5 days in Shropshire

This five-day plan is built around grand houses and castles, with a slate mine, a chain shop and an aqua park to break up the portraits and parkland. Each day pairs two stops that sit close together. Croft Castle and Berrington Hall are just 3.9 miles apart, and Hagley Hall is 3.7 miles from Mushroom Green Chain Shop, so afternoons rarely mean long stints behind the wheel. The bigger hops come between days: 54.7 miles to Chirk Castle on day 2 and 47.6 miles to Croft Castle on day 3, so plan an early start for those mornings.

For a base, Boyvyle Farm - Kibble in Church Stretton sleeps 6 and is 1.9 miles from Church Stretton station. Larger groups can look at Home Farm House, which sleeps 14. If you're arriving by rail, Shrewsbury is the nearest station, and Holiday Inn Telford Ironbridge is 0.7 miles from Telford Central. Dog owners, take note: dogs are welcome at Aztec Aquaglide Aqua Park on day 4.