Exploring England by RV and interested to find out more about the local RV scene? Then why not head for Shropshire this autumn.
Salop Leisure is the largest caravan dealer in the Midlands. Its brands include ABI, Atlas, Carnaby and Regal, as well as a massive range of accessories from companies like Dorema, Isabella, Kampa and Ventura. Over 200 touring caravans and motorhomes, plus 70 static caravans can be seen on site in an immersive park-like setting. The large café offers free wi-fi, and a range of seasonal food.
But that’s not all. Salop Leisure take a very proactive approach to customers, holding special events/caravan or RV shows in the spring and autumn, each of which attract around 20,000 customers over a 10 to 11 day period.
This year’s October event takes place October 1st through the 11th. This offers a fantastic opportunity to find out more about the latest launches of caravans, motorhomes and accessories from all the leading manufacturers. Visitors can talk to manufacturers and discover more about caravanning within the UK. Most importantly, visitors can step inside countless new caravans, compare their facilities and style as well as exploring methods of ownership. In between comparing caravans and camper vans, visitors can also watch a falconry demonstration and talk to falconers, have a go at some rock climbing or try out the many activities within Salop Leisure’s own touring park.
An even bigger show is held every spring. This is the West Midlands Caravan, Motorhome & Destinations Show where visitors can explore new touring and static homes, consider the options provided by pre-owned versions and obtain information on destinations throughout the Heart of England and Mid Wales perfect for touring. Lots of additional activities were provided at weekends to keep everyone busy such as water zorbing, potholing, Slate art, paddleboarding and a wildlife experience.
You can even book a pitch and stay on site during the special events, or simply as a base for touring within the area. Located on the edge of Shrewsbury, it is well placed for this purpose.
Last year Salop Leisure opened an adjacent, brand new Love2Stay Touring and Glamping Resort. It has 120 caravan/motorhome pitches available on what has to be one of the most spectacularly located sites in the county. Wherever you are staying in the resort, there are absolutely stunning views of the incredible Shropshire Hills landscape including the Long Mynd, Wrekin and Haughmond with its picturesque ruined abbey. And that’s not the only advantage to staying here. The onsite facilities are top-notch; in fact it is pure luxury. You can relax in the outdoor swimming pool, beach or hot springs; go fishing, enjoy a hot tub, visit the spa, do some yoga, or watch movies under the stars. For those who want something more active, there is an assault course to try out, a sports field, fitness suite, and a 500m run/walk/cycle trail. There are numerous catering options including a wood fired Tuscan pizza oven, outdoor kitchens, a restaurant, and you can order a food hamper from the local farm shop ready for use on arrival.
Afterwards, why not take the time to explore the area. It is an area perfect for camping and caravanning. Shropshire is one of England’s loveliest counties. Set on the borders of Wales, it offers beautiful countryside in which the surrounding hills rise up towards the mountains of Snowdonia. This is an area which experienced many battles throughout the Medieval period. It is also an area which has a very unique history, as it formed the cradle of the Industrial Revolution. The little town of Ironbridge close to the town of Telford is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sited in a deep gorge beside the River Severn, Ironbridge was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. It was here that Abraham Darby created an innovative method of producing large scale cast iron, leading eventually to the development of the world’s first ever cast iron bridge in 1779. The graceful spans of iron still cross the river, and were used for traffic until late in last century. Strolling across the bridge gives access to some fantastic views around the deeply wooded gorge. You can really see just why Ironbridge is a UNESCO World Heritage site – sitting alongside the likes of The Grand Canyon and the Pyramids. Tourists came here as soon as the bridge was opened, it was an instant attraction as everyone wanted to know how it had been accomplished. Artists, industrialists, engineers as well as the general public came from all over the world.
It transformed not just the immediate locality, but the whole world. Numerous industries developed around Ironbridge and Darby’s technique of working iron was introduced worldwide. Without this first iron bridge, the Industrial Revolution might not have happened, or might well have taken a very different form.
There are lots to see if you spend a few days in the area. Quite apart from the bridge itself, Ironbridge is a good shopping location and there are ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums highlighting different facets of this incredible story. At the Museum of Iron you can see the original furnace that started the whole process, while at Blists Hill you can find out just what a local Victorian town would have been like. This is where you can explore an original iron works, travel on an ironworks railway line and take part in Victorian life. Victorian staff are ready to serve you in the shops, and demonstrate old time crafts including pouring molten iron. Have a chat about old remedies in the pharmacy, and try shopping using pounds, shillings and pence. A horse and cart takes visitors round the town, or you can enjoy a ride on the carousel, eat traditionally cooked fish & chips or have afternoon tea in the club room. Among the many buildings to explore are a bank, Photography Studio, Post Office, Dress Maker, schoolhouse and a squatter’s cottage.
Elsewhere in Ironbridge itself you can visit the Jackson Tile Museum which was once the world centre of the decorative tile industry, find out about the manufacture of Coalport China, and even find out about the long lost art of clay pipe making. One of the more unusual activities is a visit to a Tar Tunnel. Back in the eighteenth century, miners were digging a tunnel to Blists Hill and suddenly discovered a spring of natural bitumen. The walls of the tunnel still ooze tar, and you can see it dripping down the walls. Shopping too offers lots of possibilities for great souvenirs and gifts. Tucked away in the centre of Ironbridge is Merrythought teddy bears. These special hand-made bears have been produced on this site since 1930. Even younger members of the Royal Family such as Prince George are known to possess a Merrythought bear. Other shops offer numerous locally made artisan crafts.
There are many other unexpected delights in this pretty county. The small town of Much Wenlock has superb monastic ruins to explore, and lots of half timbered black & white buildings. It is here that the origins of the modern Olympic Games can be found, due to the activities of a local doctor who developed the Wenlock Olympic Games to improve the health of local people. Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games, visited the Wenlock Games, and six year later the first Olympic Games were held. The Wenlock games continue to be held in July each year and include activities such as Triathalon, 5 a side Football, archery, fencing, athletics and golf.
Ludlow has over 500 medieval and Georgian listed buildings making it a photographer’s delight. Its Castle was the home of royalty including Catherine of Aragon’s first husband, the elder brother of Henry VIII. Take a look too at the lovely church of St Laurence in the centre of town. It is particularly notable for its stained glass windows and exquisitely carved misericords hidden under the seats in the choir. Nowadays, Ludlow is also the place to enjoy fantastic specialty food, with countless award winning restaurants and pubs. At weekends throughout the summer and autumn, it is worth considering joining one of the town tours which outline the history, architecture and provide lots of gossip about the characters who once lived here.
Shrewsbury is also worth a visit. Tucked into the curve of the river, it is dominated by the Castle and the remains of Shrewsbury Abbey. Both date back to the Norman Conquest in 1066, but the Castle was rebuilt two hundred years later. You can walk along the route the ancient town walls, much of which still stand. Darwin was christened in St Chads Church, and he went to school in Shrewsbury. Stroll over to the Bellstone Cross near the Market Hall and see the large granite boulder, which dates back to the last Ice Age, and formed Darwin’s introduction to the science of geology. Look closely at the buildings as you pass them by in the street, and you can be rewarded with many unexpected delights. Tudor craftsmen carved numerous rebellious characters in house walls, and that tradition has continued – modern carvings include versions of Margaret Thatcher and Mick Jagger! Equally fascinating is the Ditherington Flax Mill, which is the oldest iron-framed building in the world. It is known as the ‘grandfather of skyscrapers’.
During the autumn, visitors to Shrewsbury can experience a slightly different side to the town – its ghostly heritage. The town is believed to be one of the most haunted towns in England. It is said that several of Henry Tudor’s soldiers killed at the Battle of Bosworth roam the streets around Barrack Passage, a mysterious matron and a nurse have been seen in the Parade shopping centre and the Prince Rupert hotel has many resident ghosts. Then of course, there are the ghosts to be found at the Castle, the Abbey and the Prison. Shrewsbury Prison is one of the oldest in the country and has quite a record of executions, deaths and terrible treatment of its inmates. Not to be forgotten is a unique headstone in the town cemetery – Ebenezer Scrooge (left over by film makers following filming of a version of A Christmas Carol).
And what of the countryside? This is an area of numerous valleys, dramatic hills like Wenlock Edge and The Wrekin, as well as vast stretches of moorland reaching across into the mountainous areas of Wales. Taking the time to tour around Shropshire and explore its many facets will certainly create some stunning memories.
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