A weekend in Shropshire

This is a compact Shropshire weekend that keeps the driving short. Day one pairs Benthall Hall, a National Trust property, with Broseley Pipeworks museum just 0.9 miles away, so you'll spend more time exploring than sitting in the car. Day two moves 5.5 miles to Sunnycroft Gardens, the National Trust's garden and arboretum, before a 2.1-mile hop to Jungleland theme park for the afternoon.

For a base, Holiday Inn Telford Ironbridge sits 0.7 miles from Telford Central station, which is handy if you'd rather not drive everywhere. Larger groups could look at Home Farm House near Church Stretton, which sleeps 14. Boyvyle Farm - Kibble sleeps 6 and is 1.9 miles from Church Stretton station. If you're arriving by train, Shrewsbury is the nearest station. One honest note: the River Severn bathing waters at Ironbridge and in Shrewsbury are both rated Poor by the Environment Agency, so plan your days around the dry-land stops.