Hopleys Family Camping

The attractions within walking or a few minutes’ driving distance of Hopleys Family Camping will entertain even the most energetic offspring for days: there are animals of all species foreign and domestic to see, a steam railway to sightsee from, woodland trails, tree swinging, mountain biking, canoeing…

Start off by taking your little creatures to the West Midlands Safari Park a scanty drive away: as well as the big cats, hippos, meerkats and other members of the menagerie, your wild things can let loose on the rides suitable for all ages (parents too), the Cubs Kingdom for smaller sorts, and thrill rides for white knucklers.

If this sounds a little too beastly, the agreeable shops, pubs, cafés, Jubilee Gardens and free museum of Georgian town Bewdley are only a mile from the campsite (the safari park is on its outskirts); you might even see Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant at the tennis or rowing clubs if you put down roots for long enough.

Bewdley is surrounded by the Wyre Forest, one of the most ancient woodlands in Britain and also within walking distance of Hopleys. Its three woodland trails – Buzzard, Woodpecker and Wren (with added Gruffalo) – range from a mile long to just over three miles and cover coniferous and deciduous forest, ancient oaks and varying habitats.

The Wren/Gruffalo Trail is suitable for buggies and prams. If you’ve got other wheels (or hire them at nearby Bewdley Outdoor Centre), take the blue cycle trail at Wyre through forest tracks and past the old railway line. Swinging and zipwiring among the trees is also available at Wyre Forest via Go Ape!

Back at Bewdley, the Severn Valley Railway has its HQ here: hop on to head to Bridgnorth with a stop at Arley and Arley Arboretum’s fairy and dinosaur trails, Italian garden and maze, or go in the other direction to Bodenham Arboretum at Kidderminster, 156 acres of woodland with pools, lakes and an award-winning farm.

The line’s Engine House Visitor Centre, and the walks and countryside of the Severn Valley Country Park, can be accessed from Highley station.

To explore the Severn Valley by boat (we say aye aye to that), cruise along the Severn in a canoe from Bridgnorth to Bewdley, hire a nearby narrowboat at Stourport-on-Severn, or sail along in style on a riverboat cruise from Upton, Tewskesbury or Worcester.