Things to see and do

Tucked away in a quiet hamlet near to Wellington, Telford and Shrewsbury with enviable views over open countryside towards the Wrekin and close to great road networks, The Hayloft is the perfect base to visit all of Shropshire and surrounding areas.

All of the following attractions listed below are within an hour’s drive of The Hayloft:

THE WREKIN (6 miles – 13 mins) The wooded ridge of the Wrekin rises South of Wellington.  This favourite Shropshire hill is a well-known landmark.  There are fabulous walks with wonderful views over the surrounding area.

HOO FARM Animal Kingdom (5 miles – 12 minutes).  A small family run zoo located on the outskirts of Telford, nestling in 32 acres of woodland and paddocks in the heart of rural Shropshire.  It offers a fun day out for all ages with a strong message about conservation.

LONGDON-ON-TERN CANAL AQUEDUCT : The cast iron canal aqueduct was designed by Thomas Telford and built in 1796 to carry the Shrewsbury Canal (now disused) across the River Tern at Longdon-on-Tern.

IRONBRIDGE (9.6 miles – 20 mins) - Home to the World Heritage site:

Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site - Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution with ten award-winning museums including Blists Hill Victorian Town and Enginuity spread along the valley beside the River Severn.

Shropshire Raft Tours - The Wharfage, Ironbridge TF8 7NH

https://www.shropshirerafttours.co.uk/

Located by the River Severn in Ironbridge, Shropshire Raft Tours offer from 1 hour up to a full-day hire on canoes and kayaks plus full day Severn River hire on mini-rafts and mega stand up paddle-boards.

Shropshire Raft Tours also hire out E-Bikes and Hybrid Cycles for adults and children. There are great cycling routes in the Shropshire area.  Scenic trails on the N55 and N45 cycle routes from Ironbridge all the way down to Bridgnorth with very few cars and lots of places to stop for a picnic.

ATTINGHAM PARK (National Trust)  (10 miles – 20mins) : An 18th Century mansion set in extensive deer park.

WROXETER ROMAN RUINS (English Heritage) (8 miles – 15mins) : Though a small village today, Wroxeter was once the fourth largest town in Roman Britain.

SHREWSBURY, Shropshire’s county town.  (12 miles – 25 mins) : Famed for its black and white medieval buildings, castle, spires, abbey and parklands, also renowned for its independent shops.  Navigating the passageways and cobbled streets can almost be as much fun as the shopping.

HODNET HALL GARDENS (9 miles – 15 mins) : Over 60 acres of brilliantly colour flowers, magnificent trees, sweeping lawns and a chain of ornamental pools.

Open every Sunday and Bank Holidays from 1st April to 30th September (11am to 5pm)

HAWKSTONE PARK AND FOLLIES (12 miles – 20 mins) : An historical woodland fantasy with crags and cliffs, caves, deep woods and a series of fantasy monuments built over 200 years ago.

MUCH WENLOCK (12 miles – 23mins) : A stunningly beautiful medieval town which played a major part in the 19th century revival of the Olympic Games.  Much Wenlock has been a market town for over 700 years.

The Edge Adventure Activity Centre: Just outside Much Wenlock, there is The Edge Adventure Activity Centre  (https://www.theedgeadventure.co.uk/)  They offer a selection of activities including mountain boarding, clay shooting, archery, quad trekking, high ropes, segway and mountain biking.

RAF COSFORD – postcode TF11 8UP (14.6 miles – 20 mins) : (https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/) Airshow (June each year)

Free Museum - over 70 aircraft of international importance are housed in three Wartime Hangars and within the National Cold War Exhibition.

See the world’s oldest Spitfire and a Lincoln Bomber, just two of the highlights in the Warplanes Collection

WESTON PARK (13 miles – 25 mins) :  A welcoming stately homes with beautiful gardens, architecture history and set in more than 1,000 acres of park landscaped by Capability Brown.

DAVID AUSTIN ROSES (15 miles – 22 mins) : The National Collection of English Roses is held in the gardens at Albrighton.  Over 700 different varieties of roses are planted, covering around 2 acres.

DOROTHY CLIVE GARDENS (20 miles – 30 mins) : Including a wonderful woodland garden and waterfall, hillside alpine scree and pool, laburnum arch, summer flowering rose walk, and vibrant seasonal borders.

DUDMASTON HALL (National Trust)  (22 miles - 35mins) : 9 acres of gardens to explore including the Rockery Bank and American Garden.

BRIDGNORTH (19.7 miles – 30 mins) : Bridgnorth, in reality, is two towns: the High Town (good views down) and the Low Town (good views up). Now connected by the steepest inland funicular railway in Britain. The Low Town was once a thriving port along the banks of the River Severn, while the High Town held the castle, the churches, and many fine 16th and 17th century mansions.

Also home to the Severn Valley Railway – a wonderful way to spend a day.  The Severn Valley Railway operates mainly steam-hauled passenger trains between Bridgnorth, Bewdley and Kidderminster, a  journey of about 16 miles along the beautiful Severn Valley.

HACK GREEN SECRET NUCLEAR BUNKER (24 miles – 37 mins) : Just over the Shropshire border in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, this is basically a museum underground.

ACTON SCOTT HISTORIC WORKING FARM (25 miles – 45 mins) : Acton Scott Historic Working Farm near Church Stretton demonstrates life on a Shropshire upland farm at the turn of the 19th century. Visitors to the popular family attraction are transported back in time to the days of shire horses, hayricks and milkmaids.

STOKESAY CASTLE (English Heritage) (30 miles – 50mins) : One of the finest and best preserved fortified medieval manor houses in England.

POWIS CASTLE & GARDENS (National Trust)  (36 miles – 55 mins) : Within an hours drive from Sleapford and just over the Shropshire border, Powis Castle is well worth a visit.

CHIRK CASTLE (National Trust) (postcode LL14 5AF) (38 miles – 60mins) : Within an hours drive from Sleapford on the Welsh / Shropshire border, Chirk Castle is a 13th Century Castle that was one of several medieval Marcher fortresses built to keep the Welsh under English rule.

LUDLOW  (33 miles - 58 mins) : As well as being renowned for foodies, it has a castle and racecourse plus numerous festivals year round.

The Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Is a landscape of diversity and contrast created by varied geology.  From the craggy Stiperstones and Wrekin, the moorland plateau and valleys of the Long Mynd, the quarried Clee Hills, the wooded Wenlock Edge and the rolling Clun Forest, all have their own character.

Home to the National Trust’s Carding Mill Valley and the Long Mynd

CHESTER  (41 miles - 60mins) : Chester has the most complete city walls, the oldest racecourse and the largest Roman Amphitheatre in Britain, plus a 1000 year old cathedral with Europe’s finest example of medieval carvings. Plus  700 year old rows galleries where shopping is a double delight.

Visit Chester Zoo, just a few miles North of Chester and recently named as the best zoo in the UK and one of the top three in the World.

SHROPSHIRE is also bordered by Staffordshire, Herefordshire and Mid Wales, and all of these areas are ideal for day trips.

What Our Guests Say

"Lovely property and spotlessly clean.  Everything you could wish for.  We'll be back!"

Ryan family, Bradford

November 2022

"This was our second visit to The Hayloft. David and Carole were as welcoming and helpful as we could wish. Over the years we have stayed in many holiday homes and the accommodation provided by The Hayloft is of the highest standard: as good as or better than any we have visited. We would unambiguously recommend it to anyone, and very much look forward to our next visit."

Deidre, Jim & Catherine, London & Reading

October 2022

"IMPECCABLE & CHARMING!  We had a wonderful week at The Hayloft.  A big thank you to Carole and David for everything!"

Tanja, Nadja & Ernst, Eichstaett, Germany

August 2022

“We stayed for a week over Christmas 2021 and it was our second stay at this time of year.  Every room was spotless and the lounge was beautifully decorated for Christmas.   Our hosts had been meticulous in following COVID rules and we felt very comfortable.  The Hayloft is in a good position for visiting many places of interest and we enjoyed several walks and visited Ironbridge.  We would thoroughly recommend this holiday cottage.”

Judy, Ian, Nina & Hannah

Christmas 2021

"This is an excellent holiday cottage, comfortable, well equipped and beautifully kept.  The owners, who live next door, are very friendly and helpful. It is a convenient base for visiting Shropshire's many attractions."

Ann & John, Cambridge

November 2021

"The property was in excellent condition and we much appreciated the attention to detail from David and Carole with regard to everything we used during our stay.  The property is equipped to a very high standard.  It is in a great location and provided a good base for visiting the many places of interest in the area."

David & Heather

September 2021

"Another wonderful stay.  House has everything you need, and is spotless, comfortable and of the highest quality.  Weather really hot.  Thank you David & Carole"

Mark & Suzy, Durham

September 2021

"We found The Hayloft very comfortable, spotlessly clean, well equipped and everything was maintained to a very high standard inside and out.  There are lovely views out over arable farmland to The Wrekin.  The hosts were friendly and very helpful.  It is a great base for visiting Ironbridge Gorge Museums, Shrewsbury, Attingham Park (National Trust) and RAF Cosford (all within 30 minutes drive)."

Margaret & David

August 2021

"Lovely place to stay.  Had everything we needed - so well equipped and very clean.  Enjoyed visits to National Trust properties; Severn Valley Railway; Shrewsbury plus Prison; Cosford, etc."

The Owen family - Dorset

July 2021

"Second visit! House is fantastic and spotless - can recommend.  Weather was perfect.  We visited Powis Castle - a beautiful castle in North Wales, plus we revisited some of the places we went to last time. Thank you David and Carole - we will be back!"

Deryck and Chris - North Yorkshire

June 2021

Booking Info and Tariff:

The Hayloft at Sleapford Farm

The Hayloft at Sleapford Farm, Sleapford, Wellington, TELFORD, TF6 6HQ

e: thehayloft@sleapfordfarm.co.uk | Tel: +44(0)1952 223827