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DRIVE 5
Drive 1 - Bridgnorth to Ludlow Drive 2 - Church Stretton to Welshpool Drive 3 - Following the Severn
Drive 4 - Shrewsbury to Church Stretton Drive 5 - Shrewsbury to Hodnet Drive 6 - Newport to Bridgnorth

GO2 Leisure Drive 5 - Shrewsbury to Hodnet

Florence House, Baschurch

Petton Church

Loppington Church

Baschurch

Petton

Loppington

Shrewsbury
Cross the Welsh bridge into Shrewsbury, keep in the left hand lane and take the A528 Signposted Ellesmere. Turn left onto the B5067, SP Baschurch.
This road takes you past the West Mid Show Ground (an agricultural show for everyone held in May each year), and through an avenue of trees through the Berwick Estate.
Later you will pass Leaton Church which is described by Pevsner as having 'a facade as crazy as any of this High Victorian Phase'.
Further on, and immediately after passing Walford Agricultural College, you will see a pond to the right of the road. This has been turned into a wildlife reserve by the college, and it is possible to walk around it.

Baschurch
Baschurch has seen a considerable amount of building I lived there. Nevertheless, in the area around the church it retains much of its original character. On the right, at the corner of the first crossroads, you will see a residential home for the elderly which was once the building used by Dame Agnes Hunt for her first hospital. Turn left at this crossroads, then bear right by the church. Follow this road to a X-roads where you need to turn right.
Turn left at the next X-roads, SP Weston Lullingfields.

Weston Lullingfields
On entering the village, turn right by the Weston Farm. It should be signposted Petton, but the local wags have been known to turn the signpost around.

Petton
Petton is little more than a few houses and farms and a large neo-Elizabethan brick mansion. The church, though small, is of interest and contains some fine early 18th century bits.
Turn left at T-junction opposite Petton Park, SP Cockshutt. (The church stands in a field a few hundred yards in the opposite direction).
Turn right at T-junction. Turn left at junction with A528, SP Ellesmere.

Cockshutt
A pleasant spot, although a little spoilt by traffic on occasion. Interesting little house on the right at the above T-junction. Turn right SP Loppington.

House at Tilley - Wem

Thatched House at Wem

Loppington Church

Ludlow

Church Stretton

Buildwas Abbey

Loppington
Loppington is a pleasant village, particularly beside the church. Turn left at T-junction SP Wem.
Turn Immediately right by the Dicken Arms.
Follow this road through some very pleasant countryside until you arrive at Tilley.

Tilley
The village of Tilley is one of the finest in North Shropshire with a wealth of timber-framing. Turn left at T-junction and enter Wem.

Wem
Famous for its pro-parliament stand during the Civil War and its treacle mines. Today the town suffers somewhat from the recession as a number of business premises for sale shows. Turn right at T-junction beside the church, SP Whitchurch. Turn right immediately after crossing the railway
A mile or so out of Wem along this road, close to a bridge over a stream, you will see on the left one of the finest examples
of a renovated timber-framed house, complete with thatch, in the country. It is beautiful!

Lee Brockhurst
A pleasant spot beside a busy trunk road. Turn left SP Whitchurch.
Turn right at brow of hill after going through a cutting. The road is not signposted, but it is marked ' Unsuitable for Heavy Vehicles'.

Weston under Redcastle
Weston under Redcastle is well known to sportsmen because of its famous golf course. The church, with its stocks, makes a pleasant scene. Opposite the church is the road to the golf course and the post office. The latter is also a tea room and a pleasant spot for a cuppa.
By carrying straight on you will pass The Citadel on the right which is an unusual house on the brow of a hill. A little further on, on the left is the entrance to Hawkstone Park (The best time to visit is midweek early in the morning). Continue to junction of A442 and turn right SP Hodnet.

Hodnet
A pleasant village which will become even nicer if they ever build a by-pass.
The church is both unusual and interesting with a tower which is octagonal from the bottom to the top. Hodnet Hall and its grounds are also open to the public during the summer months.
The most direct route to Shrewsbury is on the A53.