Exploring the West Midlands

Shropshire has played host to many different film crews over the years!

Hereford is about an hour's drive away and famed for the chained library and a copy of the Mappa Mundi

Kinver Rock Houses are managed by the National Trust and give an insight into a different way of life.

Afun way to explore Shropshire from a canoe on the River Severn

More fun on the  Severn Valley Steam Railway

Ludlow Castle is well worth a visit

Exploring South Shropshire in a sports car

Croft Castle is a National Trust property just over the border in Herefordshire

Exploring the bread walk in Ludlow, along the River Teme

Flounders Folly is well worth a visit if you are able - it only opens on the last Sunday of the month through the summer.

What to look forward to with a day on the Severn Valley Steam Railway

A visit to Stokesay Court (not the castle!)

There are lots of interesting courses and workshops available in the area

Walking is a popular activity for guests and there is lots of useful information online.

Brockhampton is my favourite National Trust property locally, less than an hour away and close to the interesting town of Bromyard.

Berrington Hall is a National Trust property between Ludlow and Leominster

There are lots of wonderful producers in South Shropshire, many of which are happpy to welcome visitors.

Witley Court is owned by English Heritage and has an interesting history.

Blists Hill Victorian Town is one of 10 museums at Ironbridge, cradle of the Industrial Revolution.

Rare sundew plants are found locally at Cramer Gutter, a Shropshire Wildlife site

Powis Castle is a National Trust property just over the border in Wales, about 90minutes drive but well worth it!

This year we decided to enter the Ethical, Sustainable and Responsible Business category inthe West Midlands Tourism Awards and are thrilled to have been shortlisted! We are 1 of 3 finalists and the winner will be announced at an event in the Spring.

We have always tried to be ethical and sustainable in our lives as well as our business, farming requires you to take care of the land and natural resources and this has carried over into our B&B and home lives. Or first investment was in a thermal solar panel hot water system, this has been running for over 15 years now, supplying all our hot water through the summer. Next we installed an array of 40 PV solar panels on one of the shed roofs, these havebattery storage which ensures we maximise the solar gain for our home. Late last year we installed a Zappi EV charger and this is available for guests as well as our own use.

Elsewhere I have changed to ethical cleaning products, all bought in bulk to minimise packaging and also refillable dispensers in the guest bathrooms for toiletries. Lightbulbs have been replaced to be LED and all radiators have thermostats to make sure only rooms in use are heated.

We grow much of our own food - our own pigs for sausages and bacon, farm fresh eggs, home pressed apple juice, fruit and vegetables from the garden and buy locally where possible.

We are very lucky to have some wonderful antique pieces of furniture in the B&B and all have a personal story so I thought I might share some of them with you. The bedroom suite in the Red room has personal significance - here is the story behind it!