Do as much or as little as you want…
Here’s our guide to enjoying your time at The Boat House Lodge
Shropshire is Simply Magnificent
There’s stunning scenery. Delicious food. And so much history… from Iron Age through to the birthplace of the industrial revolution.
Whether you want to shut yourself away in your own “Boat House Bubble” or get out and about to explore Shropshire’s treasures, you won’t be short of things to do.
Whilst here, you can:
Enjoy Wroxeter and Atcham
The Boat House Lodge is just down the road from English Heritage’s Wroxeter Roman City and we’ve even found Roman and Medieval pottery in our garden! (It’s a 2 minute drive or a 10-ish minute walk).
2000 years ago Wroxeter (or Viriconium as it was known then) was the fourth largest Roman city. At the Roman City you can visit the remains of the bath house and explore a reconstructed town house.
Wroxeter also has its own vineyard – Wroxeter Roman Vineyard – which offers tours and lunch packages.
The National Trust’s Attingham Park is 2.8 miles away (approx 7 minute drive) from the Lodge. It’s a beautiful 18th century Regency house with 200 acres of parkland. There are a number of walking routes in the grounds, a deer park and a good cafe.
The local pub, The Horseshoes Country Pub & Grill, is within walking distance of the Lodge (1.3 miles away – about a 25 minute walk) and it’s dog friendly in the bar area.
Five stars!
“We visited Attingham Park, great walk for Luna, Shrewsbury to ensure I had my fix of clothes buying and had to go to “The Blue Lemon” to buy the lovely lemongrass diffusers. The Horseshoes Pub is dog friendly and the food lovely.
Church Stretton waterfall walk again was lovely due to the amount of rain we had and Much Wenlock was a lovely place to visit. Also visited Bridgnorth and Ironbridge, the latter is definitely worth a visit. Also visited Benthall Hall for another dog walk! We definitely plan on coming back!”
Linda, Lee + Luna, April 2023
Enjoy Local Towns
Shrewsbury(6 miles from the Lodge / approx. 15 minute drive)
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire and well worth a visit.
Explore the Medieval streets, indulge in some retail therapy (there’s a good selection of high street and independent shops) and take a look around the multi-award winning Shrewsbury Market where there are more than 50 independent traders.
You can also take in the sights from the river with a 45 minute cruise on the Sabrina (open between March and October) or visit Shrewsbury Prison, the world’s second most haunted jail. They offer ghost tours, prison break experiences and escape rooms.
Shrewsbury also hosts a number of annual festivals. There are Shrewsbury Food Festival in Quarry Park in June, Shrewsbury Flower Show in Quarry Park in August and Shrewsbury Folk Festival at the West Mids Showground in August.
The town’s theatre, Severn Theatre, has something for everyone, from West End musicals and stand up comedians to Shakespeare and tribute acts. There are also two cinemas – Cineworld and independent The Old Market Hall.
Fancy a pamper session? Imagine Spa at The Shrewsbury Club offers day spa packages with a menu of treatments.
Get more ideas at Original Shrewsbury
Ironbridge(8 miles from the Lodge / approx. 15 minute drive)
Ironbridge Gorge is a Unesco World Heritage Site and it’s the birthplace of the industrial revolution back in the 18th century.
It’s not just a snappy name – the bridge in the town centre was the world’s first constructed out of iron.
The high street is picturesque and has lots of little souvenir shops and places to eat. (It can get very crowded with tourists in peak holiday season though).
The town is also rich in museums. See how the Victorians lived at Blists Hill Victorian Town, and find out more about Ironbridge’s past at Coalport China Museum, Jackfield Tile Museum, Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron.
Ironbridge is also known for coracles and is home to an annual coracle festival. There’s a small exhibition at The New Coracle Shed, next to the Green Food Cafe, a lovely independent cafe which offers a wide range of vegetarian and vegan menu options.
And the Maws Craft Centre makes a nice stop. It’s a former Victorian tile factory, which now houses the Tile Press Cafe, artisan food producers, galleries, a plant shop amongst others. It’s on the National Cycle Network Route 45 and on the Severn Valley Way footpath.
Much Wenlock(8 miles from the Lodge / approx. 15 minute drive)
Much Wenlock is a beautiful mediaeval town surrounded by countryside.
The town boasts Medieval, Georgian and Victorian architecture. It’s the birthplace of Dr William Penny Brookes, the founder of the Wenlock Olympian Games – the inspiration behind the modern Olympic Games. There’s a small free museum and Wenlock Olympic trail to find out more.
A short walk from the town centre are the tranquil and historic ruins of Wenlock Priory, an English Heritage site.
We love the pies and baked goods at the Pig and Pie on the High Street. If you’re planning a picnic while you’re on a walk along Wenlock Edge, or fancy something tasty to bring back to the Lodge, you might want to pop in!
Bridgnorth
(16 miles from the Lodge / approx. 25 minute drive)
King Charles I declared the view from Bridgnorth to be “the finest in all my kingdom”.
We’re big fans of Bridgnorth too. The town is split into High Town and Low Town, connected by the Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, the steepest inland funicular railway in Britain.
In High Town you’ll find a range of independent and high street shops, a fine selection of bars and restaurants, as well as the ruins of Bridgnorth Castle and the 17th century Town Hall. There’s a popular market on Saturdays.
In Low Town you can enjoy a walk along the River Severn, plenty of pubs and The Old Mill Antiques Centre.
The Severn Valley Railway runs steam trains between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster. As well as standard journeys, they offer murder mystery experiences and themed train rides at different times of the year, including Christmas and Halloween.
Ludlow
(30 miles from the Lodge / approx. 45 minute drive)
Ludlow has a reputation for the quality of its food and drink – showcased every September in the Ludlow Food Festival. (There’s also a Spring festival in March).
As well as fantastic restaurants, the town has impressive Medieval architecture and an 11th century castle. Find out more here.
Enjoy the Great Outdoors
Walking
You’re spoiled for choice for beautiful walking routes in Shropshire. It’s a great place for dog walks too.
Walk from The Boat House Lodge and take in the National Trust’s Attingham Park, approx 45 minutes away.
Hike up to the top of The Wrekin and enjoy views which are said to take in 17 counties. Or Wenlock Edge, the 18 mile limestone escarpment, offers circular woodland walks.
Discover Shropshire’s industrial heritage on foot with hikes around Ironbridge and Coalbrookdale.
The Shropshire Hills is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), rich with wildlife and good walks. We recommend Carding Mill Valley and the Long Mynd. (It’s about a 35 minute drive from the Lodge).
A pack of walking cards is in The Boat House Lodge to give you some more ideas.
Cycling
The Boat House Lodge has a secure shed to store your bikes and should the worst happen, we have some puncture repair kits.
Wroxeter is on National Cycle Network Route 45 which takes in Ironbridge, Bridgnorth and Bewdley (the route starts in Cheshire and runs down to Wiltshire).
It isn’t too far from National Cycle Network Route 81, which runs in sections from Aberystwyth to Wolverhampton, Route 44 which is open in sections from Shrewsbury to Hereford and Route 45 which takes in
There are a number of cycle routes in and around Shrewsbury too. Find out more at Shropshire Great Outdoors.
Canoeing, Rafting and Paddle Boarding
Explore Shropshire from the water! There are a number of rafting, stand up paddleboard (SUP) hire companies in the area. Find out more at Shropshire Raft Tours and Shrewsbury Canoe Hire.
Wild Swimming
If you’re a strong and experienced swimmer, the River Severn flows right at the bottom of the garden. The bridge at Atcham is known for wild swimming and also from Frankwell car park in Shrewsbury town centre.
Wild swimming is done at the individual’s own risk and responsibility.
There’s also a natural swimming pool at Love2Stay (approx 6 minute drive away), which is open to the public. (Pre booking is essential)
Fishing
If you hold a valid fishing licence, you’re welcome to fish in the River Severn at the bottom of the garden (during the coarse fishing season).
In this stretch of the river there’s barbel, chub, roach, dace, bream and large pike. We’ve also known salmon to be caught here.
If you fancy a change of scenery, we have an agreement with Lymm Angling Club so you can fish (for free) from their longer stretch of riverbank. It’s just a 2-3 minute drive from the Lodge.
“I can thoroughly recommend a swim/paddle around the island. Took about 45 mins, with a lovely floating return on the far side!”
Mak
June 2023
Enjoy Shropshire’s Food and Drink Scene
Brompton Cookery School(approx. 8 minute drive)
Brompton Cookery School runs courses throughout the year. From half day courses on creating tapas to full day courses on foraging and desserts (with many more in between), there’s something for every aspiring chef.
Brompton is run by TV chef Marcus Bean.
Find out more here.
The Haughmond in Upton Magna
(approx. 8 minute drive)
The Haughmond is one of our favourite restaurants. It’s Michelin Rated and has three AA rosettes for culinary excellence.
Alongside the a la carte menu, the restaurant offers 4 and 6 course tasting menus. They are a treat!
The Haughmond also runs The Village Store, which stocks fresh sandwiches and soups, and other high quality local produce.
The Mill at Leighton
(approx. 7 minute drive)
The Mill at Leighton is a dog-friendly pub on the way to The Wrekin. It has a 1,000 year history and has appeared in an episode of Channel 4’s Time Team.
The Horseshoes, Uckington
(approx 4 minute drive / 30 minute walk)
A short drive from the Lodge, The Horseshoes Country Pub & Grill has recently been refurbished and is open every day. It’s dog friendly and even has a special dog menu so you can treat your four-legged friend to some Bark Burgers and a Pawstar Martini!
The Riverside Inn, Cound, Shrewsbury
(approx 10 minute drive)
The Riverside Inn boasts a terrace on the bank of the River Severn – a lovely place to enjoy gorgeous scenery over a drink. You could also kayak here from the Boat House Lodge.
A very special and relaxing short break
“What a wonderful place The Boat House Lodge is. What planning, thought and care has gone into it.
We’ve loved having it as a luxurious and comfortable home for the last 3 days. And it’s a home with a view and a half! Whether we’ve been watching the birds in the tree opposite, walking by the river or simply watching the sun go down each night, it’s made for a very special and relaxing short break.
We’ve visited Attingham Park, Much Wenlock and its Priory and Benthall Hall. We’ve enjoyed them all.
The Horseshoes is close by and gave us a very nice dinner; we were glad we’d booked in advance as it was very busy on a Tuesday night.
We’ve done lots of walking too and been impressed by the Shropshire roads – it’s easy to get around and this is an ideal location.
Thank you for being so welcoming, Randall, and your homemade bread (and the rest of the basket) got 10/10! If you’re not appearing on the Great British Bake Off, we hope to see you and the Boat House Lodge again soon.”
Keith and Karen
April 2023
