Find out everything you need about Stoney-Brook Lodge in Bedlam, Ludlow, Shropshire and whether this holiday rental is right for you.
This detached, modern wood cabin sits in idyllic rolling countryside on the English – Welsh border. It is an excellent place for a family or two couples to enjoy a relaxing break, with one or two well-behaved dogs for company.
Its elevated setting gives fantastic views of unbroken farmland and hills around the Teme valley, and you can enjoy these in the covered bbq area or even a relaxing private hot tub.
Visit Ludlow with its 900-year-old castle, medieval streets and regular markets, head for the cathedral cities of Hereford or Shrewsbury, walk the byways of the Welsh marches or take in some industrial history at Ironbridge Gorge.
Sleeping four in two bedrooms, all on ground floor level, one king-size double and another king-size double which can be used as a twin thanks to zip link bed, shower room with walk-in shower, wash hand basin and WC.
It is furnished with a mixture of old and new, open plan living, dining and kitchen area with laminate flooring throughout, a two-seater sofa and two armchairs around a wood-burning stove and flat-screen tv.
Patio doors open onto a lawned area, while through the kitchen is the covered outdoor dining and bbq, including a fridge, plus a discreetly hidden hot tub.
The lodge sits right in the middle of the open countryside, which is there for your enjoyment from walking through the patio doors. Bedlam is better known as Titterstone Village and is on one side of Titterstone Clee Hill, which presents a decent walk in the morning for people and dogs alike.
This was the site of several quarries whose old workings can still be seen. The whole area is part of the Shropshire Hills AONB, which stretches to the Welsh border. There are dozens of streams to explore, and you will occasionally see wild horses. Visit the AONB’s dog-friendly discovery centre in Craven Arms, and enjoy a bite to eat and a drink.
Take a short drive southeast to Ludlow, and discover a real hidden gem. A historic border town, Ludlow has over 500 listed buildings, one of them being its 900-year-old castle, which also has a great visitor centre, planned activities and a dog-friendly environment.
Very much a vibrant, living town, you can enjoy the street markets every other day at any time of the year, to eat and drink superb locally grown and made produce, as well as shopping in the many independent boutiques around the town’s market square.
The cathedral cities of Hereford, Shrewsbury and Worcester, are all less than an hour’s drive away, which gives a hint of the historical importance of this part of the UK. For slightly more recent history, visit Ironbridge Gorge near Shrewsbury, with its single span bridge a reminder of the area’s place at the very heart of the Industrial Revolution.
This is an exceptional lodge in a very special location, which will tempt you to stay exactly where you are. Surrounded by rolling hills and rural countryside, the views are spectacular from both inside and out.
From outside, you can enjoy the peaceful country air no matter the weather, thanks to the roofed patio and barbecue area, but the dog/s will make sure you explore the fields and hills as soon as possible. From Titterstone Clee Hill in any direction, human and canine guests will love the miles and miles of pathways, often following all the local streams flowing down from the hills.
Anyone interested in history will love Ludlow, home to possibly the oldest stone castle in England. Whether history is your thing or not, you and the dogs will love the smells and tastes of the farmers’ markets, showcasing superb food and drink and surprising items made by local craftspeople, all sold in the ambience of a medieval border town.
Whether it’s exploring the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural beauty or taking some serious history lessons from the three nearby cathedral cities and world-famous industrial heritage centre, there should be enough to interest everybody. After a busy day, come home to your own hot tub and let it all sink in.