Magical Mystery Tour June 2025 Part 1

Our travel plans this year have been dominated by 2 things. Firstly, a need to stay in the UK from April onwards due to the very exciting projected arrival of not one but 2 new grandchildren this summer .  Secondly, and much less happily, the ongoing saga of Buzzbee our campervan, who went to the garage for some routine repairs in February, and had his engine ruined. We have been waiting for a replacement engine ever since. We cancelled and altered a few small trips, confident we would have our van back for our big trip in June. A week before departure we were told it would not be ready for us.  

The first part of our trip was supposed to be a gathering of our group of 11 friends, the Uphill Club, for a Summer Camp in Shropshire. We didn't want to miss it, so there was only one thing for it..... off to the shed to find our old tents and the camping gear! We think it is 11 years since we have tent camped and never expected to be doing so again!

Our small tent had vanished, so our large Khyam was the only option. A trial pitching in the garden, including soaking with a hose to check its all weather credentials, and we were ready to go. We had completely forgotten how much space all the gear takes up in the car!

So, part one of our blog finds us camping at our friend's house near Church Stretton in beautiful Shropshire!

Great fun was had, including a super day visiting beautiful and historic Ludlow.

The 11th century castle is it's star attraction, but the fascinating church of St Laurence is definitely worth a visit.

Highlights include a font made from a roman pillar, beautiful stained glass windows from 1450, a stunning mediaeval rood screen, and these 14th and 15th century misericord seats. Not too mention some quirky looking radiators and the original burial sites of Prince Arthur, Henry VIII's older brother and first husband of Catherine of Aragon! How different history might have been.

We followed a walking trail through the lovely old streets and along the river before having a super light lunch in Carvells quaint tea room.  Ludlow is full of pretty streets with many Mediaeval, tudor and Georgian houses.

Dinham house was built in 1705, and is worth a look inside. Today it is the showroom for Clearview stoves, but they use the lovely rooms to good effect to model the stoves and are happy for you to wander round.

Finally, we can highly recommend the very interesting brewery tour at Ludlow brewery!

Next day was a walking trail with puzzles to solve in pretty Church Stretton, another historic town built around the roman road. The church is 12th century, but most other buildings were destroyed by a huge fire in 1593, so today there are many tudor timbered buildings, and georgian houses.

A quiz in the afternoon was followed by a superb evening meal at the Old Hall Persian restaurant in Dorrington. Delicious and authentic food was served by the Chef who is passionate about his cuisine, and whose day job just happens to be as a Consultant Doctor at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital!!

In amongst these sunny, jolly days, we had decisions to make! Could we face another few weeks of tent camping... even with our extra comforts of an 18 inch high airbed and electric blanket.... and if so, where should we go?

For the answers, see part 2 of the blog, coming soon!