HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Great Escapes: Shropshire 2 Up high, down low No stay in Shropshire would be complete without a visit to the Royal Air Force Museum and Severn Valley Railway. The former, at Cosford, is well signposted from the A5 and the nearby towns of Shifnal and Bridgnorth. Usefully, the northern terminus of the Severn Valley Railway is to be found at Bridgnorth. IN THE COCKPIT The Royal Air Force Museum at Cosford is on the A41, about a mile from junction 3 of the M54 and is worth at least half a day of anyone’s time – more if you’re into aviation. Entrance to the museum is free (donations are welcome), making it an ideal day out for the whole family. The main entrance building houses the reception, souvenir shop and Aviator Restaurant, which serves a good selection of snacks and meals at reasonable prices. Many of the aircraft on display are in the open, although the majority are under cover in three hangars. There are also a number of exhibitions about missiles, engines, rockets and the Royal Air Force Regiment. One of the most enjoyable items is an interactive Fun ‘n’ Flight Gallery where children can learn the principles of flight. Having spent a bit of time learning how to control a model of a WWII fighter with a joystick and foot controls, you are given a guided tour of a jet Provost. Our guide allowed us to sit in the cockpit while he explained the functions of the controls and gauges. When we commented on the excellent visibility from the cockpit, he told us to take a look at the Russian MiG fighter in the next hangar – by contrast, its cockpit vision was almost non-existent. There were three aircraft, in particular, we found interesting: a Spitfire, a Hurricane and the TSR.2. Anyone who lived through The Battle of Britain knows how much the country owed to the Spitfire and the Hurricane. Later, in the 1960s, the TSR.2 was a British aviation project to produce a multi-role combat aircraft. THE JEWEL OF THE NORTH Bridgnorth, also known as ‘The Jewel of the North’, is a town not to be missed during a visit to Shropshire. Like Ironbridge, it lies within the gorge which was left after the Ice Age. Bridgnorth is, in fact, two towns – the Low Town and the High Town – separated by the river Severn and steep, sandstone cliffs. We drove our camper to the High Town, parked in a long stay car park there (70p for the day) and, rather than take the steep steps down the cliff, descended to the Low Town aboard the Bridgnorth Hill Railway. In use since 1892, the railway is claimed to be the oldest funicular railway in the UK and costs 70p per person (return). There are two carriages, on parallel tracks, which counterbalance each other and it takes only two minutes to negotiate the 201ft incline. Originally powered by a water balance system, the carriages have been run on electrically driven colliery winding gear since the early 1940s. Before taking the railway, though, we had walked along the Castle Walk to take in the splendid views of the river Severn. In 1642, Charles I once described the view as “the finest in my domain”. In the centre of the High Street you’ll find the Town Hall, which dates from 1652. It has a market under the arches on the ground floor and some very fine stained glass in the upper rooms, where you can also buy a coffee. Opposite is another timber building, the Swan, a 17th-century coaching inn. At the other end of the High Street is the North Gate, the only surviving gate from the town’s original six. Built from the red sandstone which is typical of the area, it has been extensively renovated over the years. The room above the arch is now a museum. ALL ABOARD! Bridgnorth station is the northern terminus of the popular Severn Valley Railway and is within walking distance of both the High and Low Towns. During the winter months, the trains only run between Bridgnorth and the southern terminus, at Kidderminster, on Saturdays and Sundays, but in the summer there are trains seven days a week. If you’ve brought young children with you, they’ll love the Thomas The Tank Engine Days, while older rail enthusiasts will enjoy the three-course Sunday Luncheon train service, which travels along the beautiful Severn Valley. And, If you’ve ever fancied driving a train, half- or whole-day lessons on a real steam locomotive are available here. HOME PAGE | TOP OF PAGE GREAT ESCAPES   Revolution  Trains & planes  Secret hills GREAT ESCAPES   Previous trails FACTFILE: PLANNING Distance 30 miles Time Nine hours Start/finish Stanmore Hall Touring Park, Stourbridge Road, Bridgnorth, WV15 6DT. Suitable for all the family. Refreshments Aviator Restaurant The RAF Museum, Cosford, Shifnal TF11 8UP. Tel 01902 376200. Baileys Wine Bar and Bistro 78 High Street, Bridgnorth. Tel 01746 763445. Tourist Info Bridgnorth Tourist Info Centre, Listley Street, Bridgnorth WV16 4AW. Tel 01746 763257. Attractions The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, Shifnal TF11 8UP. Tel 01902 376200. Website Click Here. The Severn Valley Railway Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1BG Tel 01299 403816. Website Click Here (also for details of the Sunday Luncheon service). HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Contact Practical Motorhome Best viewed in screen resolution 800 x 600 using I.E.4 or Netscape 4 or later.