weekend break

[mackab24]

hi im living in the west midlands and i would like to go away just for a couple of nights out in the local countryside at the end of march. can anyone give me some suggestions on where to go?please. i dont wanna go to far out.

[vehelpfulguy]

I also live in the West Midlands and to be honest the whole area is surrounded by excellent countryside.

It may make a difference which side of Birmingham you live (north, south, east, west) as it is obvioulsly easier to travel to the countryside nearest to you than to travel across the city first.

If you live in the south or south west then you have the Malverns, Worcester, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Evesham and all that area.

In you live in the South East then the Warwickshire countryside with Stratford on Avon and the Cotswolds.

If you live on the East then East Anglia is a beautiful unspolit area (in fact the north norfolk coast is one of the nicest areas in England). How about Hunstanton.

If you live in the North or North east then the Peak District is on your doorstep, for example Matlock.

And in the North West you have Shrewsbury and surrounding areas, even Wales is not too far.

Sorry to give you so many choices, I have probably made your decision harder.

[vehelpfulguy]

One nice area on the west of Birmingham is Carding Mill Valley and Shropshire hills. It is not far to drive if you live on the west.

There are some lovely villages like Church Stretton and some easy walking as well.

A lot of the land is owned by the National Trust.

More here

http://www.churchstretton.co.uk/visitors/index .php?page=the-stretton-hills-

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-vi sits/w-findaplace/w-cardingmillvalleyandlongmy nd/

http://www.virtual-shropshire.co.uk/accommodat ion_bb/church_stretton_bb.shtml

Picture of Carding Mill Valley

http://www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk/images.bi g/cardingmillvalley01big.jpg

[vehelpfulguy]

My last link above, to a picture did not work.

Lets try another

This is Carding Mill Valley

http://www.geocities.com/geography4u/cmv.jpg

[regulators]

the best weekend away has to be on a narrowboat on the canals near you go to www.viking-afloat.co.uk its a fantastic weekend and not a car or road insight and so relaxing

[Eve]

I'm from Shropshire, Shrewsbury to be exact, and there are some lovely places round there, used to go to Cardingmill Valley loads and a trip up the Burr Way is great, though maybe not for the nervous driver.

You could also explore the Clee Hills, have walks round the Longmynd, Wenlock Edge, Wrekin, Stiperstones and check out places like Ironbridge (Blists Hill museum and others there are a must and if you like that kind of thing Acton Scott as well), Ludlow, Bridgnorth and of course Shrewsbury. You could even head into Wales from there to explore the beautiful Snowdonia.

The Cotswolds are gorgeous and so many beautiful little villages to explore. I've stayed in Moreton in Marsh a few times and used it as a base to travel about. Stratford upon Avon is a lovely place too.

[Eve]

Found this site, some great info about where to go and what to do in Shropshire and brochures you can send off for...

http://www.shropshiretourism.info/

Almost forgot the Severn Valley railway which is great...

http://www.svr.co.uk/