Just over the border into Herefordshire lies Croft Castle, a National Trust property, more like a small stately home than a castle, with extensive grounds and scenic walks.
The house has a lived in feel and is a manageable size, not too grand.
As some of the family still live there the upstairs rooms are mainly out of bounds.
There is a large walled garden with glasshouses and work is ongoing to restore and reuse the large greenhouses.
If you are there at the right time there will be plants for sale from the garden.
Allow time for tea and cakes from the tea room then set off on one of the many way marked walks through the grounds – we did the Carriage walk which took just over an hour through the woodland. It is also possible to walk to the ancient Hill Fort at Croft Ambrey.
The drive back through Wigmore and over Whitcliffe Common took in the iconic views of Ludlow and beyond to Titterstone and Brown Clees and the Long Mynd.
