explore the area
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Ashford Bowdler is a tiny parish, consisting of only a handful of houses and The Church of St Andrew. The tiny pretty and quiet location lies along the banks of the River Teme, adjacent to Ashford Carbonel and sits conveniently just off the A49, on the outskirts of Ludlow and between Leominster and Shrewsbury.
The name Ashford Bowdler derives from Henry de Boudler, who held the manor by one fourth of a knights fee of the Honour of Richards Castle. The Patent Roll for February 8th 1263 states “protection, until Michaelmas, to wit during the war with Wales within that term, for…Henry de Bulers…and Richard Carbonel and their men, lands, rents and possessions”.
‘Ashford’ was derived from ‘Ash-tree ford’. The ford was at the end of River Lane at a place called ‘Ternes’s Green’ and was replaced by the bridge designed by Thomas Telford and built in 1797.
For more information Ashford Bowdler and neighbouring Ashford Carbonell visit Bowdlers.com
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The sought-after, vibrant and picturesque market town of Ludlow sits at the south of the county of Shropshire, bordering Herefordshire, on the edge of the Shropshire Hills surrounded by many Areas of Outstanding Beauty.
The town is buzzing all year round, making it the perfect destination for a vibrant and cultural escape. Whether you’re a keen walker, a shopaholic, a foodie or just in need of slowing down, Ludlow has something for everyone.
It’s medieval streets are bursting at the seams with charm and elegance, with an abundance of historical architecture and more than 500 listed buildings. St Laurence’s Church stands proudly in the centre of the town and is labelled one of England’s finest churches.
The magnificent 17th century Ludlow Castle is one of the finest medieval ruins in England and draws in crowds in every season, come rain or shine. It’s home to hugely popular and ever expanding annual festivals including the Spring Festival (May), Magnalonga (August) and most famously the Ludlow Food Festival (September) which boasts over 100 local food and drink exhibitors. Ludlows Assembly Rooms also hosts brilliant shows and has a jam packed calendar of events all year round. In recent years huge names have preformed at the Castle including the Kaiser Chiefs, Nile Rodgers & Chic and Rag ‘N’ Bone Man. In 2024 Anne-Marie, Elbow and Madness are just a few of the stars set to preform during the summer.
The beating heart of Ludlow is it’s Market Square which has hosted various weekly and monthly markets for over 900 years. Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday the square transforms into a bustling local produce market offering a fantastic choice of products from small and artisan producers and sellers. These range from fresh fruit and veg to locally produced game pies, wines and cheese, local fashion designers to handmade wooden furniture and handpainted ceramics. Specialist markets are held monthly throughout the year including Antique & Flea markets on the first and third Sunday of the month, Local to Ludlow produce markets on the second and fourth Thursday of the month and the Made In Shropshire craft market on the first Saturday of each month. The Times Newspaper voted Ludlow as one of the UKs prettiest towns for Christmas shopping in 2023.
Ludlow is an idyllic base for exploring the county on foot and we pride ourselves on having so many delightful walks right on our doorstep. There are a number of circular routes around the town which include the must see view point from Whitcliffe Common Nature Reserve, and just a short drive from town is the incredible Mortimer Forest which is miles of stunning forestry and views over the Shropshire Hills.
The Wain House is a 2.3 mile, mostly flat walk to Ludlow.
Recommendations for dining, shopping, walking and enteraining is provided in the the property for guests.
For more information about Ludlow please visit the following websites using the links below:
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Shropshire has been named by travel experts as one of ten destinations to watch for holidaymakers in 2024 - the only UK location to be featured in the list by ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents).
The "rural gem, with picture perfect villages and areas of outstanding natural beauty” appears on the highly rated list alongside the Spanish region of Extremadura, Saxony in Germany; Vietnam and Zambia.
Being on the border between upland Wales and lowland England, Shropshire has a turbulent history. The fascinating heritage of the Industrial Revolution is recognised in Shropshire in the two world heritage sites: The Ironbridge Gorge and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, along with The Flaxmill Maltings in Shrewsbury, the world's first iron-framed building. Shropshire also has the third highest number of listed buildings and registered parks and gardens in the country, and over a hundred conservation areas.
For more information on Shropshire check out Visit Shropshire.
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Should you be intrigued by our gorgeous neighbouring villages, towns and cities, Leominster (8.5 miles), Hereford (21 miles), Tenbury Wells (7 miles), Church Stretton (19 miles), Shrewsbury (33 miles) and Telford (31 miles) are all within an easy driving distance.
