Tuesday 8 Sept 2020 - Shrewsbury & the Shropshire Hills (AONB)
Shrewsbury was a bit of surprise. We’ve driven around it many times but never stopped, so we’d imagined it a small, quaint “Olde English” market town. It’s certainly that but so much more so, bigger and quainter than we’d imagined. An excellent place to stroll around and stumble upon all sorts of interesting places.
We then drove to the Shropshire Hills, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - and it is (they are?). Rolling hillsides with a patchwork of fields - rural perfection, helped by the weather totally defying the forecast and providing broken sunshine.
We found a spot charmingly called The Bog, site of (I think) lead mines back then. However, a secluded but busy car park/field (lots of hill walkers coming & going) provided a great picnic spot.
Monday 7 Sept 2020 - Penarth to Telford (Madeley).
A very straightforward drive through the Borders saw us arrive just before 2pm. Our AirBnB host, Dave was there to greet us and is very amiable. Nothing seems too much trouble. Tea, coffee, milk, biscuits and a few other “essentials” are ready to go. He’s also the Head of the Telford COVID testing centre… now that’s reassuring!
The accommodation itself is spotless and very well equipped. The only oddity is a “Dutch” staircase. Resembles an integrated loft ladder and takes quite a bit of getting used to. Apart from that… Perfect.
The area, Madeley, is a suburb of Telford very near the Ironbridge Gorge. It seems to have everything, all so very close together: Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Greggs, Dominos, KFC and probably a few more “amenities” we didn’t spot on the drive in
After settling in we drove the very short distance to Ironbridge, the village named for the World’s first iron bridge built by Thomas Telford, commencing work in November 1777.
Amazing considering its date, and a very pretty village.
There’s a great fish & chip shop opposite - that’s the evening meal sorted.
Wednesday 9 Sept 2020 - Home via Mid Wales
We retraced our steps and headed across to the Shropshire Hills (still very pretty) and then joined the A488 which is as good as the Wales/England border. What a scenic route! Stunning scenery, rolling hills, quaint little villages all the way to just outside Llandrindod Wells.
We stopped for a stroll as it’s a familiar place to both of us for different reasons, but we hadn’t been there for maybe 20+ years.
We then drove on to Builth Wells - a trusty spot for a picnic lunch by the river-side.
Finally, our route took us through the Brecon Beacons (stopping for ice-cream at one of its best viewpoints).
A great 3 days away - worth repeating in another location.