The Castle Hotel

On the hilltop site of a defensive medieval castle, a mile from the Welsh border, this good-value hotel is a sister to Pen-Y-Dyffryn (see entry), with its own devoted following. The views from this vantage are spectacular, best enjoyed with a glass of something under the pergola. Bedrooms, from single to family-size, are comfortable, attractive and unpretentious. A master room has an in-room bath, a rainstorm shower, views over the town towards the Clun valley. ‘It is the perfect place to stay to explore the olde worlde feel of one of the most interesting towns in Shropshire,’ wrote one reader. Others had ‘a thoroughly enjoyable stay’ in the self-catering Elephant Gate House, former stables used to house circus elephants in WW2. Dogs stay free and are made very welcome; elephants might incur a charge. A wide-ranging menu for all tastes includes dishes such as pan-fried seabass with pea purée, crab croquette and braised fennel, alongside pub classics. ‘The dinner was delicious and we loved the cosy dining room.’ ‘The ambiance was embracing, and the service was friendly and helpful.’ (Rev John Powell, C L Hodgkin, and others)