Best campsites for the Shropshire Hills AONB
Here is our pick of the Alan Rogers Assessors, expert-recommended campsites for the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Lying between Ludlow to the south and Shrewsbury to the north, the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty occupies 310 square miles in the Welsh Marches, around a quarter of Shropshire. It has had a turbulent history, with many deserted settlements, stone circles, Roman villas and remains of fortified hilltop communities dating from times when the defence was a primary concern.
There are plenty of exhilarating walks – follow river valleys, through ancient meadows and mixed woodlands and rocky outcrops and hills smothered in heather. As the name suggests, this AONB has plenty of hills to explore! The Long Mynd Trail is popular with deep valleys and Bronze Age monuments. Walcot Woods is magical, with the remnants of a large Elizabethan deer park dotted with 400-year-old oaks. The Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail runs for 177 miles, but 11 miles is in the AONB. Look for some of England’s less often-seen inhabitants along the way - pine martens, red grouse, snipe and merlin.
Top Shropshire Hills AONB Camping Options
This delightful, small, family-run campsite is situated just 5 miles outside of the stunning Medieval market town of Shrewsbury. Surrounded by countryside with views of the Shropshire hills, the site offers easy access from the A5 and is an ideal base to explore Shropshire and the towns and villages on the Welsh border.
For adults only, this pretty, tranquil park in the Camlad Valley has panoramic views and is an ideal base for walkers. Attractively landscaped with traditional English flower beds and many different trees and shrubs, this small park has been carefully developed. The Welsh hills to the north and the Shropshire hills to the south overlook the three fields which provide a total of 84 pitches. The field nearer to the road (perhaps a little noisy) is slightly sloping, but there are hardstandings for motorhomes, while the second field is more level. All pitches have 16A electricity, water and wastewater drainage and TV hook-up. Camping pods are also available for hire.
Remotely situated in a pleasant valley, in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and sandwiched between the Stiperstones and The Long Mynd, The Green would make an ideal base for some serious walking; a footpath to the Stiperstones passes through the site. The 15-acre site is delightful, and is divided into several fields. There are 160 pitches, taking tourers, seasonal units, and around 20 holiday homes (with 53 pitches having 16A electricity hook-ups for tourers). The main field has some hardstandings. The East Onny is a small, shallow river which runs through the site, much enjoyed by the youngsters, who can spend many hours catching minnows.
Greenway Touring and Glamping Park is a quiet peaceful site for adults only (over 18s) set within the rolling Corvedale Hills. It is a perfect place to chill and unwind, leaving the stresses of work and family life behind. Dogs are welcome but they should be always kept on a lead whilst on site. There are several walks that can be taken directly from the site. This is a gently sloping site with mature trees providing natural screening. 6 Glamping pods are available for those who wish to experience the outdoor living experience without having their own caravan or tent. A stay at Greenway will allow you to experience the unique, unspoilt and unforgettable natural beauty of the Shropshire Hills and its many hidden gems, historic market town (with mainly independent shops) castles and fantastic food and drink which is too tempting to resist. Fans of history of all sorts will be in heaven here, Stokesay and Ludlow Castle are both nearby and the famous Ironbridge Gorge set of museums are within half an hour’s drive.
Ludlow Touring Park opened in May 2012 and is the latest addition to the Morris Leisure Group. The 115 pitches are all level with 41 on hardstanding and the remainder on grass. They include some spacious, fully serviced pitches (16 amp electricity, TV connections, water, waste water and a small light). There is a small children’s play area and plenty of space for dog walking. Some pitches are reserved for adults (over 16 years). Ludlow, in the shadow of its castle, is 2 miles to the north and has plenty to offer the visitor, including its Festival (last week in June and first week in July), antique shops, boutiques, River Teme and Saint Lawrence’s Church. The delightful small town of Tenbury Wells is 15 minutes away by car in the opposite direction.
This six-acre touring park provides just ten pitches and only adults are accepted. The park is in a woodland setting and the pitches are all on hardstanding with 10/16A electricity. A development of park homes has been constructed on one side of the park and a tent area with hardstanding for campers’ cars. There could be some road noise from the A442 which runs down one boundary. A barrier is locked at 23.45 but parking and a late arrivals area is outside. A short distance from the park is the Silkin Way cycle path which runs into Telford town centre.