# Shawbank Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Discover Shawbank, a quiet Shropshire hamlet near Craven Arms and the Long Mynd, with castles, walking country and camping in the Shropshire Hills AONB. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. Quiet Shropshire hills, close to the Corvedale and the Long Mynd [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/restaurants) Shawbank is a scattering of farms and cottages in the south Shropshire countryside, a couple of miles from the small market town of Craven Arms and within easy reach of Ludlow, Clun and Church Stretton. This is Corvedale and Onny Valley country, where sunken lanes wind between hedgerows and sheep pasture, and the land begins its climb towards the open moorland of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There is no high street or village green to speak of here; Shawbank is the kind of place marked by a cluster of farmhouses and a name on the map rather than a centre. Its appeal lies in what surrounds it: the River Onny threading through water meadows below, the wooded scarp of Wenlock Edge to the east, and the bare, heather-topped whaleback of the Long Mynd rising to the west. For visitors, it works best as a peaceful base for exploring one of England’s least-crowded upland landscapes. ## Getting to Shawbank Shawbank sits just off the B4368 in south Shropshire, close to where it meets the A49, roughly two miles north of Craven Arms. By car it is around 20 miles south of Shrewsbury and 7 miles north of Ludlow via the A49, with Church Stretton also close by to the north. The nearest railway station is Craven Arms, on the Welsh Marches Line between Shrewsbury and Hereford, with connections onward to Ludlow, Church Stretton and beyond; from the station it is a short taxi or country walk out to the hamlet. Local bus services along the A49 corridor link Craven Arms with Ludlow and Shrewsbury, though a car is the easiest way to reach Shawbank itself and to explore the surrounding hills. ## Best time to visit Shawbank Late spring through early autumn suits the area best, when the Long Mynd’s heather moorland, the Onny Valley meadows and the walking routes along Wenlock Edge are at their most rewarding, and country lanes are easiest for touring by car or bike. August brings the Long Mynd Hike and the heather in bloom on the hills; Ludlow’s food and arts events run through spring and summer. Autumn colours the Corvedale woodlands and Wenlock Edge attractively, while winter is quieter and can be atmospheric, though some upland paths and minor roads can be exposed in poor weather. ## Where to stay in Shawbank [All hotels in Shawbank →](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/hotels) About staying in Shawbank Hotels are thin on the ground immediately around Shawbank itself, as this is a scattered farming hamlet rather than a village with its own facilities, but the surrounding south Shropshire countryside is well served for a short drive. Craven Arms, the nearest town at around two miles away, has smaller inns and guesthouses, while Church Stretton to the north and Ludlow to the south both offer a wider choice, from traditional coaching inns to boutique small hotels, many set in handsome Georgian or timber-framed buildings. Ludlow in particular is worth considering as a base if you want restaurants and shops on your doorstep alongside your accommodation, given its standing as one of the Marches’ best food towns, while Church Stretton suits those prioritising quick access to the Long Mynd and Carding Mill Valley for walking. Wherever you stay, the pace here is unhurried: this is a part of Shropshire built around country pursuits, market towns and long views rather than nightlife, so expect proper breakfasts, log fires in cooler months, and hosts who know the local walking routes well. Booking ahead is sensible around Ludlow’s food festivals and during the summer walking season, when rooms in the smaller towns can fill up quickly. [The Stokesay Inn and B&B School Road, Craven Arms](https://staycation.co.uk/craven-arms/hotels/the-stokesay-inn-and-b-b) [8.6 ★★★★4 star The Clive Arms Bromfield, Oakly Park Estate, near Ludlow from £130/night](https://staycation.co.uk/ludlow/hotels/the-clive-arms) [8.9 ★★★★4 star Fishmore Hall Fishmore, edge of Ludlow from £165/night](https://staycation.co.uk/ludlow/hotels/fishmore-hall) [🏨Inn 8.3 ★★★3 star The Unicorn Inn Corve Street, Ludlow from £80/night](https://staycation.co.uk/ludlow/hotels/the-unicorn-inn) [Mynd House Ludlow Road, Church Stretton](https://staycation.co.uk/church-stretton/hotels/mynd-house) [Dinham Hall 9 Dinham, Ludlow](https://staycation.co.uk/ludlow/hotels/dinham-hall) [8.4 ★★★3 star The Cliffe at Dinham Dinham, below Ludlow Castle from £100/night](https://staycation.co.uk/ludlow/hotels/the-cliffe-at-dinham) [130 Corve Street B&B 130 Corve Street, Ludlow](https://staycation.co.uk/ludlow/hotels/130-corve-street-b-b) ## Things to Do in Shawbank [All attractions in Shawbank →](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/attractions) Top things to do near Shawbank Craven Arms and the wider Shropshire Hills put a good spread of castles, walking country and wildlife sites within a short drive. - **Stokesay Castle** — a beautifully preserved 13th-century fortified manor house just outside Craven Arms, cared for by English Heritage and one of the finest surviving medieval houses in the country. - **Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre** — on the edge of Craven Arms beside the River Onny, with exhibitions on the surrounding landscape, a café, and riverside paths through Onny Meadows. - **The Long Mynd** — a great heather-and-bracken plateau owned by the National Trust, cut by steep valleys such as Carding Mill Valley, with miles of walking and cycling tracks and wide views over the Marches. - **Clun Castle** — a dramatic ruined Welsh Border fortress above the River Clun in the historic little town of Clun, with a distinctive keep built into the side of its motte. - **Wenlock Edge** — a wooded limestone escarpment running for miles above the Corvedale, laced with National Trust trails through ancient woodland. - **Ludlow** — a handsome market town a few miles south, known for its Norman castle, timber-framed streets and reputation as one of England’s best small food towns. [Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/attractions/shropshire-hills-discovery-centre) [Stokesay Castle ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/attractions/stokesay-castle) [Mickey Millers Family PlayBarn ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/attractions/mickey-millers-family-playbarn) [Ludlow Food Centre ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/attractions/ludlow-food-centre) [Acton Scott Working Farm ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/attractions/acton-scott-working-farm) [Shropshire Hills Mountain Bike Centre ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/attractions/shropshire-hills-mountain-bike-centre) [Ludlow Castle ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/attractions/ludlow-castle) [Monkey Mania Ludlow ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/attractions/monkey-mania-ludlow) ## Where to Eat in Shawbank [All restaurants in Shawbank →](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/restaurants) Food and drink near Shawbank For everyday needs, Craven Arms has shops, pubs and cafés, including options near the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre. Ludlow, a short drive south, has built a strong reputation for food, with independent butchers, bakeries and a range of pubs and restaurants making it well worth the trip for a meal out. Country pubs are scattered through the surrounding villages of the Corvedale and Onny Valley, typical of this quiet part of the Marches. [🍽️Restaurant Millmead Lunch Club ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/restaurants/millmead-lunch-club) [Fryer Freemans Ltd ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/restaurants/fryer-freemans-ltd) [Raza's Pizza And Curry House ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/restaurants/raza-s-pizza-and-curry-house) [Shepherd Hills ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/restaurants/shepherd-hills) [Mickey Millers Family Playbarn ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/restaurants/mickey-millers-family-playbarn) [Acton Scott Heritage Farm Shop ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/restaurants/acton-scott-heritage-farm-shop) [Shropshire Hills Catering Limited @ Clungunford Village Hall ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/restaurants/shropshire-hills-catering-limited-clungunford-village-hall) [Ludlow Nutrition Club ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/restaurants/ludlow-nutrition-club) ## Attractions Near Shawbank [All attractions in Shawbank →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Shawbank. [2 mi Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre Craven Arms · ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/craven-arms/attractions/shropshire-hills-discovery-centre) [2 mi Stokesay Castle Craven Arms · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/craven-arms/attractions/stokesay-castle) [2 mi Mickey Millers Family PlayBarn Craven Arms · ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/craven-arms/attractions/mickey-millers-family-playbarn) [4 mi Ludlow Food Centre Bromfield · ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/bromfield/attractions/ludlow-food-centre) [4 mi Acton Scott Working Farm Church Stretton · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/church-stretton/attractions/acton-scott-working-farm) [4 mi Shropshire Hills Mountain Bike Centre Church Stretton · ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/church-stretton/attractions/shropshire-hills-mountain-bike-centre) [6 mi Ludlow Castle Ludlow · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/ludlow/attractions/ludlow-castle) [7 mi Monkey Mania Ludlow Ludlow · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/ludlow/attractions/monkey-mania-ludlow) ## Camping in Shawbank [All campsites in Shawbank →](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/camping) About camping in Shawbank Shawbank’s setting in the Corvedale, in the shadow of the Long Mynd and within reach of Wenlock Edge, makes it an appealing base for campers who want quiet hill and river scenery without the crowds of better-known parts of Shropshire. As anywhere in England, wild camping is not permitted without the landowner’s explicit permission, so plan to stay at an established campsite, farm-based touring park, or a certified site through the Camping and Caravanning Club or similar schemes, several of which are dotted through the Onny Valley and around Craven Arms and Clun. The terrain here ranges from gentle valley pasture along the River Onny to the steep, exposed ground of the Long Mynd itself, so pitch choice matters: valley sites tend to be sheltered and better suited to family camping, while anyone heading up onto the hills for walking should be prepared for changeable weather even in summer, since the open moorland catches wind and cloud that can bypass the sheltered lanes below. Ground can also turn soft after rain on some rural sites, so a look at recent reviews for drainage is worthwhile before booking, particularly outside the driest months. Late spring to early autumn is the most comfortable window for camping, when evenings are light long enough for a walk up onto the Long Mynd or along Wenlock Edge after making camp, and the Onny and Corvedale valleys are at their greenest. For those who prefer not to pitch their own tent, glamping options such as shepherd’s huts, yurts and safari tents have become increasingly common on farms across this part of Shropshire, offering a comfortable way to experience the same hills and valleys with rather less effort, and are worth seeking out around Craven Arms, Clun and the wider Corvedale. [Greenway Touring and Glamping Park ⭐ 4.7 · from £25/night](https://staycation.co.uk/ludlow/camping/greenway-touring-and-glamping-park) [Wayside Camping ⭐ 4.9 · from £30/night](https://staycation.co.uk/craven-arms/camping/wayside-camping) [Ludlow Racecourse ⭐ 4.4 · from £18/night](https://staycation.co.uk/ludlow/camping/ludlow-racecourse) [Acton Scott Escapes ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/church-stretton/camping/acton-scott-escapes) [Wayside Touring Park ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/aston-on-clun/camping/wayside-touring-park) [Church Stretton Camp and Fish (Oaklands) ⭐ 4.8 · from £20/night](https://staycation.co.uk/church-stretton/camping/church-stretton-camp-and-fish-oaklands) [Kevindale Campsite ⭐ 4.6 · from £24/night](https://staycation.co.uk/craven-arms/camping/kevindale-campsite) [Mowbray Meadow ⭐ 4.9 · from £24/night](https://staycation.co.uk/church-stretton/camping/mowbray-meadow) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Shawbank [All cottages in Shawbank →](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/cottages) [Alders View Coach House 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £309](https://staycation.co.uk/shropshire/cottages/alders-view-coach-house-syk1009573) [🏡Cottage Pool Barn 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £590](https://staycation.co.uk/shropshire/cottages/pool-barn-syk1077703) [The Glasshouse 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £517](https://staycation.co.uk/shropshire/cottages/the-glasshouse-ukc7315) [🏡Cottage Callow Fold 3 bed · sleeps 5 · from £452](https://staycation.co.uk/shropshire/cottages/callow-fold-syk1049678) [Callow Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £445](https://staycation.co.uk/shropshire/cottages/callow-cottage-syk1176359) [Lower Dinchope Big Barn 7 bed · sleeps 15 · from £807](https://staycation.co.uk/shropshire/cottages/lower-dinchope-big-barn-12348) [Grove Sprightly Barn 6 bed · sleeps 12 · from £781](https://staycation.co.uk/shropshire/cottages/grove-sprightly-barn-13951) [🏡Cottage Halford Big Barn 8 bed · sleeps 18 · from £1,041](https://staycation.co.uk/shropshire/cottages/halford-big-barn-10359) ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Shawbank Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DShawbank%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Shawbank - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/shawbank/restaurants) ## Staycation ideas for Shawbank [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)