Papermill Park

Do you have an appetite for some Shropshire history? Sat along the Shropshire Union Canal, Whitchurch (20 minutes’ drive) is full of it. After all, it's been around since the Roman times, gathering a collection of 200 listed buildings and hosting cheese fairs. Picnic by the bandstand in Jubilee Park or go for a trot on the Sandstone Trail, a path that follows along the rural canal towpaths past farms, cafés and pubs (how handy for a pitstop). Market Drayton (20 minutes) is another canalside town with half-timbered buildings. The Buttercross market is held every Wednesday should you fancy browsing the stalls. The town is also well known for its beer (there's a brewery in the town centre) and gingerbread (a 200-year-old town tradition). Join the Land’s End to John o’Groats cycle trail for a long-distance cycle from the town too. Grindley Brook Locks (20 minutes) also has some lovely walks and cycle routes. If you’re keen to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife along your stroll, a good bet is Brown Moss (20 minutes) near Whitchurch, which has marshes, pools and woodlands along with a café.