Church Stretton

Steam trains once puffed up the Carding Mill Valley, carrying Victorian tourists to this Shropshire hill town that sits in a natural amphitheatre between the Long Mynd and Caer Caradoc. The railway's long gone, but Church Stretton still draws walkers and families seeking proper countryside without the Lake District crowds.

The town itself is compact - you can stroll the high street in ten minutes. But step beyond and you're into some of England's finest walking country. The Long Mynd rises to the west, offering miles of heather moorland and views across to Wales on clear days. Caer Caradoc to the east is a tougher climb but rewards you with one of Shropshire's best hilltop experiences.

Acton Scott Historic Working Farm sits just south of town and does exactly what it says - working Victorian farm complete with shire horses and traditional methods. It's brilliant for kids who've never seen a pig that isn't shrink-wrapped. The nearby village of Wistanstow has Holy Trinity Church, worth a quick look if you're passing.

For serious hill walkers, Shooters Knoll and the various peaks around Church Stretton provide proper climbs without the three-hour drive to Snowdonia. The countryside here rolls and dips in that particularly English way - green, gentle, but with enough height to get your heart pumping.

Shrewsbury is the nearest proper town, about 12 miles north via the A49. Church Stretton has a small train station on the Heart of Wales line, though services are limited. Staying at one of the local parks puts you right in the heart of walking country, with footpaths leading directly from your tent to some genuinely spectacular Shropshire Hills scenery.