Richard's Recommendations

Index page Picture Gallery Richard's Recommendations The Wem "ghost"

Updated 23 September 1996 Here I share with you some of my most pleasant discoveries in and around Shropshire. All the entries here are items not already mentioned on my other Shropshire pages. I have no commercial connection (except as a pleased customer) with any businesses mentioned here. As changes may occur after my visit, and because what I like may not be what you like, all the usual disclaimers apply. Please mention you saw it here! Take the whole day for a leisurely tour along the B4380 road from Shrewsbury to Ironbridge. The attractions include Atcham village with St Eata's church; Attingham Park, an 18th century stately home in parkland now cared for by the National Trust; Wroxeter Roman city; Wroxeter vineyard; the ruins of Buildwas Abbey, founded 850 years ago; and splendid views over the River Severn to the South Shropshire hills. If you still have time after all this, there are plenty of museums in Ironbridge. Please drive slowly and spare the wildlife! Yarborough House: an excellent secondhand bookshop also selling a good range of second-hand classical LPs and CDs, and crafts and greetings cards by local and other artists. It has a coffee shop selling home-made cakes and a good pot of tea. It's in the attractive country town of Bishop's Castle. When I was there on a quiet Sunday afternoon in March, there were record dealers from overseas discussing records in the coffee shop. Open 10.00-17.30 five days a week (closed Mondays and Wednesdays, open public holiday Mondays) in The Square, Bishop's Castle, Shropshire SY9 5BN. Contact Jock and Carol Wright, 01588 638318. Llanymynech Hill Nature Reserve, between Welshpool and Oswestry. A bit out of the way for a Sunday afternoon walk, unless you live locally or are passing through, but a magical little place deep in a disused quarry. I love it partly because it reminds me of an Omani wadi. The border between England and Wales runs down Llanymynech's main street, but the Hill itself is just in Wales. Lyth Hill: a country park on the southern edge of Shrewsbury well used by locals but little-known outside. With a panoramic view of Shropshire, it is a good place to get a first impression of the county. Turn off the A49 at Bayston Hill and follow the signs. The Unicorn Inn, Lower Corve Street, Ludlow: Possibly the best pub food in the U.K. Excellent menu, including a good choice of vegetarian meals, in an ancient wood-beamed building. Tel. 01584 873555. Olivers, 33 High Street, Ironbridge: Excellent vegetarian restaurant very close to the Iron Bridge. Rather cramped, book well in advance. Tel. 01952 433086 Dara Thai, Frankwell Quay, Shrewsbury: Floating Thai restaurant moored on the Severn close to the Welsh Bridge. They don't need to advertise - book well in advance. Tel. 01743 243123 Further afield The Centre for Alternative Technology is set in beautiful Welsh hills just north of Machynlleth, about 60 miles from Shrewsbury. Visit it for an enjoyable day out. On the way, The Aleppo Merchant pub at Carno, on the A470, offers pub food worth stopping for. Site created by Richard Burnham of Wise Words Copyright © 1995-2006 Richard Burnham.