Things to do

Let’s get one thing straight: May is the best month of the year. Two bank holidays. Daylight after 6pm. The countryside bursting into life. If you’ve been counting down the days to escape the daily grind and recharge somewhere that doesn’t involve traffic lights, you’ll want to aim yourself directly at Woodland Park Lodges in Ellesmere, Shropshire.

This is not your average country break. This is the kind of break where birds sing, lakes shimmer, and you get to soak in a hot tub under a canopy of trees. It’s peaceful, it’s pretty, and it packs a lot of fresh-air brilliance.

1. The Mere: Like Windermere, But With Fewer Tour Buses

Ellesmere’s crown jewel is The Mere, a stunning natural lake so serene you’ll think you’ve stepped into a watercolour painting. Walk the circular trail, hire a rowing boat, or grab an ice cream and watch the ducks live their best lives.

It’s perfect for families, couples, or anyone who fancies a break from screens and tower blocks. The views are spectacular, and there’s a good chance you’ll spot herons, swans, or even a kingfisher if you sit quietly enough.

2. Country Walks That Actually Make You Want to Walk

You don’t need to be Bear Grylls to enjoy a good walk through the countryside. In May, the bluebells are out, the air smells like spring, and the local trails around Ellesmere are a dream. Some are short and sweet, some are long and winding, but all of them come with that unbeatable smug feeling of “I’ve earned this pub lunch.”

Tip: Bring walking boots, or at least something better than fashion trainers. This is Shropshire and there are a lot of muddy fields at this time of year.

3. Woodland Park Lodges: The Country Retreat That Gets It Right

Set among towering trees and chirping birds, Woodland Park Lodges delivers peace and comfort by the bucketload. Each lodge is kitted out with proper beds (none of that camping nonsense), log burners, and-you guessed it – private hot tubs.

Whether you’re here with your other half, your kids, your mates, or just your dog and a bottle of wine, this is the kind of place that makes you instantly forget what your email password is. Bliss.

4. Pub Gardens, Pint Perfection & Plates of Joy

There is something utterly British about enjoying a pint in a pub garden in May. It’s warm enough to sit outside, the beer tastes better than it does at home, and the food? Proper. Local sausages, homemade pies, Sunday roasts that would make your nan proud.

Luckily, Ellesmere and the surrounding villages are full of cosy, welcoming pubs with great food and even better views. And no one judges if you order sticky toffee pudding and crumble.

5. May Events: Craft Fairs, Farmers’ Markets & Rural Charm

May brings out the best in Shropshire life. Local towns spring to life with events, markets, and a general buzz of “isn’t it great to be outside again?” Pick up fresh produce, handmade gifts, and maybe even witness some Morris dancing which, frankly, is worth the visit alone.

Shropshire has the kind of countryside charm that city breaks just can’t fake.

If you’re looking for the perfect way to spend your May bank holiday, Ellesmere is it. You’ve got nature. You’ve got luxury lodges. You’ve got the kind of peace and quiet that makes you forget how fast life usually moves.

Woodland Park Lodges isn’t just a place to stay. It’s a reset button in the woods, and May is when it all comes to life.

So go on, pack the walking boots, book your stay, and make this May one to remember.

Shropshire. A place of rolling hills, hidden valleys, and a landscape so untouched it feels as though time has politely stepped aside. Easter here is not just about chocolate eggs and bunny trails – it’s about something far greater. It’s about immersing yourself in the rhythm of nature, discovering the rich tapestry of history, and indulging in simple, joyful pleasures.

At Woodland Park Lodges, nestled within the idyllic heart of Shropshire, Easter is a season of transformation. The woods begin their great unfurling, the birds return with a symphony of optimism, and—if you pause long enough—you’ll hear the delicate crunch of twigs underfoot as deer weave through the trees at dusk.

If you’re planning an Easter getaway, this is the place. And these are the experiences that will make it truly unforgettable.

The Easter Adventure at Dudmaston Hall

April 13th – 27th (excluding Fridays & Saturdays)
Dudmaston Hall, Bridgnorth

Dudmaston Hall is what all great country houses should be—imposing, elegant, and yet somehow deeply personal. The National Trust has curated an Easter trail that will take you through ancient orchards and carefully manicured gardens, with playful stops for egg-and-spoon races, hill rolling, and the kind of simple fun that makes childhood memories so vivid.

£3.50 per trail (includes bunny ears, trail sheet, pencil & chocolate egg)
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Lambing Season at Frankly Farm

April 11th – 26th
Broseley, Shropshire

If Dudmaston is about refinement, Frankly Farm is about raw, unfiltered life. This is the kind of place where you’ll feel the warmth of a newborn lamb in your hands, where children’s laughter echoes as they get up close to the spring’s newest arrivals.

Frankly Farm is no polished petting zoo—it’s an authentic working farm. It’s a place that smells of damp earth and fresh hay, where boots get muddy, and you leave with a renewed appreciation for the cycle of life.

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Easter Bunny Grotto at the British Ironwork Centre

Easter Weekend 2025
British Ironwork Centre, Oswestry

Now, if you like your Easter with a side of spectacle, the British Ironwork Centre is where you’ll find it. Imagine a landscape punctuated with towering iron sculptures, where the Easter Bunny isn’t just a fluffy creature in a suit, but a character who exists in this world of creativity and craftsmanship.

This isn’t just a meet-and-greet—it’s an immersive experience. An Easter egg hunt set against a backdrop of giant metal stags, steam-breathing dragons, and beautifully bizarre artistic creations.

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The Easter Egg Hunt at Attingham Park

April 12th – April 20th
Attingham Park, Shrewsbury

There’s something deeply poetic about Attingham Park – a palatial estate built in the 18th century, its grounds whispering stories of scandal, grandeur, and reinvention. But at Easter, it’s all about childlike wonder and chocolate-fuelled adventure.

The Easter egg hunt leads you through sweeping lawns, ancient trees, and walled gardens that could easily be the setting for a Brontë novel. If Easter is about indulgence, then surely this is the most refined way to partake.

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Explore Historic Benthall Hall

Throughout April
Benthall Hall, Broseley

And finally, for those who want to step back in time, there’s Benthall Hall. A 16th-century masterpiece, a house that feels as though it’s been plucked straight from a historical drama. This isn’t a grand stately home built to impress—it’s a lived-in, intimate kind of beauty.

With oak panelled interiors, soft golden stonework, and views that stretch over the Severn Valley, it’s a place where architecture and nature exist in perfect harmony. And that, in many ways, is what Easter in Shropshire is all about.

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Easter at Woodland Park Lodges: Your Perfect Escape

Of course, the real magic of Easter in Shropshire is not just about what you do, but where you retreat to afterward. At Woodland Park Lodges, you’ll find peace, space, and the simple joy of being surrounded by nature.

Imagine this: Mornings spent exploring historic estates, afternoons filled with Easter egg hunts and farm visits, and evenings curled up in a luxury lodge, watching the sun set over the trees.

This is Easter done properly.

Book your Easter escape now

A Time to Pause and Reconnect

In a world that moves too fast, Easter is a chance to pause, reconnect, and appreciate the small wonders – a perfectly preserved Tudor house, the first buds of spring, the taste of chocolate on a crisp April morning.

And really, what could be be better than that?