Shrewsbury and The National Arboretum

Tuesday 11 April

We make our way to the beautiful county of Shropshire on the Welsh border stopping in the quaint historic town of Much Wenlock. It is a stunningly beautiful medieval town and played a major part in the 19th century revival of the Olympic Games. Stroll around and enjoy the fantastic range of architecture dating from the Medieval, Georgian and Victorian eras, browse the individual shops and cafes or why not visit the ruins of Wenlock Priory. We then travel to our hotel near Shrewsbury with time to settle in before dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Wednesday 12 April

After a full English breakfast, we travel to the historic town of Shrewsbury where we take a trip on the beautiful River Severn, including tea and coffee on board. You are then free to explore the town centre with its gorgeous Quarry - 29 acres of parkland encircled by the River Severn. At the heart of the park lies The Dingle, a floral masterpiece and sunken, landscaped garden created by renowned gardener Percy Thrower. Shrewsbury is home to more than 600 listed buildings including the Castle and Abbey.

Thursday 13 April

Today, we head to the National Memorial Arboretum on the edge of the National Forest in Staffordshire. Enjoy nearly 400 memorials nestled amongst some 25,000 trees, riverside walks, talks and exhibitions. Included in our visit is a trip on the land-train with commentary and a Pie and Mash Lunch.

Friday 14 April

After a leisurely breakfast, we head across the border into Wales to the pretty town of Llangollen for a horse-drawn barge trip on the Llangollen Canal followed by a trip on the Llangollen Railway - a heritage line following the River Dee for ten miles to the town of Corwen. Each station along the way offer's it's own unique charm and hidden gems. The line runs through an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and follows the river for most of it's length.

Saturday 15 April

After breakfast, we make our way home stopping in another Medieval Shropshire gem - Ludlow. It's market day - enjoy browsing the fabulous range of stalls in Market Square or why not visit the imposing Castle? The architecture, shops and eateries make Ludlow a fabulous place to while away a couple of hours. We then head home to South Devon with stops on route.

D=Dinner, FE=Full English Breakfast