Hawkstone Park Follies - White Tower

The White Tower at Hawkstone Park Follies is a proper Victorian folly - all red sandstone and theatrical ambition, rising up from the Shropshire landscape like something from a Gothic novel. Built in the 1800s, it's one of several eccentric structures dotted across this historic estate, designed purely for ornament and the sort of romantic nonsense the Victorians adored.

Climbing to the top takes maybe twenty minutes if you're reasonably fit, and the views back across Shropshire are worth the effort - all rolling fields and distant hills. It's not a massive operation; there's no visitor centre or tea room, just you and the tower. That's actually rather refreshing. History enthusiasts will appreciate the context - this was a landowner's statement of wealth and taste - while walkers get genuine satisfaction from the scramble up.

The site itself is free to access, though opening hours vary seasonally, so check ahead before you go. Allow a couple of hours if you're exploring the wider grounds properly, which contain various other follies and woodland paths. It sits well within a Shropshire caravan holiday, particularly if you're staying at Hawk Lake Caravan Park just 1.4 miles away. You could easily combine it with walks through the grounds or head into Shrewsbury for market days and proper pubs.

Truth is, it's best in decent weather. Rain makes the stone slippery and the views disappear into mist. Go on a clear autumn afternoon and you'll understand exactly why someone spent good money building a tower here in the first place.