HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Great Escapes: Shropshire 3 Secrets in time Two places not to be missed during your stay in Shropshire are: the Discovery Centre, at Craven Arms, where the geological history of the county is described through audio visual and hands-on displays; and Shrewsbury, a town with more than 650 listed buildings, which was also the setting for Ellis Peters’ novels about Brother Cadfael, the medieval detective. BIRTH OF SHROPSHIRE As you enter Craven Arms on the A49 Ludlow/Shrewsbury road (about seven miles north of Ludlow) The Secret Hills Discovery Centre is on your right. You can’t miss it because of its unusual shape and its grass roof, which weighs about 70 tonnes and covers 1000 square metres. The Centre is a themed museum which tells the story of how the rocks, hills and terrain of Shropshire came about during the development of the earth. Although the exhibits are aimed at younger visitors, most of them contain a hands-on element and are just as fascinating for adults. You’ll also see a replica of the most complete skeleton of a mammoth to be found in Britain: press a button and you’ll hear it roar; put your hand into a gap and you can feel its layers of fat. The best exhibit of all, though, is a simulated balloon flight over Shropshire. It lasts about ten minutes, during which time the balloon passes over some of the principle geological features of the area, including several Iron Age forts and lead mines. Throughout the flight there is a commentary, and no matter on which side of the basket you stand, the picture below is the same, so there’s no question of having to dash from one side to the other. There is an excellent café within the building but it doesn’t take credit cards (although you can use a credit card to pay the entrance fee to The Centre). There is a gift shop, too. Outside The Centre is Onny Meadows – a wildlife habitat with four Secret Hills walking trails timed at anything from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on whether you feel like a gentle stroll or some serious hill walking. Parking is free and there are facilities for the disabled. MEDIEVAL MYSTERIES Although the Cadfael stories are based in 12th-century Shrewsbury, the TV series was made in Hungary. Not that it really matters, because Shrewsbury gives you a real feel for the medieval detective’s times. However, in view of the horrendous traffic problems, consider using the park-and-ride service from Meole Brace retail park, near the junction of the A49 and A5 ring road, or the Oxon park-and-ride, near the junction of the A458 and the A5. There is a third park-and-ride on the north side of the city, at Harlescourt livestock market. Shrewsbury is built on a hill so be prepared for some steep climbs. And, although much of the centre is given over to pedestrians, there is a constant stream of traffic along the narrow roads. The best place to find information, and discover the Cadfael Trail, is at the tourist information centre in the Music Hall at the southern end of the square. Here, you’ll find a statue of Clive of India, who was born in Market Drayton. Also in the Music Hall is Oscar’s Café and Bistro, where snacks and light lunches are served (credit cards are not accepted). There are three walks in the Cadfael Trail booklet:  • The first explores the Abbey which lies to the east of the Severn, a couple of yards beyond the English Bridge. This easy walk, about a quarter of a mile, takes from 30-60 minutes, depending on how much time you spend at each point of interest  • The second walk is somewhat longer, about one-and-a-half miles, and takes you to St Giles Church, which is all that remains of the Hospital of St Giles  • The third walk starts at the Abbey and follows a trail around the old town. Although the walk is only about two miles long, there are several fairly steep hills involved. However, as with most city walks and trails, you don’t have to start at the beginning, nor do you have to visit every location. You’ll notice that as you follow the trail around the city, you’ll come across signs in the shape of a footprint, showing that you are ‘walking in the footsteps of Cadfael’. OLDEST HILL IN ENGLAND Lying south-west of Telford, and reaching a height of some 407m, lies Wrekin hill. The hill was formed during the pre-Cambrian period. It consists mainly of volcanic rock and is said to be the oldest hill in England. Climbing it offers walkers some serious exercise. You can also walk all around its base. During the Iron Age there was a large hill fort at the summit. This comprised two camps, the lower being more than 240m long, while the higher one was around 335m in length. Entry to the lower of the two is through Hell’s Gate – conversely, you pass through Heaven’s Gate to enter the upper camp. HOME PAGE | TOP OF PAGE GREAT ESCAPES   Revolution  Trains & planes  Secret hills GREAT ESCAPES   Previous trails FACTFILE: PLANNING Distance 70 miles Time 9 hours Start/finish Westbrook Park, Little Hereford, Ludlow LY8 4AU. Suitable for all the family. Tourist Info The Music Hall, The Square, Shrewsbury, SY1 1LH. Tel 01743 281200. Website Click Here Refreshments Shropshire Discovery Centre, School Road, Craven Arms, SY7 9RS. Tel 01588 676040. (Note: credit and debit cards are not accepted.) The Oscars Restaurant The Music Hall, The Square, Shrewsbury, SY1 1LH. Tel 01743 281268. (Note: credit and debit cards are not accepted.) Attractions Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre Secret Hills, School Road, Craven Arms SY7 9RS. Tel 01588 676000. HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Contact Practical Motorhome Best viewed in screen resolution 800 x 600 using I.E.4 or Netscape 4 or later.