Ludlow
Ludlow Castle · Photo: Ian Capper
Explore the ruined castle at the top of Ludlow, then head up the valley to Stokesay's fortified manor for lunch and its new playground, finishing with the free meadows and exhibitions at the Discovery Centre.
Castle · 10:00–12:00 (2h)
Climb the towers for views over the town.
A large, privately owned medieval castle ruin at the top of Ludlow with towers to climb and lawns inside the walls. Dogs are welcome and there is a café in the grounds.
Photo: Ian Capper
Castle · 12:30–14:30 (2h)
Lunch in the cottage tearoom, then the puzzle quest and playground.
An indoor and outdoor castle in Craven Arms, aimed at ages 4 and up.
Photo: Tony Grist
Museum · 14:45–16:15 (1h30m)
Free entry; run around the riverside meadows.
An indoor and outdoor museum in Craven Arms.
Photo: P L Chadwick
West MidlandsTrentham, Stoke-on-Trent
A morning around the lake and adventure play areas of the Trentham estate, then an afternoon walking among free-roaming Barbary macaques in the woods next door.
The Trentham Estate (Trentham Gardens) → Trentham Monkey Forest
West MidlandsHereford
See the Mappa Mundi and the chained library in Hereford Cathedral, then drive down to the Wye to climb Goodrich Castle's keep and peer into its dungeon.
Hereford Cathedral, Mappa Mundi and Chained Library → Goodrich Castle
West MidlandsDudley
A proper Black Country weekend: a day in the rebuilt streets of the living museum and a fossil hunt nearby, then a zoo on a castle hill and a Victorian park with two playgrounds.
Black Country Living Museum → Wren's Nest National Nature Reserve → Dudley Zoo and Castle → Haden Hill Park and Haden Hill House
