Shropshire England

The Road Trip 2018 – Burgau Portugal to Shrewsbury UK

Next assignment – Coach House Trusted Sitters. Well this one was a biggy. We left our house sit in Burgau, on the Algarve in Portugal and on day one travelled to Salamanca in Spain. Heard so much about Salamanca that we wanted to have a look. I will write a post on this stopover soon. From Salamanca, we travelled north to the ferry port of Santander. Where we bought lots of lovely Spanish wins and yes, it’s bloody cheap. The average UK tax on imported wine I believe is 56% and that doesn’t include 20% VAT.

At Santander, we caught the ferry to Portsmouth on the south of England. Brittany Ferries services this route and takes approx 26hrs. Boarded at approximately 14.30 in the evening and arrived in Portsmouth at 15.30 the next day. Cost approximately 270 GBP with an inside cabin, sleeps 4 with bunk beds and is not very comfortable but at least somewhere to put your head and shut your eyes.

Of the ferry and through customs and on the motorway towards Shrewsbury by 16.30. This leg was 5hrs and with a stop we arrived at our destination at 21.30, phew!!

We travel on a strict budget with accommodation meals and fuel totalling approximately 250 GBP and the Ferry 520 GBP (2018 prices).

Would I recommend the ferry? No. Not my preferred form of travel. I found it a bit boring and it can get rough. So with this form of travel, you need good sea legs. Food is OK on board. There is a fine dining restaurant on board, three buffet type diners, and plenty of bars.

Where the bloody hell is the Coach House?

Loved this house sit for my niece, husband and their girls as they went off to Australia for the month of August 2018.

The coach house is outside the village of Pulverbatch 20 minutes drive from Shrewsbury in the county of Shropshire. If you are looking for isolation then this is it. So quiet and postcard countryside. This is the ideal place to snuggle up in front of the fire, to read a good book or watch a great movie.

One of our most unique and isolated house sits we experienced was a 400-year-old converted coach house In Shropshire, UK. The house is situated outside the village of Pulverbatch near Shrewsbury.

The Old Coach House

Coach House Trusted Sitters — The Coach House

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This was another great Trusted Housesitters assignment for us and as always lovely people to meet and lovely hairy pets to look after. If you are interested in house-sitting so the owners can travel click the pic to learn more.

Hairy and not so Hairy Mates

Here we have pictures of our beloved Humphrey the Maine coon, he is the largest domesticated cat breed apparently and Willow the Doberman. Humphrey took great pleasure hunting at night and bring his kill into show you, usually by leaving it on the kitchen floor. Usually small birds or field mice. Not a pleasure sight. Willow was a very loving doggy and just wanted attention but realy loved to run. So plenty of walks in the fields and parks.

Willow and Humphrey Peace at Last — Humphrey The Mountain Cat

Our Local Inn @ Picklescott Village

Picklescott Village was a very pleasant 30-minute walk along a field break. A field break is used by the farmers to move farm machinery between fields. The local pub was the Bottle and Glass. A typical English pub that sold great English beer and the restaurant served great local food. Sunday roasts the speciality, roast beef, chicken and ham all very enjoyable.

Churches and Abbey’s

Ops sorry more history, i’m excited. St Chad’s Church was built in 1792, and has a distinctive round shape and high tower, it is a well-known landmark in the town. St Alkmund was founded about the year 900, which celebrated its 1100th anniversary in 2012.

The Abbey was founded as a Benedictine Monastery by a guy called Roger de Montgomery in 1083.

The Old English Public House

For those of you that like a wee drink then Shrewsbury has some great Pubs you would love. English pubs have a range of English beers served at room temperature. The local english pubs have always been the place to socialise for all ages, always warm and cosy. Look at the picture of the bulls head lower right, can you see that the windows on the right-hand side of the pub are dropping slightly?

The Quarry Parklands

During our stay we loved walking in this pristine landscape. Just like walking through a beautiful Garden. This beautiful 29-acre parkland, encircled by the river Severn was Shrewsbury’s most important site for recreation since the 16th Century.

Port Hill Suspension Bridge — The Quarry

The Castle and Library

Shrewsbury Castle was built by that guy again Roger de Montgomery in circa 1070 as a defensive fortification for the town. The Library was situated on Castle Gates near Shrewsbury Castle. This site was the home of Shrewsbury School from 1550 until 1882. The buildings were handed over to the town in 1882 and a free library and museum were opened by The Corporation of Shrewsbury on the site in 1885.

An Enchanted Garden

At the heart of the Quarry lies the Dingle, a floral masterpiece created by world renowned gardener Percy Thrower, who served as Parks Superintendent for 28 years. Its a delightful sunken garden landscaped with alpine borders, brilliant bedding plants, shrubbery and charming water features.

Prison, Square and Railway Station

Its all good. I won’t bore you with too much history. Just a couple of of very interesting facts about Shrewsbury Square. In 1403 many of the nobility who were captured at the Battle of Shrewsbury were executed here. They were publicly hanged, drawn and quartered and their heads displayed. The hall pictured was built in 1596.

Shrewsbury prison was built for 30,000 pounds and opened in 1793. The first execution at the new gaol took place on Saturday the 15th of August 1795. John Smith, aged 25, was hanged for stealing 10 cotton handkerchiefs. In the 120-year life of this prison, 72 People were executed by hanging. On the 24th of August 1811, five men were hung that morning for burglary. A gory history. the prison was closed in March 2013.