Best Places to Visit in North Shropshire
A castle with a moat, friendly animals and awesome views - discover North Shropshire
Take a day out from Oswestry and discover the quiet charm of North Shropshire. Starting with the Iron Age hillfort at Old Oswestry, take in the stunning Shropshire views. Then explore the peaceful landscape of meres, mosses, and canals connecting characterful market towns like Whitchurch, Market Drayton, and Ellesmere.
Visit family-friendly attractions like Park Hall Countryside Experience, enjoy rural events at Oswestry Showground, and stop by the historic village of Whittington with its moated castle.
North Shropshire is full of hidden gems, wildlife, and history—perfect for a relaxed countryside escape.
Explore North Shropshire
Head out of Oswestry and make your first visit Old Oswestry. The remains of the iron age hillfort, known as the ‘Stonehenge of the Iron Age’ gives stunning views over the Shropshire Plains and North Shropshire where you will head to next.
Some say this is the quietest part of Shropshire and it’s easy to see why. Wander through a landscape of meres and mosses, full of wildlife and mile upon mile of calm canals that link Market Drayton and Whitchurch in the east to Oswestry in the west.
North Shropshire features five distinctly different market towns and a scattering of pretty villages including Whittington.
Park Hall was renowned as an army camp until the 1970s but now the area is home to a great family attraction. Park Hall Countryside Experience – This award winning farm attraction lets you get close enough to give a rabbit a cuddle and also has activities to keep every member of the family occupied. Getting lost each summer in Maisie’s Maize Maze could keep Nanna and Grandad busy while the rest of the family could be watching the pig races or milking a cow. While here don’t miss the wartime Trenches Experience and Welsh Guards Museum.
Oswestry Show Ground- Oswestry Show Ground is nearby too, there are events all year – transport displays, antique fairs and even the occasional dog show. The main event is Oswestry Show – it is a one day spectacular of all things rural. Think animals, show jumping, fruit and veg, antique vehicles and a packed programme of events all day.
Head further into North Shropshire, towards Ellesmere, and stop at our quintessential English Village, Whittington. With its ruined castle and moat, is an essential stop on your Shropshire day out. Whittington Castle – Remember the legend of Dick Whittington and his cat? No sign of them now but the castle is still owned by the village community. The grounds buzz with historic re-enactments throughout the summer. Don’t miss the Whittington Music Festival in spring either.
Ellesmere- The Ice Age saw the formation of the meres and mosses which now have have a number of all-ability access visitor facilities that are all around the North Shropshire town of Ellesmere. Hopefully you won’t be shivering when you stroll around some of these picturesque lakes.
