Things to Do in the local area
Hope Park Farm is ideally situated for all kinds of things to do and many outdoor activities.
Eating Out
No other county can compete with the quality and diversity of our local produce and you’ll soon see why Shropshire is a gourmet’s idea of heaven. Fine restaurants abound and Ludlow in particular has been described as "a little bit of France near the Welsh border".
Shropshire is also renowned for its real ale inns and micro breweries.
There are many good pubs close to Hope Park Farm. A warm welcome and good food awaits you at The Stables Inn at Hopesgate which is a pleasant 15 minute stroll or a short drive away. Another favourite of ours is The Bridges country pub at Ratlinghope which serves traditional real ale made locally in Bishop’s Castle by the Three Tuns Brewery.
www.shropshirefoodanddrink.co.uk gives lots more ideas about eating out in Shropshire and shopping for local produce.
Shopping
You can easily spend a time wandering the cobbles streets of Shrewsbury browsing the quaint speciality shops or visiting any of the other Shropshire market towns for many and varied independent shops – antique bookshops, local delis, gift shops and numerous small speciality shops.
Bishop’s Castle, Church Stretton, and Ludlow are all within an easy drive of Hope Park Farm and offer interesting shopping experiences.
When you are all shopped out there is no shortage of tea rooms, cafes, restaurants, pubs and inns in which to rest and refresh.
Take a look at www.shropshireshopping.co.uk for more information.
Walking
Shropshire is superb walking country.
You can forget the car and walk straight from our garden to take in spectacular views from nearby Iron Age hill forts and stone circles and to tread in the footsteps of ancient drovers.
The following circular walks all pass by Hope Park Farm:
Not far away popular hills such as the Stiperstones and the Long Mynd have some glorious unspoilt walking. Long distance paths in the area include:
- Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail
- The Shropshire Way
- The Kerry Ridgeway
- The Jack Mytton Way
We have a great selection of maps and walking books which you can borrow while you are staying with us and more information can be found at
Cycling
Bring your own bike or hire one in Church Stretton and make use of the many cycle route leaflets that are in the cottages. Cycling is one of the very best ways to soak up the Shropshire countryside with hundreds of miles of National Cycle Network routes.
Route 44 passes very close to Hope Park Farm Holiday Cottages and is easily accessible from here.
Explore quiet lanes, traffic free trails along old railway lines and waterways and mountain bike tracks in woods and forests.
There’s something for everyone from families with children to the most experienced pedal pushers. For more information visit www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk
Golf
A warm welcome awaits all golfers in Shropshire at more than 30 venues.
The nearest to Hope Park Farm is Arscott Golf Club which offers a magnificent 18 hole parkland course.
Fishing
There are over 20 places to fish, including course and game fishing within 45 minutes of Hope Park Farm. The closest are:
- Onny Vale Trout and Course Fishery – spring fed lakes stocked with rainbow, blue and brown trout. Course fishing also available.
- Spring Lea Fishery – a series of 5 pools offering great day ticket course fishing.
Riding
The most peaceful way to enjoy the least crowded county of England is on horseback.
Oakage Riding Centre is just down the road from Hope Park Farm and there are over 20 other riding centres in Shropshire offering hacking over the hills and vales, day rides and tuition.
You might like to find out more at www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk
Canoeing
Why not take a canoe trip down the River Severn, with local instructors and guides. Ironbrigde is a great launch point for a ten mile paddle down to Bridgnorth, with riverside pubs for rest stops at Coalport, Quatford or Arley.
At least one local company arranges a paddle down the river combined with a ride back on the Severn Valley Railway.
Shooting
Nearby Minsterley Ranges offers a wide range of facilities and activities for anyone interested in shooting sports including rifle range and clay ground.
Star Gazing & Astronomy
We have some of the darkest skies here on a clear night so Hope Park Farm makes an ideal place for stargazers and if you don’t have your own binoculars we can lend you some. If you have your own telescope - even better!
You might also be interested in the Spaceguard Centre & Observatory at Knighton, the only organisation in the UK addressing the risk to the earth of asteroids and comets. Tours of the observatory take place throughout the year.
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