With no directly competing titles, Bradt's Shropshire – Slow Travel fills a much-needed gap in the market for a guide to an area that, of all of the UK's regions, is perhaps most synonymous with 'Slow'. This new title from Bradt written by local author Marie Kreft places an emphasis on car-free travel, local produce and characterful accommodation. It includes detailed descriptions of place, historical overviews, ghost stories and folk tales, and first-hand accounts from Shropshire locals, as well as hand-picked restaurant recommendations based on long-standing knowledge and consultation with locals. Warm and witty writing combines with a natural enthusiasm for the region making this an indispensable guide to one of Britain's most scenic areas. Ludlow is acknowledged as the Slow Food capital of the UK, while the region as a whole is much celebrated, described by PG Wodehouse as the "nearest earthly place to paradise". Shropshire – Slow Travel is unapologetic in taking you the long way round: through ancient woodland, over bridges and 'Blue Remembered Hills', back in time, down footpaths, into castles, churches and interesting pubs, cheerfully savouring the authentic, the offbeat and the local.
Going Slow in Shropshire
Chancel encounters, Revered hedgehogs & beloved bugs, Festivals & fairs, Shropshire as inspiration, A taste of Shropshire, Geology, Planning your visit, How this book is arranged
1 South Shropshire
Getting there & around, Ludlow & Bromfield, Craven Arms to the Clun Valley, From the Stiperstones to the Welsh border, Around Church Stretton & the Long Mynd, The Clee Hills & Corvedale to Cleobury Mortimer
2 Southeast Shropshire
Getting there & around, Bridgnorth & around, South of Bridgnorth & the Severn Valley, Much Wenlock, Staffordshire borders
3 Ironbridge Gorge & The Wrekin
Getting there & around, Around the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, Telford, Wellington, The Weald Moors to Newport
4 Shrewsbury & Mid Shropshire
Getting there & around, Shrewsbury, North & east of Shrewsbury, Towards South Shropshire
5 Oswestry & Northwest Shropshire
Getting there & around, Oswestry & around, Whittington & north of Oswestry, Maesbury & south of Oswestry
6 North Shropshire
Getting there & around, Ellesmere & Shropshire's 'Lake District', Towards Shrewsbury, Wem to Whitchurch, Market Drayton & around
Accommodation
Index
Marie Kreft is a former winner of the Bradt / Independent on Sunday travel-writing competition. She lives in Birmingham, a short hop from Shropshire to where she and her family escape at weekends for long walks and big dinners. Marie loves camping, real ale, old music, new theatre, cooking, backpacking, rail travel, secondhand books, odd historical facts, vintage shops, and spending time with her husband and son – who have helped her to slow down and enjoy the little things in life.