Page 165 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

DRIVE 15: Along Offa’s Dyke 163

EAT AND DRINK
LUDLOW
The French Pantry moderate
This tiny, unpretentious restaurant
offers a taste of France with friendly
service. Try the smoked salmon and Brie
strudel, followed by delicious desserts.
15 Tower Street, SY8 1RL; 01584 879
133; www.thefrenchpantry.co.uk
Koo moderate
It’s a welcome surprise to find such
good­value Japanese cuisine in Ludlow.
Enjoy sparkling fresh food that looks
Above View of the Shropshire countryside around Ludlow too good to eat. The service is friendly
and the restaurant is very popular.
127 Old Street, SY8 1NU; 01584 878
buried in the church wall near the of the Severn flowing south on the right. 462; www.koo-ook.co.uk
West Door. Exit the church and return Fork left onto the A490 into Welshpool.
to King Street. Turn right and carry on Park in Church Street in the town centre. Mortimer’s expensive
Dishes served in this oak­panelled
down Church Street to Castle Square, 16th­century townhouse are superb.
turning left to return to Mill Street. 4 Welshpool The set menus consist of either three
ª Take A49 towards Shrewsbury, then Powys; SY21 8RF or seven courses, with excellent veg­
B4365 right to a T-junction (B4368). Turn Set in the picturesque countryside of etarian options. Service is obliging.
left, then first right to Ticklerton and the the Severn Valley, Welshpool makes 17 Corve Street, SY8 1DA; 01584 872
325; www.mortimersludlow.co.uk
museum, 2 km (1½ miles) beyond. an excellent base for exploring the
surrounding area. The big attraction, WELSHPOOL
2 Acton Scott Farm Museum off the A490 into town (with car Corn Store moderate
Shropshire; SY6 6QN park, or a 1­km/2­mile walk across This bright and buzzing restaurant in the
heart of town is family­friendly and serves
This living history farm museum parkland), is stunning Powis Castle a wide­ranging menu with dishes to
(Apr–Oct: open Sat–Wed) recreates life (open daily except Christmas Day). satisfy both carnivores and vegetarians.
on a Shropshire farm at the turn of the Originally a 13th­century fort, it is the 4 Church Street, SY21 7DL; 01938 554
last century. Visitors are returned to only Welsh castle to have remained a 614; closed Sun & Mon
the days of shire horses, hay ricks and residence from the medieval to the AROUND WELSHPOOL
milkmaids, and the farm is stocked modern period. The castle’s golden Seeds moderate
with pigs, poultry, cows and sheep, age was in Stuart times, when it was Quirky little restaurant in a cottage 18
including some rare breeds. Kids will acquired by the Herbert family (1587) km (11 miles) north of Welshpool on the
enjoy the daily demonstrations by and altered extensively. In 1784, A490, with a reputation for serving great
farm workers dressed in period cos­ Henrietta Herbert married Edward food. The menu features gems such as
tumes. There are also waymarked Clive, the son of Clive of India. Clive’s home­potted shrimps and rack of Welsh
lamb, and also vegetarian dishes.
walks starting from the farm. collection in the museum is probably 5 Penybryn Cottage, High Street,
ª Turn left from car park and straight the greatest display of Indian Mughal Llanfyllin, SY22 5AP; 01691 648 604;
across to A49. Turn right, then left onto art outside the subcontinent. closed Mon & Tue
B4370, then take A489 right. Next take The “red castle” (Castell Coch in
the B4385 to castle and car park. Welsh) sits in a delightful Baroque Below The imposing red Powis Castle, set in
17th­century Italianate terraced exquisite terraced gardens
3 Montgomery Castle garden dotted with sculptures and
Powys; SY15 6HN manicured hedges. Look out, too, for
It was the Norman knight Roger de sentinel red kites that hover above.
Montgomerie (the very first Earl of At the western edge of town, the
Shrewsbury) who built the first fort Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway
here in c.1070 – the motte and bailey (Aug: open daily; Mar–Oct: times vary;
Hen Domen at the bottom of Castle 01938 810 441; www.wllr.org.uk), built
Hill. The present castle (open daily) in 1903, takes visitors on a 26­km
was built in 1223 during the reign of (16­mile) round trip through rural
Henry III to defend the border against Powys on a narrow­gauge steam rail­
the Welsh prince, Llywelyn the Great way. The Dingle Nursery and Garden
(1173–1240). It was demolished (open daily; www.dinglenurseries.co.uk) at
during the Civil War. There are great Frochas, north of Welshpool on the
views out over a wide expanse of A490, has a superb small garden.
countryside to the north and east. ª Continue along the A490, then A483
ª Head northwest on the B4385, join- and A5, taking the B5070 to Chirk. Follow
ing the A483 north, with the floodplain signs left for Chirk Castle (with car park).
Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under £25; moderate, £25–£50; expensive, over £50

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