Spring backwards
#A view from the top of The Lawley in the Shropshire Hills
The Imminent arrival of spring is a moment to celebrate the
past in one of England’s most peaceful counties. Among the 10 museums that
cluster around Ironbridge Gorge near Telford, Blists Hill is a recreated
Victorian town crammed with such establishments as a draper’s, baker’s,
pahramcy and candle-maker’s. their proprietors are primed to offer a range of
vintage spring-cleaning tips throughout the weekend of 29-30March. Plan to take
a ride on a steam train between the perfectly preserved stations at Bridgnorth
and Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway, watch nature reawaken during a
stroll across the Shropshire Hills – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beuaty –
and stop over near Ludlow, home to 500 listed buildings and described by poet
John Betjeman as ‘probably the loveliest town in England!
Blists Hill is open daily (ironbridge.org.uk). The ironbird
Gorge is five miles south of Telford town centre. Ludlow is a scenic, twisty
27-mile drive south via Much Wenlock.
Services on the Severn Valley Railway run 15-23 February and
at weekends through March (svr.co.uk).
Stay at Fishmore Hall, a grand Georgian building overlooking
Ludlow; its restaurant favours local ingredient s like pears and venison
(fishmorehall.co.uk). Also visit shropshirewalking.co.uk and shropshiretourism.co.uk
