little market town of Ellesmere.
The houses are a fine mix of Victorian terraces, interspersed with ancient, half timbered buildings that look as if they’ve been hanging around since Tudor times waiting for something exciting to happen.
There are a couple of main streets liberally endowed with cafes, pubs, boutiques and charity shops, and a large Tescos right next to the end of the canal.
All in all, it’s a fine place to wander through, with plenty of places to pique your interest.
Black Lion Hotel
The Black Lion Hotel on the high street is one of those gorgeous, classic English pubs which just cry out for you to step inside.
Originally built in the 17th century as a coaching Inn, it’s recently been renovated and refurbished.
Which means it’s now welcoming, wonderful and warm. We went in, checked out the menu, which featured classic upmarket pub food fare, and ordered a brace of fish pies.
They were perfect, as were the staff. We quickly realised we had found ourselves a pub shaped piece of paradise. The sort of place we definitely need more of in this world. Fantastic.
Oteley Estate
Ten minutes walk away from the canal took us to the Oteley Estate.
We strolled up the main drive, passing by pretty fields, ancient trees and a small herd of gorgeous looking highland cattle.
The estate has been in the family for over 500 years and, just like Shropshire, has a bit of something for everyone.
For those that like animals, there are saddleback pigs and those cute cows, for those that like food, there is the farm shop and cafe, where we had some superb coffees and cheesecake.
For those that like beauty, there are the gardens to explore.
They extend over 6 acres, rolling all the way down to the Mere, filled with statuesque trees and half covered Victorian follies, putting me in mind of Narnia and the Famous Five.
A wonderland for lovers of nature and wildlife.
Conclusion
Every time I have visited Shropshire in the past, it has managed to spring a surprise or two.
Once I met a man who had built his very own, full sized, neolithic burial chamber, another time I ended up listening to a concert on a canal boat.
This time, it came up trumps again. We popped into a cafe and I ended up spending half an hour in a dry flotation tank (long story).Â
On top of that unexpected excitement, we also explored a whole bunch of meres, the local name for a lake, and the reason this part of the world is known locally as the Lake District of Shropshire.
Must say, it’s a fair comparison. It has the all the charm, charisma and good looks of the lake district, but with a much smaller footprint and far fewer tourists.
Given the choice, I know which one I’d prefer. Ah, Shropshire, be still my beating heart!
