EXPLORE THE VERY HEART OF ENGLAND

YOU CAN FIND BEAUTIFUL PLACES AWAY FROM THE INDUSTRIAL CITIES

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BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

 

Stowe School just outside Buckingham is in Stowe Park.  The Park is a National Trust property and is very large with splendid lakeside walks. There is a Chinese house in the grounds along with many interesting buildings along the paths.  There is a new cafe and toilets near the entrance which is about a 1Km walk from the school.  The grounds, which are open all year, are free to National Trust members as is the large car park.  There is a charge for non-members.  Join the National Trust!

 

Inside Stowe School.  This is one of the most ornate rooms.  The school has about 800 pupils.  It hs many famous former pupils including Richard Branson.  The school is not a National Trust property but you can take a guided tour at at about five pounds charge with a reduction for National Trust members.  Another reason to join the National Trust.


THE LONG MYND IN SHROPSHIRE

 

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The long Mynd Shropshire        Start from Church Stretton on the A49 South of Shrewsbury

This is the path leading from the upper car park.  Follow this and then at the main fork, after crossing another ford, there is a sign post directing you left to the waterfall.  Go to this then climb the steep steps to the right just before the falls and continue on the path to the top of the hill and turn left along a grass track to reach a surfaced track.  Turn right on this until you see a sign with a number of waymarks, one of which directs you along a good track to go down a valley.  See below left.

 



 

This path leads back down the hill to reach the signpost where you branched off for the waterfall.  Ford the stream and go straight ahead to reach the car park again. From the upper car park to the surfaced track is a climb of 240M.  to the highest point on the Long Mynd is about another 100M. of climb.
When you get back into Church Stretton turn right at the crossroads to go up the Burway.  This is a narrow road which gives a great drive up over the top of the Long Mynd.and takes you past the gliding club.

 

The cafe between the lower and upper car parks at the Long Mynd.  Please note that you have to pay for car parking unless you are a National Trust Member.  Go on--click the banner further down the page and join up.  It will save you lots of money throughout the year.  The cafe building was imported from Norway in the 1920's that is why it has a Scandinavian look.
There are toilets which can be accessed from both inside or outside the cafe.


BROADWAY IN WORCESTERSHIRE                                                      CHESHIRE

 

Broadway Tower (signposted from the A44 Evesham-Morton Road 2.5 miles SE of Broadway village at the top of Broadway Hill or walk up about 600 ft. from Broadway Village).  The tower is a folly with a great view of the area.  It is open to visitors.  Cleeve Hill near Cheltenham is the highest land point in the Cotswolds but the top of Broadway tower is slightly higher.  Also visit Snowshill Manor (follow the signs to Snowshill from Broadway village) and the Lavender Farm (seasonal opening) nearby.

Nunsmere Hall Hotel.  A typical English country house hotel set in the Cheshire countryside off the A49 at Oakmere near Northwich.  Nice facilities, attentive and friendly staff,good food and lovely grounds.   The hotel is almost surrounded by lakes and there are walks in Forestry commmission woodland nearby.  The designer of the famous liner "Queen Mary" lived here.  You can find this hotel and many similar hotels across the country by using the search facility below.



                                                                                                                                          WORCESTERSHIRE

 We can only show you a few pictures with the delights of Central England but if you click the Lonely Planet icon you can find full information on the area and, if you wish just buy the chapter of whatever guide you want.

Hanbury Hall (B4090 about 5 miles east of Droitwich, Worcs.) is a National Trust Property that was the home of the Vernon family.  Nice walks arnound the grounds. Hanbury is credited as the fictional "Ambridge" in the famous Archers radio series..


Please click on the banner for information about The National Trust

TIP:  If you are not already a member we strongly suggest that you join the National Trust.  There are so many places  you can visit that your membership saves you its cost many, many times over.  We joined over 30 years ago and have never regretted it.  You can see not only the many historical buildings but  also many lovely grounds. Many of these grounds are great to explore, particularly if you have children.to keep entertained.  From our point of view The National Trust is a must have money saver!  Wherever you go in the country there are National Trust Properties nearby.  Quie a number are open all year round.  Great for summer days out and even winter trips.


GLOUCESTERSHIRE                                                                                  WORCESTERSHIRE

 

Bourton on the Water, Gloucestershire off A429 about 5 miles South of Stow on the Wold.  Popular picturesque village on the river Evenlode.  Attractions include a great little motor museum a model village and birdland.  Plenty of pubs and restaurants.  An idyllic place on a summer day.  Also visit nearby Lower Slaughter with its old mill.

 

Broadway, Worcestershire off the A44 about 7 miles SE of Evesham.  Take the old road into the village.  Perhaps the best known and prettiest Cotswold village.  Viewpoint at the top of Broadway Hill.  Snowshill Manor (NT) and Lavender farm are nearby. The Gloucester and Worcester restored steam railway runs to Cheltenham from here.  Famous (upmarket) Lygon Arms Hotel is in the village centre.  An interesting place to treat yourself to lunch. 


TIP:  BROADWAY IN WORCESTERSHIRE IS A LOVELY AND VERY POPULAR VILLIAGE TO VISIT.  WHEN YOU DO VISIT PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU PARK  EITHER IN THE MAIN CAR PARK (IT HAS WON AWARDS AND HAS VERY CLEAN TOILETS) OR ONE OF THE OTHER OFFICIAL CAR PARKS.  DON'T PARK IN THE STREET.  THE TRAFFIC WARDENS HERE HAVE A BIT OF A REPUTATION FOR BEING VERY EFFICIENT AND RATHER MERCILESS.  THE POLICE ALSO SOMETIMES SET UP A SPEED TRAP NEAR THE RAILWAY STATION SO OBEY THE LIMITS.  IF YOU DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR PARKING DRIVE RIGHT UP TO THE TOP (EAST) END OF THE VILLAGE .  THIS IS NOW A NO THROUGH ROAD AND THERE ARE PLACES TO PARK FREE JUST PAST THE TURNING CIRCLE.

Whenever you need a hotel it is worth using this search engine since it combines hotels and saves searching through a number of different engines to find the hotel that you want



WARWICKSHIRE                                                                                     GLOUCESTERSHIRE

 

Charlecote Deer Park in the village of Charlecote off the B4086 Stratford on Avon-Wellesbourne Road.  The property is alongside the River Avon and has a collection of old carriages and a former brewery.  This is another National Trust property worth exploring.  There is a gift shop, toilets and a cafe in the restored orangery.

 

Deer near Batsford Arboretum.  The arboretum has, as you would expect, exotic trees.  There is also  a new garden centre, cafe and a falconry centre.  Located a couple of miles West of Moreton in Marsh off the A44 Evesham Road.  Moreton itself is a lively market town with an aircraft museum and many historic eating places.  Nearby Stow on the Wold and Burton on the Water are intreresting places.






GLOUCESTERSHIRE


 
A few miles from Bourton on the Water is the pretty little village of Lower Slaughter.  Here you will find Lower Slaughter Manor a rather Grand Country House Hotel where you can indulge yourself in a 3 course lunch for about thirty pounds or have a light lunch for two for about fifteen pounds each.  A touch of luxury with good service and lovely surroundings
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The river Evenlode runs through both Lower Slaughter and Bourton on the Water.  This is one of the few rivers in England that looks crystal clear.  Here is The Old Mill  at Lower Slaughter with its museum and shop.  The shop is a treasure trove of items from a bygone age.  There is also a cafe where you can sit alongside the river and the working waterwheel.