Flounders' Folly

You drive towards Craven Arms and suddenly spot it - a mad Victorian tower rising out of the Shropshire countryside like something from a fever dream. Flounders' Folly is exactly what the name suggests: a Victorian eccentric's monument to himself, built in the 1880s and still standing defiantly on the hillside.

The tower itself is the main draw. It's a proper bit of architectural theatre - all red sandstone and deliberate oddness, the sort of building that makes you wonder what on earth the original owner was thinking. You can climb it on a clear day and see across the Shropshire Hills, which is genuinely worth doing. The surrounding grounds give you breathing room, and it's the kind of place where a 20-minute visit becomes an hour if you're not careful, just pottering about and taking photos from different angles.

This works best for history enthusiasts and architecture buffs rather than families with restless children. Adults who enjoy Victorian eccentricity and oddball monuments will find it proper engaging. Walkers based at any of the nearby parks - Greenway Touring is barely a mile away, while Mountain Edge and Church Stretton Camp are both within three miles - can easily incorporate it into a ramble. The tower's a decent landmark for orienteering too.

Admission details aren't widely advertised, so phone ahead or check their website before setting out from Craven Arms. Allow an hour if you're climbing the tower, 20 minutes if you're just having a look around. It's not a full-day attraction, but it slots nicely into a Shropshire Hills break.