What to do in and around Bishop's Castle

(also see [Local Beauty Spots] - [Local Events] - [Shopping]
[Places to Visit] - [Where to Eat])

Many walks can be downloaded >>HERE<<

Guided tours of Bishop's Castle
The small, medieval town with a fascinating past of power and prestige out of all proportion to its size. The walking tours, which start at Lych Gate of St. John the Baptist Church and last about an hour are every Tuesday and Saturday at 6.30 p.m.. from June to September.
Tours at other times by arrangement Telephone (01588) 630271 Charge £1.50 adults, children free. Special rates for parties (minimum 6) Ghostly Tours by appointment 01588 638467 www.towntour.co.uk

The Town Trail
This gives a short history of the 12th Century planned town as illustrated by its streets and buildings and costs £1.25 from the Tourist Information Centre and other town premises. Starting from the Parish Church (originally 12th Century), the trail takes the visitor to The Castle Site at the top of the town before working its way back to the church. It is published by the local Civic Society.

Bishop's Castle Footpath Walking Group
Organise weekly walks throughout the year from the Harley Jenkins St. car park at 9.30 a.m.. Some quite strenuous all day walks of 9 - 15 miles (A) , moderate all day walks of 8 - 10 miles (B) and gentler morning walks of up to 6 miles (C). a.m.. Visitors are very welcome. Guided countryside walks available.
Contact: the Tourist Information Office (01588) 638467.

Bishop's Castle Walking Festival
12th - 14th of June, 2007 (see events list). Long and short guided walks with experienced guides to interpret the landscape. Contact: Gill Lucas (01588) 638854 www.walkingfestival.co.uk

Picnic Areas
Within easy walking distance of the town centre, Bishop's Castle has two parks suitable for picnics. The town's main playing fields lie off Union Street - as you walk along Church Street towards the parish church, turn right. The park is a well maintained grass area with children's play equipment and pleasant views. The land adjacent to the site of the town's ancient castle forms the second picnic site - it lies at the top end of town off Castle Green, above the Castle Hotel gardens. This small area offers magnificent views of the town and surrounding countryside and has benches and picnic tables. Part of the old castle walls can be seen.
Clun Community Area has a children's play area and the castle ruins and river make an ideal picnic spot.

Birds of Prey
A chance to come and fly, handle and learn about owls and birds of prey in the beautiful Shropshire countryside. No experience necessary.
Based just 2 miles from Bishops Castle, Bird in the Hand offers a truly memorable experience handling birds including Eric the Buzzard, Bo the Kestrel and Madge the Barn owl. Activities last up to two hours and are suitable for all ages. Gift vouchers available. Prices from £12. www.birdinthehand.co.uk
Contact: 01588 630138 or e-mail: info@birdinthehand.co.uk for more information or to book.

Snailbeach Lead Mine
It is open on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays throughout the summer from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and visitors can see the Locomotive Shed, the Blacksmith's Shop and the Visitor Centre has an audio visual presentation of the mine's history. You can walk round the site with a self-led trail leaflet. Visitors can go underground into Day Level with a guide, warm clothes are recommended. On Special Open days (June 28th & Sept 13th) two mine levels are open and all buildings.
Visitors should park in the Village hall car park or5 use the Shuttle Bus which stops at Snailbeach village.
Entrance to the mines is free but donations are welcome.
Contact: Adrian Pearce (01952) 405369, Nick Southwick (01743) 792476 or Andy Wood (01743) 718668 pulverbatch.org.uk

Teme Valley Church Trail
A journey along the beautiful Teme Valley, an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, from Leintwardine to Llanfair Waterdine visiting the six parish churches. The narrow lanes are perfect for walkers and cyclists but car drivers are asked to use the main roads. The churches, many of them ancient, all have different and interesting histories.
Free leaflets available Tourist Information Points in the area.

Walcot Stables
Lower Gardens, Lydbury North Shropshire SY7 8AS
www.walcotstables.co.uk e-mail: walcotstables@aol.com.
Situated on the edge of the historic Walcot Hall, Walcot Stables is a small, friendly yard offering lessons for all ages and standards in safe and picturesque environment. Small group hacks can be arranged. Pony care days for children and overnight stabling for horses by arrangement.
Contact: Stuart Murray (BHS Al) (01588) 680514

SpArC, Bishop's Castle's Sports and Arts in the Community.
"an amazing facility for a small town and rural community!" - is at the A488/B4368 junction and includes a swimming pool, fitness centre, squash courts, sports hall and theatre. For opening times and charges of the sports facilities
Contact: (01588) 630243 or www.teme-leisure.co.uk

The Dragon Hotel Swimming Pool and Sauna, Montgomery
A heated indoor swimming pool and sauna in a cedar wood chalet in the grounds of the 17th Century Coaching Inn in Montgomery town centre. Relax with a drink at the poolside or dine afterwards in the restaurant or lounge bar. Soothe away the aches and pains of a days walking with a relaxing swim! Open: All day with minimum of two adults swimming at a time.
Booking essential.
Admission: adults £2.95, 12-15year olds £2.75, under 12s £2.25. Sauna prices £6 including swim.
www.dragonhotel.com

Bishop's Castle Lawn Tennis Club
The club has 2 grass courts and 3 all weather courts including one astro-turf on land below the town off the A488. Visitors are welcome provided that they wear tennis shoes not hard ridged trainers. Coaching available.
Weekly rate: £30 per court. Daily rate (morning, afternoon or evening) £10 per court. Tennis balls for sale at 4 for £3 and tennis rackets can be borrowed (a small deposit required)
Contact the Tourist Information Office (01588) 638467.

Bishop's Castle Cricket Club
The club has one of the most beautiful pitches in the country, in the grounds of Lydham Manor about half a mile from the town centre. Spectators are very welcome and information about fixtures can easily be obtained from the web site at www.intheteam.com/bishopscastlecc or e-mail: smorris@ransfords.co.uk

Onny Vale Trout and Coarse Fishery
On A488 between Bishop's Castle and Minsterley.
The Fold, White Grit, Minsterley, Shropshire SY5 OJL
3 trout fishing pools stocked with blues, browns and rainbows to 121b. 2 coarse fishing pools consisting of a pleasure pool with 20 pegs and a carp specimen pool. There is a fishing lodge with tackle, bait, refreshments, good toilet facilities , disabled access and a small caravan and camping site. The whole site is set below Corndon Hill in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Access is from the A 488 between Bishop's Castle and Minsterley. Open all year.
Contact: D. & A. Gricmanis (01588) 650521, mobile 07792 609153.

Clun Community Area
Outdoor ball court and badminton courts are available for hire by visitors. Contact: Colin Pomfret (01588) 640161

The Community College, Bishop's Castle
www.cocobc.org The College runs a full arts programme throughout the year. This includes theatre, concerts, talks and lectures.
Contact: Contact the college (01588) 638257

Special Events

Full details of all Bishop's Castle events are on the
Fairs, Fetes and Festivals 2005 leaflet available from
most Shropshire TICS and TIPS and on the town's
website at www.bishopscastle.co.uk/events
General enquiries to Bishop's Castle Festivals Officer
Dave Palliser, email: d.palliser@hotmail.com
Tel: 01694 722108
Bishop's Castle Town Hall:
Tues and Wed 10.00 a.m. - 4.00 P.M.

Nearby Towns

Craven Arms: A market town 10 miles to the east at a junction of the busy A49 Shrewsbury to Ludlow road, Craven Arms has the nearest railway station to Bishop's Castle and the nearby Stokesay Castle is the best example of the fortified manor house in the country. Nearby is the new Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre and in the town in and Land of Lost Content, the national museum of popular culture.

Church Stretton: Historically a spa town set in the valley at the base of the Long Mynd. The main A49 runs close by and now there is a footpath linking the town with its sister villages of Little Stretton and All Stretton. From the town there is easy access to the rolling moorland of the Long Mynd, the southern most grousemoor in Britain with superb views and many footpaths. The town is served by a railway station on the Shrewsbury to Ludlow Line.

Shrewsbury: The county town, 22 miles to the north, is almost surrounded by the River Severn and boasts both quaint shops and alleyways as well as modern shopping malls. It has a castle and museums, several fine churches and an 1 l th century Abbey. The ruins of the Roman city of Viriconium lie 5 miles away.

Ludlow: A mediaeval market town on the River Teme lies 20 miles to the south east. It has an impressive Norman Castle and nearly 500 listed buildings. In past centuries it was a town of considerable importance and a fashionable social centre.

On the other side of the border, the old Welsh market towns of Welshpool and Newtown are just 16 miles away. The ancient Kerry Ridgeway provides the scenic route from Bishop's Castle to Newtown, in the valley of the river Severn. It is the birthplace of the l 9th century socialist reformer Robert Owen and, this century, has been considerably developed. It is also on the main route to the coast from the Bishop's Castle area. Welshpool, on the Montgomery Canal, was an important centre for the wool trade and now has the biggest livestock market in mid?Wales and it is also the home of the Welshpool to Lianfair Light Railway and the Montgomery canal Museum. Powis Castle, a major National Trust property, with magnificent gardens, is near the town centre. Edinburgh Woollen Mills has taken over the Old Station and it is now open Mon ? Sat 9.00 a.m. ? 5.45 p.m. and Sun 11.00 a.m. ? 5.00 p.m.

The Shropshire Hills Shuttle Buses - Shropshire Hills Shuttle Buses will run Easter weekend   (Saturday, Sunday & Monday March 22 – 24) and then at weekends and Bank Holiday Mondays from May 3rd to September 28th.  The shuttle buses serve the towns of Bishop’s castle, Clun, Craven Arms and Church Stretton and go up the hill ranges of the Stiperstones and Long Mynd from Bridges.   They also link with the main service Bishop’s Castle to Shrewsbury bus.
www.shropshirehillsshuttles.co.uk

- or Shropshire Traveline 0870 608 2608
Mon - Fri 8.30 a.m. 5.45 p.m., Saturday, 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.