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ATTINGHAM PARK, Shrewsbury Shropshire SY4 4TP

One of the great houses of the Midlands. The elegant mansion was built in 1785 for the 1st Lord Berwick to the design of George Steuart and has a picture gallery by John Nash. The magnificent Regency interiors contain collections of ambassadorial silver, Italian furniture and Grand Tour paintings. The park was landscaped by Repton and has attractive walks along the River Tern and through the deer park.

4ml SE of Shrewsbury, on N side of B4380 in Atcham village

BENTHALL HALL, Broseley Shropshire TF12 5RX

Situated on a plateau above the gorge of the Severn, this 16th-century stone house has mullioned and transomed windows and a stunning interior with carved oak staircase, decorated plaster ceilings and oak panelling. There is an intimate and carefully restored plantsman's garden, old kitchen garden and interesting Restoration church

1ml NW of Broseley (B4375), 4ml NE of Much Wenlock, 1ml SW of Ironbridge

WIGHTWICK MANOR, Wightwick Bank, Wolverhampton Wolverhampton WV6

One of only a few surviving examples of a house built and furnished under the influence of the Arts and Crafts Movement. The many original William Morris wallpapers and fabrics, Pre-Raphaelite paintings, Kempe glass and de Morgan ware help conjure up the spirit of the time. An attractive garden reflects the style and character of the house

3ml W of Wolverhampton, up Wightwick Bank (off A454 beside the Mermaid Inn)

MOSELEY OLD HALL, Moseley Old Hall Lane, Fordhouses, Wolverhampton Staffordshire WV10 7HY

An Elizabethan house, altered in the 19th century and famous for its association with Charles II, who hid here after the Battle of Worcester (1651). The story of his escape is recounted in an exhibition in the barn, and there is an interesting garden full of 17th-century plants

4ml N of Wolverhampton; S of M54 between A449 and A460; traffic from N on M6 leave motorway at exit 11, then A460; traffic from S on M6 & M54 take exit 1; coaches must approach via A460 to avoid low bridge

DUDMASTON

Quatt, nr Bridgnorth Shropshire WV15 6QN

A late 17th-century house with intimate family rooms containing fine furniture and Dutch flower paintings, as well as interesting contemporary paintings and sculpture. The delightful gardens are a mass of colour in spring and include a walk in the Dingle, a wooded valley. There are also estate walks starting from Hampton Loade

4ml SE of Bridgnorth on A442

KINVER EDGE, The Warden's Lodge, The Compa, Kinver, nr Stourbridge Staffordshire DY7 6HU

A sandstone ridge, covered in woodland and heath and from which there are dramatic views across surrounding counties. There are several famous rock houses, which were inhabited until the 1950s

5ml W of Stourbridge, 6ml N of Kidderminster. 2½ml off A458

MORVILLE HALL, nr Bridgnorth Shropshire WV16 5BN

An Elizabethan house of mellow stone, converted in the 18th century and set in attractive gardens

A gabled and unspoilt manor house, dating from 1586 and with fine views. Although unfurnished, the interior is of interest for its remarkable wooden spiral staircase and fine plaster ceilings. There is a circular walk through farmland and woods

7ml SW of Much Wenlock, 7ml E of Church Stretton, ½ml S of B4371

An extensive area of historic upland heath, part of the Long Mynd and with stunning views across the Shropshire and Cheshire plains and Black Mountains. This is excellent walking country with much of interest to the naturalist; the Chalet Pavilion in Carding Mill Valley offers further information about the area, as well as a tea-room and shop

15ml S of Shrewsbury, W of Church Stretton valley and A49; approached from Church Stretton and, on W side, from Ratlinghope or Asterton

TOWN WALLS TOWER, Shrewsbury Shropshire SY1 1TN

Shrewsbury's last remaining watchtower, built in the 14th century and overlooking the River Severn

A few mins walk from town centre, on S of Town Walls