Susan Calman's Grand Day Out

Susan and her campervan Helen are hitting the road again, and this week, they're travelling around one of the most rural and stunning areas of England — the Shropshire Hills. Shropshire is a county without a single city and, as Susan learns, it seems to boast less about its charms than some of its more visited neighbours. But that just means there are more hidden gems for Susan to discover. At her first stop, Susan finds the stunning Ironbridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has an astonishing past as the location of the first iron bridge built anywhere in the world, and it's indicative of the county's claim to be the very birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Susan hears all about it, and then gets to see this unique spot from a different angle — sailing under the bridge in a coracle. Then, it's a stop at Blists Hill Victorian Town, which turns out to be a faithful re-creation of a typical east Shropshire coalfield town from around 1900. Enjoying getting into the spirit of the place, Susan visits the town's milliner to pick out just the right period hat. Then it's off to Ludlow, which the late poet laureate Sir John Betjeman called ‘probably the loveliest town in England'. And a little part of that loveliness is the care it gives to nature: this is the home of Pricklebums, a charity that takes care of sick and injured hedgehogs. Today, there are some recently rescued hoglets that need a health check and Susan is only too happy to help. At the British Ironwork Centre and Sculpture Park, Susan finds a group of enthusiasts who make wonderful artworks out of discarded metal. A gorilla made of 40,000 spoons is a sight to behold as also, it turns out, is Susan with a blowtorch. Then, Susan winds her way to the Cambrian Heritage Railways. Here, she's given the unique opportunity to actually drive a stream train solo. Susan enjoys every second, even when the warning alarm starts to go off. Susan gets involved in a thrilling escape from a Shrewsbury Prison, though she's only on the run from an authentic-looking escape room. And the great outdoors beckons one final time, as she finishes with a spot of wild swimming, meeting a couple of local enthusiasts along the way who help her brave what is charitably described as bracing water. It allows her to finish among the heights of the Shropshire Hills and reflect on how fortunate she has been to experience this particular one of her Grand Days Out.