It’s time to get outdoors and make the most of the changing landscape in Ludlow. Then head indoors for some serious you time, hunker down, get cosy and enjoy a warm tipple. The shadow of another lockdown looms, but it doesn’t matter, there is still plenty to enjoy inside and outside, while maintaining a safe distance of course.
Here are a few suggestions:
Decorate your window ‘My Ludlow Halloween’ style
You’ll have to hurry for this one as the deadline ends tomorrow at 5 pm but there’s still plenty of time to whip out that old sheet, cut up some bits of card and put out some artfully placed pumpkins. And, if you do a good job, you could be in the running for an amazing array of prizes from Ludlow’s local shops including: dinner for 4 at the Feather’s Hotel, beauty products, gift vouchers and a whole cauldron full of treats.
Get spooked on a haunted tour of Ludlow
Thanks to support from Shropshire Council’s Emergency Arts Grant, Late Night Ludlow will spring to un-life this Halloween with a free virtual event exploring South Shropshire’s spooky tales and tunes. From the safety of your own sofa (or from behind it!) you can follow Ludlow’s famous ghost walk, as local archaeologist Leon Bracelin shares ghastly tales and spooky secrets of late night Ludlow. Whet your whistle and shake along from home with a special creepy cocktail recipe presented by Ludlow Gin, and get inspired to create a Halloween dish with local producer and supper club purveyor, Tish Dockerty of AppleTeme.
Follow your guide through the streets of Ludlow and find storyteller Val Littlehales sharing Shropshire ghost stories of local lore and legend, hidden away in Ludlow’s most haunted pub, the Rose and Crown. Let the fear out and join in with harmony songs of dark tales and death from South Shropshire’s Men from Off.
Trust in autumn
Take time to enjoy the turning leaves at two nearby National Trust properties: Croft Castle and Berrington Hall, both offer glorious autumnal gardens. Croft Castle invites you to ‘pop on your walking boots and crunch through autumn leaves’ and then warm up with a cuppa in their tearoom. You can also discover the castle which is open every day from 11am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm). At Berrington Hall, discover ‘Skin Deep’ by Oliver Jones, a contemporary art exhibition exploring body image and the obsession with perfection and beauty. We recommend you book before visiting both properties.
Catch the sunset
We’ve seen some incredible sunsets not just from our window at home but also across social media. It’s been the perfect weather for walking so why not venture into the north of the county and and explore a few photographers’ favourite spots in time for when the sun goes down at the Stiperstones, Hawkstone Park Follies and The Wrekin. (photo credit @emilyjaneharding)
It’s close to CHRISTMAS, yay!
OK, so there is still 50 days to go, but this year we are going large, with bells on! We need something to celebrate after a challenging year and we’re going local for all our food and festivities. Ludlow’s cafés, pubs and restaurants are busy working on Christmas menus and some are already offering bookings for Christmas lunches, afternoon teas and boxes of mince pies. Places to try: The Queens, The Castle Café, The Crown Country Inn at Munslow, The Feathers Hotel and The Poppy Suite and Harry’s Bar at Ludlow Football Stadium as a start.
And if you feel like shopping from the comfort of your armchair this year, why not buy a gift voucher from our local shops? We’re working on a guide of all the local shops offering a voucher scheme, and if you subscribe to to our newsletter, you’ll be the first to know about it.
Ludlow’s Medieval Fayre
While our hugely popular, annual Christmas fayre might not be able to welcome you through the magnificent Ludlow Castle gates this year, they are still promising a truly magical virtual weekend.
Add the date of 28th & 29th November to your diary yo view fabulous performances streamed live from the main stage at Ludlow Castle. In addition, there are a number of wonderful workshops from the castle’s Round Chapel Stage, an opportunity to win wonderful prizes on the Ludlow Medieval Christmas social media platforms all weekend and online shopping from all your favourite stalls.
Irresistible autumnal views of Ludlow
You may not catch all the views yourself, so let our Instagram page do it for you. We find the best images in and around Ludlow to share with you. These are a few of the best seasonal snapshots featuring in our feed.
