The Wood (early 17th century timbered farmhouse)

We are close to the Welsh border in north-west Shropshire, with sheep, chickens, giant slide and 80 acres of parkland and plantations. We are the eighth generation in this 17th century timber-framed farmhouse which is full of history. We are near Shrewsbury, Llangollen and plenty of Welsh castles and hills. The main spare bedroom has a king-size double bed. Second spare room has a double bed. Shared family bathroom. New indoor hot tub is available for pampering aching limbs. We are unpretentious, rather simple e.g. no central heating, traditional farm kitchen and wood stoves. Large unruly garden and veg area, large open field in front with ancient oak tree. Much history, malt-house being restored, and garden room with adjoining bathhouse with hot tub. Wonderful walks in Welsh and south Shropshire hills nearby and Lake Vyrnwy and along the nearby river Vyrnwy, Powis and Chirk Castles and many other attractions. Welsh coast one hour through sublime hills. Part of wider family farm often drowned by floods. Local pubs and Oswestry and Welshpool nearish for all facilities. Welsh language nearby. Horse riding near but not on farm, 30ft tower slide, swing and trampoline for children, dens and tree climbing in plantations. Non pretentious in the extreme (cold comfort in fact, best avoided by those with allergies to mud, spiders, low beams etc). We are retired school doctor and accountant with three daughters and two granddaughters in Cambridge. Registered foster carers in the past for baby sitting duties if agreed. Many games in garden and malthouse e.g. table footy, shove halfpenny, kubbs and croquet on front lawn if not too wet. Shared access to the house, and shared bathroom, but we operate from the farm kitchen (long house) and Charles has his office. Yes usually around the place as we have animals to tend. Happy to do farm breakfasts or whatever breakfasts wanted. The west Shropshire accent, the unpretentiousness and accessibility to many amazing places in mid-Wales and Shropshire and walks from the house too. See maps. A local pub in Maesbrook and parish Anglican Church. Nearby famous Melverley wooden church overlooking the river Vyrnwy, and the Breidden hills which rise abruptly from the plain. Oh we have two canoes which guests can use to canoe the many miles of winding rivers here if they wish. Also bikes for several in decent nick usually. Well there are no buses nearer than Knockin (Oswestry to Shrewsbury, very slow) about two miles away and Llanymynech has buses to Shrewsbury via the Welsh side of the Severn and to Welshpool and the Tanat valley and to Oswestry for onward travel. Local heritage railways. I have several working bikes, best along the restored Montgomery canal which is nearby at Maesbury. We are near Offa's Dyke path, the Shropshire Way and Wat's Dyke long distance paths as well and the Owain Glyndwr path (and Sycharth the hidden birthplace of Glyndwr) and the Ann Griffiths path to Lake Vyrnwy (she a famous Welsh hymn writer). Otherwise nearest main-line train stations are Gobowen (Shrewsbury to Chester line on to Holyhead for Irish guests), Shrewsbury and Welshpool for Aberystwyth and the west Welsh coast (great days out). Plenty of rough on site parking in the yard. We have only the one listing, for two rooms. Pricing is for up to two people in the one bedroom, then extra for extra people in the second bedroom. So if you need both bedrooms as singles, please book as for a minimum of three people. Both bedrooms have tea and coffee making facilities, main bedroom also has a microwave. I would not advise anyone with allergies to animals, hay, dust or mud to come here as pretty rural, and potholed drive. Tall people may be challenged by low beams, particularly upstairs. But idyllic for anyone stressed out as extremely quiet and fairly out of the way despite the A5 and the A483 going into mid-Wales being very near. Train buffs will enjoy the Cambrian Railways various heritage lines locally and for bird watchers and naturalists we have the Llanymynech Hill nature reserve and others very near too . Geologists will find a small fossil and mineral museum on site as it is my passion and Shropshire a wonderland for rock and fossil aficionados. I play the fiddle, paint and also spin and weave, so these bods should feel at home. We are jointly chair people of Oswestry CPRE and Charles vice-chair of the local parish council. His grandfather was chairman of Shropshire County Council in the forties and members of the family have been on the parish council almost continually since parish councils were instituted in the 1890s . . . so much local history both domestic and much older (I was v involved with Oxford University archaeological soc years ago, and continue my interests here). We are acquainted with many people in mid-Wales through a public inquiry opposing wind farms threatening to spoil many mid-Wales landscapes, now hopefully averted as is a huge pylon line just behind us. I am learning Welsh so can teach folk some basic words if interested and direct to speakers. Also daughter number three (who was married in summer 2020 under our oak tree) is an ornithologist who cut her teeth at Lake Vyrnwy RSPB reserve so we can direct folk to the best sites. As a former GP I am used to social contact and enjoy meeting all sorts (I speak French, German, Spanish and some Arabic and now a bit of Welsh). Charles is more measured but a good source of local wisdom and excellent informant of local history. He loves children and misses our small granddaughters who are miles away and unfortunately not seen that often. I was a community paediatrician for years in west Berkshire and of course would love to give kids the chance of a free rural traditional unfettered rural adventure here. We inherited from Uncle Tom Ward Green, a great 97 year old bachelor who made all the play equipment for Kinnerley playground which is now partly here. We ran an oak apple day fest here in 2015 in aid of Hand-in-hand for Syria with maypole dancing and folk music .