Craven Arms

Steam trains once stopped here en route to everywhere else, and that sense of being perfectly positioned between more famous destinations still defines this south Shropshire market town. The railway junction that put Craven Arms on the map may be long gone, but the surrounding landscape of rolling hills and ancient woodlands remains as compelling as ever.

Stokesay Castle sits just outside town - one of England's finest fortified manor houses, complete with a 13th-century great hall that feels genuinely medieval rather than dolled up for tourists. The nearby St John the Baptist at Stokesay is worth a peek too, particularly for its timber-framed architecture that's survived since the 17th century.

Walkers have proper options here. The Long Mynd looms to the northeast, while Wenlock Edge stretches away to the east. Smeathen Wood offers gentler rambles through ancient oak and ash, perfect for working off a pub lunch. More ambitious hikers can tackle View Edge or Weaver for sweeping views across the Welsh borders.

Getting here couldn't be easier - the A49 cuts straight through town, connecting north to Shrewsbury and south to Herefordshire. Church Stretton is just eight miles northeast if you fancy browsing its outdoor gear shops or sampling its café culture.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense for exploring this corner of Shropshire. You're close enough to nip into the Brecon Beacons, yet far enough from the crowds to actually hear birdsong in Wigmore Abbey's atmospheric ruins. The countryside here doesn't shout about itself like the Cotswolds, but that's rather the point.