Holidays
4 Night Shropshire Hills Festive Discovery Tour

4 Night Shropshire Hills Festive Discovery Tour

Festive breaks in Shropshire Hills

4 nights

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Groups of 10+

020 3974 8865

Explore the borderlands between England and Wales with a 4-night Shropshire Hills Discovery Tour. Enjoy a superb tour of the area, visiting many of its picturesque towns including Clun and Bishop’s Castle, as well as the medieval town of Ludlow. Snap shots of spectacular Stokesey Castle, and visit charming Wightwick Manor; a delightful Victorian Manor with an impressive collection of Pre-Raphaelite art.

What You’ll Love

Wandering around charming Wightwick Manor, decked in its festive finery
Visiting the mighty Powis Castle and 13th century Stokesay
Spending time in medieval Ludlow
Welcoming in the New Year with a special evening meal, live entertainment, and toasting to future adventures with new friends

What's Included

Comfortable en-suite rooms in our partner accommodation
Cooked or continental breakfast every morning 
Daily packed lunches
Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee  
Guided walks with experienced HF Holidays Leaders
All transport to and from walks where necessary

Trip Suitability

Trip suitability

Our Discovery holidays give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture of the local area through active sightseeing.

On each Discovery day, you will be walking throughout the course of the day as you explore the venues and locations we visit. You'll also be hopping on and off the coach throughout - you should expect to spend the majority of the day on your feet. Most of this walking will be at attractions but some may be across country tracks or footpaths so be sure to bring sturdy shoes. There will also be stairs to climb in the majority of the venues you visit, though other more accessible options may be available. At some venues, there may also be uneven surfaces, such as cobbles or rocky paths.

Itinerary

All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.

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Check-in at the hotel is available from 16:00. If you are a member you can arrive at the house from 14:00. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea at 16:30 and meet other guests.

Today, we'll learn about the Shropshire Hills (formerly AONB) and the way in which its unique geology has created a wide variety of landscapes. We'll visit the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, explore the picturesque towns of Clun and Bishop’s Castle, and finish our day soaking up the views of the surrounding countryside at the mystical Stiperstones. Back at the house, there’ll be some time to relax before an evening of new year celebrations begin. There’ll be an extra-special meal, live entertainment, and a midnight toast!

We’ll begin the new year with a day full of architecture and medieval history. Ludlow has an imposing 11th-century castle and many listed buildings, including those in Broad Street, considered one of the finest streets in Britain. There will be plenty of time to explore historic Ludlow before we visit the spectacular medieval manor house of Stokesay Castle this afternoon. The Great Hall has remained unchanged for 700 years and offers excellent views from its gable windows, and its fortified North Tower looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Visit the lovely Wightwick Manor and Gardens; a Victoria manor housing an impressive Pre-Raphaelite art collection, lovingly compiled by Sir Geoffrey and Rosalie, Lady Mander. The artwork is set out very much to compliment a family home, as was Sir Geoffrey's wishes. You will also find the Manor filled with much-loved William Morris interiors. Spend time in the De Morgan Gallery, with its 'Beneath the Lustre' exhibition, looking at how Pre-Raphaelite painters Evelyn and William De Morgan were inspired to create such stunning art. Wightwick's gardens also offer plenty of seasonal interest to enjoy. At this time of year, Wightwick Manor will still be dressed in all its festive finery, which will make quite a welcoming sight!

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.

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Accommodation

Longmynd Hotel

For rural calm in the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, the location of this characterful country house is hard to top. Set in a wooded hillside just a short stroll from the market town of Church Stretton (nicknamed Little Switzerland for its picturesque landscape), you’ll be within walking or driving distance of the Stiperstones, Caer Caradoc, Ironbridge Valley of Invention, and the historic towns of Ludlow and Shrewsbury. And then, of course, there’s the Long Mynd itself – an area of registered common land that has been cared for by a group of farmers (the self-named commoners) who have grazed sheep and ponies here for generations.

A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out).

Evening entertainment

While evening entertainment varies from house to house, HF Holidays Inter-House Quiz night held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided waking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.

Walks talks
Our HF Holidays walk leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on guided walking holiday arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s guided walks (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.

The walking day
Prior to setting off on guided walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house.

Check in & check out

You are welcome to check in from 4pm at the earliest. HF Members can check in earlier, from 2pm. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team. Check out 10am.

• 56 well-appointed guest rooms • Exclusive occupancy: 80 guests minimum • Check in from 4:00pm • For members check in from 2:00pm • Free Wi-Fi • Free on-site parking • Boot room and drying room • 2 travel cots & 2 high chairs • Discovery Point offering a wide range of local area maps, route guides, and information for self-guided walks • Books and games to borrow • Licensed bar • Lounges • Garden • Well-behaved dogs welcome on self-guided holidays • Electric vehicle charging point - Please note, you will need to bring your own cables to use this EV charging point

Seasonal dining, tailored for you

Our team of skilled chefs design our dinner menus to showcase the best of each season, from warming winter comfort food to vibrant summer dishes, including vegetarian, vegan and high-protein options. We also source fruit and vegetables within a 40-mile radius of each house, open every break with a Chef’s Special menu inspired by dishes and flavours of the local area, and are able to adapt dishes to suit special dietary requirements.

Welcome Cream Tea

What better way to start your stay than with a cream tea, served fresh on arrival to make you feel instantly at home. A quintessentially English tradition, our scones are baked in-house and served with preserves and clotted cream, providing the perfect opportunity to meet fellow walkers.

A hearty breakfast to start the day

Start the day with a freshly-prepared cooked breakfast and a wide choice from our continental buffet, including hot drinks, juices and fresh fruit. Our team offer a quick and friendly service, leaving you fuelled and ready for your day’s adventures.

Our famous picnic lunch

Our personalised picnic lunches are perfect for a day out walking, ready to enjoy when hunger strikes. Choose from a large selection of fresh sandwiches and salads, freshly baked cakes and snacks, including the ever-popular Freddos chocolate bar! Everything is designed to fit neatly into your rucksack, and all of the packaging we provide is recyclable or compostable.

3-course evening meals

Our à la carte evening menus feature a wide choice of starters, mains, and desserts, made with seasonal ingredients and, wherever possible, herbs and vegetables from our own gardens. Shared around sociable tables, dinners are relaxed occasions, with drinks available to order at the table or from the bar, and a traditional Sunday roast to round off the week.

Since 2022, the £3 million invested so far has established a flagship HF property. A full upgrade of all rooms is expected to be complete by April 2027 with 65% of guest rooms upgraded. Designed with your comfort in mind, Longmynd Hotel has 56 well-appointed guest rooms available in two categories: Classic and Premium.

Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV.

Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

We love: For more privacy, the lodges have their own terrace.

The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply.

Room supplements

Premium single	Premium double/twin	Choose your room
£20 pppn	£20 pppn	£30 per room

*Views and layout reflect each properties unique character and location

For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Longmynd Hotel

View more details View holidays here

More Information

Carbon Footprint

We see it as our responsibility to minimise our emissions, not just for this year but every year to come. Our work with sustainability experts, ecollective, has enabled us to measure our carbon footprint and create a strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of our product by 5% each year. Our ambition is to be net zero by 2040 – earlier if we can.

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4 Night Shropshire Hills Festive Discovery Tour

What You’ll Love

What's Included

Trip Suitability

Itinerary