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Brampton Bryan is a small village with black and white cottages set around the village green. An ancient yew hedge surrounds the hall and ruined castle. A little upstream, across the River Teme, set in the Shropshire Hills AONB is Bucknell, with a railway halt for the Heart of Wales Line.
Leintwardine, set on the confluence of the rivers Teme and
Clun and once a Roman trading post, still bustles with the life
of a vibrant rural community. It offers a choice of places to eat and the taste of real ales, ciders and perries.
Sitting very quietly beside one of the rivers it is not unusual to see dipper, kingfisher, sand martins, goosander and little egret. At the right time of the day and year you might spot otters. Walking the Teme upstream to Walford and Buckton and the Clun to Clungunford you may see osprey and marsh harrier, following the rivers on their spring and autumn migratory routes. After crossing the River Lugg at Aymestrey (surrounded by limestone features rich in fossils), there is Shobdon, with its ‘Strawberry Hill’ Gothick church, set in stunning parkland, and Kingsland. Both are thriving villages. Croft Castle and Croft Ambrey Iron Age Fort, parkland and estate have glorious views into Wales, Shropshire and Herefordshire. From Croft the Mortimer Trail leads east to Richards Castle and Ludlow.
From early summer to late autumn, festivals, village fetes and celebratory events flourish.
Find more information on the area at
exploremortimercountry.com
Photos: exploremortimercountry.com, top right © E. Jenkins, bottom left © S. Fawcett.
forthcoming events
Mortimer Country
Walking Festival
All around Mortimer
Country, from March exploremortimercountry.com ...............................................
Lucton Food Festival
Lucton School, March
luctonfoodfestival.com
...............................................
Teme Valley and Untited Hunts Point to Point
Brampton Bryan, April harleyestate.co.uk ...............................................
Great Spring Gardening Event
Newport House, Almeley, April
redcross.org.uk
...............................................
Teme Valley Hunt Fun Ride
Harley Estate, June
harleyestate.co.uk
...............................................
World War Two Weekend
Croft Castle, June
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ croft-castle-and-parkland ...............................................
Scarecrow Sunday
Newport House, Almeley, June
redcross.org.uk
...............................................
Mortimer Country Food Fair
Brampton Bryan, July
www.mortimercountry.co.uk
...............................................
Beatrix Potter Trail
Croft Castle, July
nationaltrust.org.uk/ croft-castle-and-parkland ...............................................
Battle of Mortimers Cross
Croft Castle, September
nationaltrust.org.uk/ croft-castle-and-parkland ...............................................
Ludlow Food Festival
Ludlow, September
foodfestival.co.uk
...............................................
Croft Castle
Spooktacular week
Croft Castle, Nr Leominster October
nationaltrust.org.uk/ croft-castle-and-parkland ...............................................
Ludlow Medieval
Christmas Fayre
Ludlow Castle, November ludlowmedievalchristmas.co.uk
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