The Shropshire Hills cover almost a quarter of Shropshire: the area spans 802 square kilometres and was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1958. The landscape is more than just a single backdrop. Heathland, grassland, woodland and river habitats shape this natural environment; nationally rare species found here include merlin, snipe, curlew, whinchat, dipper and emperor moth.

The Stiperstones are also connected with the Shropshire Hills. Among the plants found there are crowberry and bilberry. On 5 August 2025, the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve was expanded and renamed Stiperstones Landscape National Nature Reserve. Those interested in the landscape can therefore make both a botanical and a geographical discovery here.

Routes through landscapes and places

The Shropshire Way is a figure-of-eight circular route that starts and ends at the Buzzard Sculpture in Shrewsbury. It passes through Clun, Ludlow, Ironbridge, Ellesmere and Whitchurch, and crosses the rugged Stiperstones and the Wrekin. Along the route, you will encounter varied geology. The trail therefore links different places and types of landscape rather than focusing on a single natural area.

For outdoor activities, Shropshire has more than 5,600 kilometres of public rights of way. Routes for walking, cycling and horse riding are also promoted. These include the Shropshire Way and Walking with Offa. This range offers different themes for planning your trip: you could explore a named route, for example, or focus on the many opportunities for outdoor activities.

Roman traces and medieval architecture

Wroxeter Roman City is an abandoned Roman town in the Shropshire countryside. Its visible public baths and on-site museum bring Roman history to life in several ways. Visitors can take an audio tour and explore the public bathhouse. At Wroxeter, the visible remains, museum and tour are therefore distinct parts of a visit.

At Stokesay Castle, buildings from different centuries stand side by side: the site includes 13th-century towers, a great hall and a 17th-century gatehouse. The two dated elements provide contrasting points in time, while the hall completes the ensemble. Those interested in architectural history can focus on the different components rather than just one building phase.

The abbey sites also tell stories of different periods. Buildwas Abbey preserves an unusually unaltered 12th-century church. The site also includes a vaulted chapter house with a tiled floor. Wenlock Priory, meanwhile, began around AD 680 as an Anglo-Saxon monastery and offers a World Builder Trail. The time span thus stretches from the beginnings of a monastery in the Anglo-Saxon period to surviving buildings from the High Middle Ages.

In Ludlow, the castle was founded between 1086 and 1094 as part of a chain of castles along the Marches. A large parish church in Ludlow dates from the 13th to the 15th century and has medieval misericords, carvings and stained glass. Its tower is open to the public and offers views. Ludlow thus brings together the history of a castle and details of medieval church art.

Railway history and trip planning

The Severn Valley Railway runs for 16 miles through the Worcestershire and Shropshire countryside. Original steam locomotives and historic diesel locomotives operate on the line. At Highley, the Engine House displays locomotives from different eras alongside interactive railway exhibitions. These two aspects complement one another: the line showcases operations using various historic locomotives, while the Engine House brings together exhibits and interactive displays.

The RAF Museum Midlands is a ten-minute walk from Cosford railway station. Access arrangements can change, so check them before travelling. The distance is given as a walking time; check the access conditions separately when planning your museum visit.

The Ludlow Food Festival celebrates the culinary tradition of the Marches and independent local food producers. The programme includes cooking demonstrations, workshops, feasts and banquets. If the festival is part of your plans, check the dates and programme before travelling.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Whitchurch, Wem, Sutton Maddock, Shrewsbury, Shifnal, Oswestry, Much Wenlock, Ludlow, Hinton, Halford, Church Stretton, Broseley, Bridgnorth, Alveley, Albrighton, Market Drayton, Alberbury, Worfield, Wroxeter, Pant, Sidbury, Hopesay, Myddle, Craven Arms, Hinstock, Ellesmere, Bucknell, Burlton, Bishops Castle, Cardeston, Weston Rhyn, Minsterley, Harley, Trefonen, Lydbury North, Llanyblodwel, Hope Bowdler, Highley, Easthope, Cleobury Mortimer, Baschurch, Oreton, Clee Saint Margaret, Bitterley, Saint Martin's, Shawbury, Criggion, Frodesley, Silvington, Culmington, Chetton, Clunbury, Kinton, Clun, Welshampton, Longville

For the broader travel overview: West Midlands.