Ludlow for the differently-abled
by aaaarrgh
It fascinated me to see a braille map of Ludlow in the foyer of Ludlow Museum. It looked to me a very decorative object and I'm sure very welcome for sight-impaired visitors.
In addition, there is a piece of sculpture next to the walls of Ludlow Castle which is designed to be touched. Other than that, if you are blind, you will miss out on the visual architectural feast of the town. But there is often the sweet smell of wood smoke from the occasional bonfire. Or the aroma of fresh meats, fruit, or bakery products from the many family shops. Or the intermittent drone of cars and buses navigating the one-way systems, or trying to find a parking space ;-)
Magnalonga: A walk for foodies
by lomi
This is a very different kind of day out!
The Magnalonga is a walk of about seven miles where you stop to eat and drink along the way. It starts and finishes by Ludlow's Dinham Bridge: a journey where you combine a walk through forest and unspoilt countryside with some of the best food and drink from the Marches. With 4 stops where you receive local food served with local ale, perry or cider.
The walk is organised annually by the Slow Food Group, an international organisation. Since the 1980s, Slow Food has attracted members who care about retaining our diverse heritage of regional food and drink, and protecting it from globalisation.
Next one: 08/08/2010 Time: 10.00 Venue: at Dinham Bridge, Ludlow, £19.50 per person.
Sunday 20th June 2010 is a Mini Magnalonga- where everyone explores Ludlow with stops for delicious local seasonal food. This family friendly event that includes a quiz to really get you looking around the area.
Artist in the attic
by aaaarrgh
Not so much 'off the beaten path' as 'next to a beaten path and up two flights of stairs'.
Ludlow artist Libby Lord has an art gallery and studio above the "Period House Shop" on Corve Street. Up several flights of wooden stairs to the second floor of this old building. Half of the top floor is a studio, with paints, canvases and cupboards. The other half has some of Libby's marvellous paintings on display.
Libby says her work is inspired by her location in Ludlow and the way the passage of time is marked on old buildings. Some of her paintings remind me of an old stone wall covered in yellow lichen.
The "Period House Shop" looks fantastic too - if, like me, you normally would not need to visit a shop like this, then this is your excuse. Lots of door-knobs, latches, ironmongery, wood carvings and old telephones on sale!
The Feathers - on all the postcards :-)
by aaaarrgh
Everyone visiting Ludlow will eventually come across the Feathers Hotel. This, together with the Castle and Broad Street gets by far the most photographs in guide books, postcards etc. I can totally see why!
The Feathers has been an inn since 1670 and, before that, a private house since the fifteenth century!!
Welsh owner Rees Jones added the incredible ornate carved facade in the 1620's. His and his wife's initials are still on the ancient front door.
I haven't stayed there (its cheaper to catch the train back to Cardiff for me) but Bed & Breakfast starts at £40 per person.
See Kiriel's Accomodation tip - yes, she has stayed there:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/68d2a/4b720/3/
Bread Walk - see the Earth's crust
by aaaarrgh
Ludlow is also famous for its geology - the rocks in the area are superb examples of Silurian siltstones, filled with all sorts of fossils dating back over 300 million years. Whitcliffe Common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of this. 'Cliffe' is self explanatory. 'Whit' comes from the white deposits left by the lime in the rocks, I think.
You can see the cliffs of siltstone if you take a stroll along the Bread Walk. This is a wooded path along the River Teme, between Ludford Bridge and Dinham Bridge. It is believed the path got its name because the labourers who made the path 150 years ago were paid with bread.
I walked the path before the leaves had grown on the trees - there were great views of Ludlow from the top of the cliff, through the bare tree branches. The River Teme is beautifully tranquil between each weir. You also have the opportunity to take a closer look at Ludlow's two ancient bridges - one of the arches of Dinham Bridge was added by Thomas Telford (of Ironbridge fame).
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St. Michaels church, Croft Castle
Ludlow castle
Church of St Laurence
Stokesay Castle, near Ludlow
