Craven Arms

Railway junctions aren't usually tourist destinations, but this market town punches well above its weight as a gateway to the Shropshire Hills. Built around the crossing of two major Victorian railway lines, Craven Arms has evolved into a proper outdoor enthusiast's base camp.

The Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre anchors the town's appeal - it's far more than your typical visitor centre, with excellent displays on local geology and wildlife. Just down the road, the Land of Lost Content offers a fascinating trip through 20th-century British pop culture, housed in what was once a Victorian school.

Outdoors beckons immediately. Callow Hill rises to the southeast, offering cracking views across the valley without requiring serious hiking gear. The walking here is superb - you're right on the doorstep of some of England's finest hill country. Camp Ring, an Iron Age hillfort, sits just outside town and makes for a lovely afternoon ramble.

For something completely different, seek out Flounders' Folly on Callow Hill - this 19th-century tower was built by a local landowner with more money than sense. The Secret Hills Discovery Centre provides another angle on the area's natural heritage, though it's more hands-on than its larger cousin.

Getting here is straightforward - Craven Arms sits on the main railway line between Shrewsbury and Cardiff, with regular services from Birmingham and beyond. The town itself takes about ten minutes to explore properly, but that's rather the point.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense. You're central to the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, yet close enough to Ludlow (eight miles south) for proper dining and shopping. The hills surrounding the town offer everything from gentle valley walks to serious ridge hiking, all within a short drive of your pitch.