|
One of England's largest and least populated counties, Shropshire stretches from its long and winding border with Wales to the very edge of the urban Black Country. Its most unique attraction is industrial: it was here that the Industrial Revolution made a huge stride forward with the spanning of the River Severn by the very first iron bridge . The assorted industries that subsequently squeezed into the gorge are long gone, but a series of museums celebrate their craftsmanship - from tiles and iron through to porcelain and even clay pipes. The River Severn also flows through the county town of Shrewsbury , whose antique centre holds dozens of old half-timbered buildings, though Ludlow , further to the south, has the edge when it comes to handsome Tudor and Jacobean architecture. One of the most beautiful parts of Shropshire is to the south of Shrewsbury along the ridge of the Long Mynd , a prime hiking area that is best explored from the attractive little town of Church Stretton . Yet, for all its attractions, Shropshire remains well off the main tourist routes, one factor protecting the county's isolation being the paucity of its public transport . Shrewsbury and Telford are connected to Birmingham, whilst Ludlow, Craven Arms and Church Stretton are connected to Shrewsbury on the Hereford line, but that's about the limit of the train services, whilst rural buses tend to connect outlying villages on just a few days of the week. Bus timetables are available at tourist offices and from the Telford Traveline (tel 01952/200005), covering Telford, Ironbridge and Much Wenlock.
Your Tip for Shropshire
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Shropshire - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Shropshire - visit the main Shropshire forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Shropshire webguide section below! Thanks.
| 
