GLAMPING | A Romantic Winter Weekend Retreat in the Shropshire Hills

February 5, 2018 Shell Robshaw-Bryan

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Where did we go?

Rowan Lodge (sleeps 2)
Hope Bagot, Ludlow, Shropshire
Priced from £58.85 per night
Glamping Hub

We loved the soft furnishing and decor throughout

Our Visit

As we neared our destination we ascended high up into the hills, eventually disappearing into a cloud, with dimly visible sheep marking the common either side of us. Clee Hill is home to one of the highest settlements in the England and although the lodge was easy to find, it felt like we were miles from anywhere thanks to the private woodland setting of the lodge. In fact there’s 45 acres of woodland here that guests are free to explore, and as we drove slowly down the winding track through the woods, a feeling of calm descended.

On arrival we were met by friendly Fern who walked us over to the lodge and gave us the lowdown on using the woodurner and central heating. First impressions were good and the lodge felt spacious and yet cosy. A quick nose around the kitchen confirmed it had everything we needed to make our evening meal and we quickly settled in and cracked open the wine.

The bedroom was lovely with gorgeous bedding. The soft fluffy robes laid out for us were a lovely touch and the bedroom was very well appointed. The double bed was comfortable, and with both the heating and wood burner on, the lodge quickly heated up. In fact the living room got so warm that despite the freezing cold night, we ended up standing out on our private decked area hugging and looking up at the stars whilst we cooled down.

If it’s a romantic break you’re looking for then Rowan Lodge is definitely a good choice!

The views from our lodge were beautiful and expansive, and we enjoyed a particularly spectacular sunset while we were there. Although it was too chilly to sit out on the decking, in the summer, I can imagine it would provide the perfect way to while away an evening in peaceful and pretty surroundings.

Sunset taken from Rowan Lodge

Out and About

I’d never visited Ludlow before but knew of the region due to it’s status as a mecca for foodies and for it’s proximity to the Shropshire Hills. We had intended to go walking in the hills, but ended up spending a relaxed afternoon mooching around the streets of Ludlow and visiting the castle.

With an entry fee of just £5 per adult, Ludlow Castle is excellent value for money and well worth a visit.

Venture across the river after you visit the castle to take in the beautiful sight of the River Teme, and if you’ve still got energy to burn, head up the wooded hills to Whitcliffe Common for a lovely short woodland walk and views back across the river towards the castle.

The River Teme

Walking at Whitcliffe Common

The view back over the river towards the castle

On the way home we took a detour and stopped off at Ironbridge, somewhere I’ve been wanting to go back to for years. The plan was to go and see the world heritage site and spend the rest of the afternoon at Blist Hill Victorian Town, sadly both were shut! Blist Hill is shut on a Monday and Ironbridge is undergoing lengthy repairs so none of the bridge was visible and it was a bit like a Ghost Town! We did stop for a fabulous lunch though at the Tea Emporium which is well worth a visit.

The Verdict

The Rowan Lodge accommodation that we stayed in was superb. Furnished to a very high standard, it contained everything we needed for a really comfortable stay and the big corner sofa and wood burning stove made the lodge perfect for cosying up in at the end of the day.

Having photographed some of the most stunning sunsets I’ve ever seen, visiting the castle, ambling around Ironbridge and walking at Whitcliffe common, I can’t recommend the location highly enough. Clee Hill itself is lovely with sheep freely roaming, and despite the secluded location, there’s a decent shop a few minutes drive away, that’s well stocked with any essentials you might have forgotten.

Final Thoughts

We loved our stay and would very much like to return in the summer to give us chance to spend more time outdoors and exploring the woodland. This is a super little lodge that offers exceptional value for money and is ideal for a romantic getaway whatever the weather. We booked our stay with Glamping Hub which cost £58.85 per night.

See more photos from our weekend on Flickr.

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Shell Robshaw-Bryan

Editor & Owner at Camping with Style

Shell loves all things travel and outdoors and is a nature-loving, comfy-camping kinda girl. Shell started the Camping with Style blog after a serious snowboarding accident which left her with a broken back. Despite this she used the outdoors and healing power of nature to aid her recovery and she continues to spend time outdoors whenever she can.

From open water swimming, snowboarding and kayaking to hill walks and meditation, Shell shares her travels and microadventures here on the blog and in various publications she's written for, Shell has a particular interest in promoting wellbeing and the many benefits of nature therapy.

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