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Timberstone - Ludlow

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Comfy, cosy Shropshire B&B

If you needed any more proof that British B&B’s aren’t the starched-sheet, curfew-enforcing, UHT milk establishments they once were, this little gem in the heart of the beautiful south Shropshire countryside should do the trick. Sitting in the impossibly picturesque hamlet of Clee Stanton, just 5 miles from beautiful Ludlow and in the heart of the Welsh Marches, this country cottage has been turned into a haven of tranquility and luxury by owners Tracey and Alex.

Timberstone’s three stylish bedrooms are cosy and squishy, with king-sized beds, luxury duvets and crisp linens that make you want to bury yourself in and not move. For days. Original cottage features, such as beams and fireplaces, plus gorgeous countryside views from all the windows just enhance that feeling that everything is… well, right and the home-from-home theme carries on a-pace downstairs. A comfy sitting room is full of books, music and DVDs to keep you occupied, while Tracey, a qualified reflexologist, is on hand to rid you of your urban stresses in her tranquil garden studio.

Foot-fondling is not the end of her talents, however, Tracey is also an amazing cook, and together with a breakfast you’ll remember for a very long time, she can also rustle up delicious evening meals if you really can’t tear yourself away from Timberstone. And we wouldn’t blame you…

Where is it?

You only need look at an aerial photo of Clee Stanton to see that the tiny cluster of buildings really is in the middle of nowhere. Fields to the left of it, hills to the right, etc etc. It’s great walking, cycling and picnicking country, with miles of windy lanes to explore and lots of cute, hidden villages to rock up in unannounced. If wheels are your thing, Wheely Wonderful Cycling (www.wheelywonderfulcycling.co.uk Tel: 01568 770755) at Petchfield Farm, west of Ludlow, hires out bikes, including tandems, and has maps and advice on all the best cycle routes in the area.

The shiniest jewel in this area’s crown, however, has to be the historic market town of Ludlow. Described by John Betjeman as “England’s finest town”, and fast becoming the unofficial foodie capital of rural Britain, this gorgeous jumble of architectural styles, narrow streets and restaurants, all watched over by the town’s own medieval castle, is the perfect place to while away a weekend. Ludlow Castle (www.ludlowcastle.com Tel: 01584 873355) is as good a place as any to start – its romantic ruins perched on a cliff above the pretty River Teme. Originally built in 1086 to hold back the Welsh, today the fascinating castle and its grounds are open to an adoring public and are the site of a whole calendar of events throughout the year. Explore the town further and you’ll find the lovely 15th-century St Laurence’s Church, where the poet AE Housman (author of ‘A Shropshire Lad’) is commemorated; the world-famous timber façade of The Feathers Hotel, built in 1619; and the handsome market square where food and drink markets still take place today. Visit Ludlow at the end of June / beginning of July to take part in the brilliant Ludlow Festival (www.ludlowfestival.co.uk Tel: 01584 872150) – two weeks of theatre, music and dance, including an open-air Shakespeare production in the castle grounds.

If you want to explore Shropshire further, the historic town of Ironbridge is a 45-minute drive from Clee Stanton - one of the most important landmarks in British history, advertising itself as ‘the birthplace of industry’. Sitting at the bottom of the picturesque Ironbridge Gorge, the small town centres around the bridge itself – a huge, dark Meccano-esque structure rising out of the woodland on either side to cross the River Servern and tower above the buildings below. Opened in 1781 as a desperately-needed way to transport goods across the river and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it became a popular tourist attraction in the nineteenth century, and the town grew up around it as a result. School history lessons may have put you off knowing anything about the Industrial Revolution, but even the least history-minded can’t help but be impressed by the drama of the bridge in such a tranquil setting. There are, of course, plenty of museums and even a working Victorian Town crammed into Ironbridge. Visit www.ironbridge.org.uk for the full round-up.

Alternatively, you could drive the 14 miles to the higgledy-piggledy Severn-side town of Bridgnorth, where the high town and low town are connected by a nostalgic cliff railway (www.bridgnorthcliffrailway.co.uk Tel: 01746 762052). From Bridgnorth you can join the famous Severn Valley Railway (www.svr.co.uk Tel: 01299 403816), an Agatha Christie-esque steam railway that will bring a spot of old-fashioned romance to your weekend away.

Where can I eat?

If you’re a foodie fanatic, you’ll have really landed on your feet if you decide to stay anywhere near Ludlow. Hailed by many to be the new gastro mecca, the town is filling up with fantastic restaurants and delis. For real gluttons, you could do no better than visit in September for the mouthwatering Ludlow Food Festival (www.foodfestival.co.uk Tel: 01584 873957). Over 120 local producers set up shop in the market place, while demonstrations and tastings take place throughout the weekend.

Arrive at any other point in the year, however, and you certainly won’t be disappointed. La Bécasse (www.labecasse.co.uk Tel: 01584 872325), opened and helmed by Michelin-starred chef Alan Murchison, offers modern French cuisine, made with local and seasonal produce. Menus du jour and Gourmand menus take the ache out of choosing from Murchison’s mouthwatering a la carte menu. Another Ludlow favourite is Mr Underhill’s (www.mr-underhills.co.uk Tel: 01584 874431), a beautiful restaurant and winner of a Michelin star, that sits on a blissful position under Ludlow Castle’s ramparts on the banks of the River Teme. Stunning seasonal menus include puddings to die for and are accompanied by an extensive and exciting wine list. For something a bit different, Ludlow’s only Japanese restaurant, Koo (www.koo-ook.co.uk Tel: 01584 878462), has earned UK-wide praise for its authentic dishes and freshest-of-the-fresh ingredients.

Of course, Ludlow is also the perfect place to pick up a picnic, with specialist food shops rivalling the town’s restaurants for top billing. Mousetrap Cheese (www.mousetrapcheese.co.uk Tel: 01584 879 556), Price & Sons Bakery (www.pricesthebakers.co.uk Tel: 01584 872815) and the yummy Chocolate Gourmet (www.chocolategourmet.co.uk Tel: 01584 879332) are some of the best. But for the daddy of all delis, visit the multi-award-winning Ludlow Food Centre (www.ludlowfoodcentre.co.uk Tel: 01584 856000) in Bromfield, 2 miles outside the town centre, for a whole food hall of local, organic, hand-made and thoroughly delicious stuff.

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Sitting in the impossibly picturesque hamlet of Clee Stanton, just 5 miles from beautiful Ludlow and in the heart of the Welsh Marches, this country cottage has been turned into a haven of tranquility and luxury.