Cottageguide.net
Close to Bishops Castle and Clun lies a delightful 18th Century, stone built barn converted to a holiday cottage, situated next to the owners' farmhouse on a 4.5 acre smallholding that is the perfect retreat for peace and quiet. The holiday cottage is on the outskirts of the hamlet of Mainstone in the delightful South Shropshire Hills. The holiday cottage is surrounded by wooded pastures and distant views of Stiperstones and Long Mynd Hills.
The Old Cwm Barn is a comfortable, well equipped cottage that includes a spacious triple aspect sitting room with superb views and three lovely bedrooms (2 x double, 1 x single), a bathroom with corner bath and telephone style hand shower, basin and WC plus an extra downstairs toilet. The modern fitted kitchen with dining area includes an oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer and dishwasher. There is also a large entrance/utility area with a separate toilet, washing machine and dryer. Next to the kitchen is a light and airy comfortable sitting room with views of the rolling hills. The large garden boasts a spring fed stream, with decking over, ideal for dining alfresco. Within the 4.5 acres there is an enclosed nature area with a quarter acre duck pond teeming with birds and next door are rare breed pigs and Cotswold Sheep. There is a picnic table in this area for your use. Also on site are chickens for fresh eggs and a very friendly horse - ask Ingrid nicely and she might let you ride Texas.
Much wildlife is evident including badgers, foxes and a huge number of song birds as well as buzzards, sparrow hawks and owls - we have even had our own nesting kestrels. A short drive away are the market towns of Ludlow, Church Stretton and Welshpool, plus many more of the finest attractions of South Shropshire and the Welsh Marches.
The Old Cwm Barn is located one mile from Mainstone, five and
a half miles from Bishop's Castle, six miles from Clun and sixteen miles from
Ludlow.
Mainstone is a tiny, rural hamlet located in beautiful countryside known as the
Marches, the English/Welsh borderlands. The hamlet is just five and a half miles
from the fascinating market town of Bishop's Castle, which is situated in the
outstanding natural beauty of the South West Shropshire Hills. Bishop's Castle
boasts a medieval castle mound, a wealth of timbered buildings including the
unusual Elizabethan House on Crutches, heritage trails and an impressive choice
of quality shops, pubs and restaurants, including the famous Three Tuns Inn
Brewery, which produces renowned real ales. The town enjoys weekly markets,
festivals such as the famous Annual Real Ale Festival and regular fairs, with
the Michaelmas Fair being particularly popular.
This is a great location for walkers, cyclists, anglers and birdwatchers and for
touring the Welsh Marches and rural Shropshire. Take a two hour scenic walk,
taking in Offa's Dyke, starting directly from the smallholding. Discover the
Clun and Kerry Forests, the South Shropshire Hills, medieval Ludlow (with its
historic racecourse where racing dates back to 1729) and Shrewsbury, Stokesay
Castle and the Ironbridge Gorge, all within easy reach, while nearby attractions
include Powis Castle and the Severn Valley Railway. Anglers can enjoy good
coarse fishing for barbel and chub available not far away on the Teme, river
trout and grayling on the Monnow and other Welsh Marches rivers, and a nice
stocked stillwater trout fishery at Delbury Hall. A superb holiday hideaway for
that relaxing break.
Full oil central heating. Gas (LPG) oven and hob, microwave,
fridge/freezer, larder fridge, washing machine and tumble dryer in utility room,
colour TV with Sky, video, DVD. Wireless broadband can be arranged for a small
fee. All fuel and power inc. in rent. Bed linen and towels inc. in rent. Cot,
highchair and stair gate on request. Off road parking for three cars. Lockable
bike storage. Enclosed lawned garden with natural spring fed stream and decked
sitting area with garden furniture, BBQ, child's swing and Wendy House. One well
behaved dog welcome. Sorry no smoking.
Shops/pubs/restaurants five and a half miles. Note: Property is accessed via
farm track with a steep concreted descent at the end - take care during winter
weather. Note: Although stream is shallow, please take care.
Shropshire, alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated
Shrops, is a county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Wales to
the west. Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated
counties, with the population of the non-metropolitan/shire county 289,100 -
making it the least populated two-tier governed area in the United Kingdom. The
shire county and its districts will be replaced with a unitary authority on 1st
April 2009. The borough of Telford and Wrekin, included in Shropshire for
ceremonial purposes, has been a unitary authority since 1998.
The county town is Shrewsbury, which is culturally and historically important,
although Telford, which was constructed around a number of older towns, most
notably Wellington, Dawley and Madeley, is today the most populous. Other
notable towns are Oswestry in the north-west, Bridgnorth in the south-east and
Ludlow to the south. The Ironbridge Gorge area is advertised as the 'Birthplace
of Industry', and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, covering Ironbridge,
Coalbrookdale and a part of Madeley. There are additionally other notable
historic industrial sites located around the county such as Broseley, Snailbeach
and Highley as well as the Shropshire Union Canal.
The Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers about a quarter
of the county, mainly in the south. The Wrekin is one of the most famous natural
landmarks in the county, though the highest hills are the Clee Hills,
Stiperstones and the Long Mynd. Wenlock Edge is another significant geographical
and geological landmark, and the River Severn, Great Britain's longest river,
runs through the county. Shropshire is landlocked, and with an area of 1,346
square miles, is England's largest inland county.
Tel 01588 640090
www.cottageinshropshire.com
Shropshire self catering holiday cottages