| A long weekend
exploring the canals, meres, and timeless pastures of north
Shropshire. This is a perfect area for cycling on a Bank
Holiday – hardly any traffic and the only tourists
we see are on barges!
This peaceful backwater of England has a rich
history and diverse wildlife. Retreating Ice Age glaciers
left behind a series of pools, or meres, which now provide
a watery habitat for a miscellany of kingfishers, herons,
grebes, coots and moorhens.
A web of barely-used lanes lead us into the
Ceiriog Valley; along the Llangollen and Shropshire Union
canals; to the meres at Colemere, Whitemere and Blakemere;
to Whittington Castle; and over Thomas Telford's magnificent
Chirk Aqueduct.
We stay at The Grange,
a Georgian mansion on the edge of the little market town
of Ellesmere. This grade II listed house is a real treasure
with its oak-panelled dining room, croquet lawn, turf labyrinth,
and wildflower meadows. The walled garden and Victorian
glass houses provide most of our organic fruit and vegetables.
The Grange's relaxed country-house atmosphere makes
it an ideal Beano venue.
There are twin, double and single en-suite
bedrooms (2 singles not en-suite). The Grange (3-diamonds
B&B) is licenced to sell wine, and gets in a barrel
of local Salopian Brewery real-ale specially for
us.
The government has moved the Spring Bank Holiday
from the end of May to Monday 4 June, and added an extra
bank holiday on Tuesday 5 June to celebrate the Queen's
Diamond Jubilee. This will create a 4-day weekend. Perfect!
| Dates: |
Friday 1 to Tuesday 5 June 2012
(over Queen's Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday)
|
| Price: |
£490 |
| Note: |
The weekend begins with dinner on
Friday evening and ends after tea & cakes on Tuesday
afternoon. If you want to stay over on Tuesday night,
B&B can be arranged at The Grange. |
|
