Stokesay Castle: Touch of Magic on the Welsh Marches

Stokesay Castle, Shropshire. Photo ©Alison Plummer.

I fell for Stokesay Castle, Shropshire, many moons ago and love it to pieces. The whole aura of it – the building, the setting, who knows what exactly, but it's like a magnet for me. The exterior blends castle walls with a medieval beamed manor house, and the gatehouse is a fairytale in itself. Inside is bare today, but still interesting. Climb the tower for views over the lush Teme Valley countryside.

Stokesay Castle Gatehouse. Photo by English Heritage.

Stokesay is close to Ludlow, a hill town with a very different castle, mighty and formidable, despite its ruined walls. Explore Ludlow's streets leading up to the castle and the adjacent market square. Markets are held four days a week and foodie Ludlow delivers local produce in many cafes, delis and restaurants. Explore this border country and its tiny towns and castles, hike the hills, feel the magic.

Photo by Alison Plummer©

Photo by The Clive Arms

Photo by The Clive Arms

Stokesay Castle

Ludlow Farmshop

The Clive Arms

Great Days Out on the A49 – Stokesay Castle, Ludlow Food Centre, Church Stretton, Long Mynd

Stokesay Castle ©AP

Loving Stokesay Castle, near Craven Arms on the A49, in Shropshire, one of my favourite counties. Stokesay is a wonderfully preserved fortified manor near the Welsh border with a delightful timber-framed gatehouse .... beautiful. Adults £6.20,open 10-5pm daily until 3 November 2013, then weekends,10-4pm except Christmas and New Year. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stokesay-castle

Stokesay Castle Gatehouse ©AP

Stokesay Castle is near the luscious Ludlow Food Centre which now has a separate cafe and plant centre. Find it on the A49 between Hereford and Shrewsbury in the village of Bromfield. www.ludlowfoodcentre.co.uk


But that's not all..The lovely town of Church Stretton is 8.2 miles from Craven Arms on the A49, a gateway to the Long Mynd meaning "Long Mountain" or Mynydd Hir in Welsh. The Long Mynd is a heathland plateau between the Stiperstones range, the Stretton Hills and Wenlock Edge and has steep valleys and escarpments. Drove up the very narrow road (single track with passing places, probably not for the faint-hearted), for the reward of heather in bloom and wonderful views.

The Long Mynd above Church Stretton. ©AP

The Long Mynd. ©AP