13. Leisure + Holidays
The way we spend
our leisure time and holidays can have a major
environmental impact.
All means of transport, except cycling and walking, are
damaging.
Inappropriate development to cater for visitors can be
detrimental to the local people, especially in poorer countries.
In this area we are lucky. Without travelling far,
there are hundreds of attractive places to visit for days out or holidays.
The Visitor Centre in The Square T: 01743 281200 has
lots of information and an Internet search will provide more. Before using the
car, see if you can go by cycle, bus or train. (See Transport section)
Consider volunteering – you can
meet lots of like-minded people!
The Wheel-chair
Users Guide to Accessible Countryside Sites and Trails
in
and Around Shropshire available at Council
offices and:
W: www.shropshiretourism.info/downloads/shropshiretrails.pdf
Transport
(see
also Transport section,)
Walks
W: www.shropshirewalks.co.uk
Buses
Traveline T: 0870 241 2 216
Arriva T: 08706 082 608
Cycling
W: www.shropshirecycling.co.uk
Rail Rambles
T: 01568 612571
Get leaflets from Shrewsbury
railway station.
Organised rural walks accessed by train –Saturdays weekly
and Wednesdays monthly.
DAYS OUT
Acton Scott Historic Working Farm
Church
Stretton SY6 6QN
T: 01691 781306
Drummond Outdoor
T: 01743 365 022
Canoeing, kayaking, etc.
Discover Shropshire
T: 01743 252252
W: www.shropshire.gov.uk
A programme of walks and events organised by Shropshire
CC.
Ellesmere – The Meres
T: 01691 624448
W: www.shropshire.gov.uk
Easy and interesting walks on designated routes.
Espiritu Balloon Flights (over Shropshire).
T: 01743 790 100
W: www.FlyEspiritu.co.uk
Home Farm – Attingham
T: 01743 709243
A working organic farm on the Attingham Park Estate
(National Trust).
Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre
T: 01588 676000
W: www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk
Informative exhibition and 30 acres of riverside habitat –
waymarked walks.
Shropshire Hills Shuttle Bus
T: 01588 673888 (Mon-Fri 9-5)
W: www.shropshirehillsshuttles.co.uk
Leave your car at home, choose 3 routes.
Has lots of info., bus links, timetables,etc.
LOCAL ACCOMMODATION
Brynmawr (organic farm)
Newcastle,
Craven Arms SY7 8QU
T: 01588 640298
W: www.clunvalleyorganics.co.uk
Wind + solar powered holiday cottage.
Eco cabin
Obley,
Bucknell SY7 0BZ
T: 01547 530183
W: www.ecocabin.co.uk
Lane Farm (organic farm)
Criggion,
SY5 9BG
T: 01743 884288
W: www.lanefarmbedandbreakfast.co.uk
The Pottery
Overbatch
House, Castle Hill,
All
Stretton, SY6 6JS
T: 01694 723511
W: www.virtual-shropshire.co.uk/pottery
Youth Hostels Association
T:
0870 7708868
W:
www.yha.org.uk
Network of hostels in England and Wales including several locally.
HOLIDAYS
AND TOURS
The Ethical Travel Guide
(by Polly Pattullo with Orely Minelli)
Publisher Earthscan (240 pages) £12-99 rrp
Tourism Concern
Stapleton House, 277-281, Holloway Road,
London N7 8HN
T:
0207 1333330
W:
www.tourismconcern.org.uk
www.responsibletravel.com
T:
01273 600030
E:
Amelia@responsible-travel.com
Advisors on suitable holiday and tour
providers.
British Trust For Conservation Volunteers
Sedum House,Mallard
Way,
Doncaster, DN4 8DB
T:
01302 388888
W:
www.btcv.org.uk
Shropshire Branch T: 01952 616 104
Bicycle Beano Cycling Holidays
Erwood, Builth Wells, Powys LD2 3PQ
T:
01982 560471
W: www
bicycle-beano.co.uk
Centre for Alternative Technology
Runs courses, and offers self-catering
accommodation.
(see Education section)
CTC Cycling Holidays and Tours
T:
0870 2351356
W:
www.cyclingholidays.org
Gaia Cooperative
Nurses Cottage, Long Lane, Peterchurch,
Hereford, HR2 OTE
T:
0845 458 4718
W:
www.gaiacooperative.org
Runs camping and residential workshops on
green issues.
Green & Away
PO Box 40, Malvern, WR14
1YS
T:
0870 460 1198
W:
www.greenandaway.org.uk
A green conference centre.
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms
(WWOOF)
PO Box 2675,
Lewes,
East Sussex, BN7 1RB
T:
01273 476286
W:
www.wwoof.org.uk
Accommodation and food in exchange for working
(and learning).
Walking
Shrewsbury & Mid-Shropshire Ramblers
T:
Contact Chris Cluley 01588 640243
W:
www.shropshireramblers.org.uk
Shropshire Young Ramblers (20-30s)
T:
Contact Paul Tanner 01939 251 687
W:
www.syr.org.uk
The
range of holidays on offer that involves flying is huge but as it is the most
polluting form of transport we must minimise the flights we take. Why not spend
more holidays nearer home and significantly reduce your contribution to climate
change? Don’t forget ferries and trains and coaches. Also choose holidays and tours
that do genuinely benefit the local people and environment. Ask questions to
discover the travel company’s environmental policy