Ironbridge in Shropshire, England 2018 🇬🇧

Date: 5th June 2018.

Travelled: 153 kilometres from Oxford to Warrington

Visited: Ironbridge Gorge

Stayed: Holly Bush Inn, High Walton (Oxford), free pub stay. N53.28877, W02.59289

We had one round of drinks in the Old Red Lion before calling it quits. Its been a long couple of days and a good sleep is required, unfortunately the sun was up at 4.30 am and that was the end of that. By 5.30 we are up re-arranging this and that all part of settling in to 4 months of motorhoming. It’s a cold drizzly morning and not looking too flash as we have our coffee and fruit. The gates to the pub open as if by magic and we continue our journey north.

The drizzle soon passes and the day brightens as we bypass Coventry and Birmingham, leaving the M6 we take the A roads west for Ironbridge Gorge. Whilst all roads appear to lead to Ironbridge, none of them actually appear to get there. Eventually we find the road leading down to the gorge itself and find a free carpark. Don’t get excited it wasn’t really a free carpark but the machine was apparently broken and a small cardboard sign stated ‘free parking today’.

The roads are narrow and there are several museum all titled Ironbridge this and that.

Following this coach seems like the best option.

The Lonely Planet describes Ironbridge’s iron bridge as a magnificent example of late 19th century engineering. However we arrive to find its rapped in 21st century plastic for a refurbish.

We saw several brick kilns and factories built into the steep hillside. Noting Ironbridge was famous for it’s pipe kilns. Pam and I were was thinking terracotta drainage pipes but no, it was tobacco smoking pipes.

As this notice board indicate its a labyrinth of narrow winding road from one museum or site to the next.

The village of Ironbridge stands on the River Severn. The village is very pretty but a little touristy, I can recommend the pastie for lunch.

So we start the long drive back out of the gorge turning onto the M6 for Warrington. We are having some work done on the Hymer’s rear suspension tomorrow and the company (AS Air Suspension) has recommended the Holly Bush Inn as an overnight stop. As we get closer to Warrington the weather has cleared, the sun is out. The GPS does it’s job and we roll into the car-park just in time to put the awning out and have a little afternoon nap before dinner.

The Holly Bush Inn, beer 🍺, wine 🍷 and good food 🥘 , bonus the sun ☀ is out.

Michael and Pam

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