Situated in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and just 3 miles from Craven Arms, The Old Smithy is a small bed and breakfast run by Diane and Chris Harris. Its rural, 'in the middle of nowhere' location provides peace, quiet and an opportunity to relax and enjoy the beauty of our small corner of Shropshire. If you are a keen walker, The Old Smithy is ideally located for you. With access to a myriad of public footpaths from our front door, you will be able to explore the lesser known parts of south Shropshire without the crowds and soak up the spectacular views for which the AONB is renowned. The Shropshire Way is very close and whilst we are near to the Long Mynd, it is a section that is not often explored by visitors. Cyclists can also benefit from the house sitting on National Cycle Route 44 as well as being close to part of the West Midlands section of the National Byway. There are also many quiet country lanes (and hills!) as well as a number of circular routes, which vary in length and gradient, starting and finishing in nearby market towns. We can also provide a safe space to store your bicycle whilst you stay with us.

In 2012, we cycled on a tandem from Lands End to John O’Groats. Part of our journey took us through Shropshire and we loved it so much we decided to move here from Ascot, Berkshire. It took us until October 2020 to find The Old Smithy and we moved in during December 2020. Having given up our office jobs in early 2021, we spent 12 months or so renovating and decorating ready to share our beautiful corner of Shropshire with you.

The beauty of this part of Shropshire is that we are almost in the middle of nowhere and for us, that means there is no pub or restaurant within walking distance. The nearest pub providing food is the Powis Arms, which is approximately 2.5 miles away in Lydbury North (around a 5 minute drive). The towns of Bishops Castle, Ludlow and Church Stretton are a 15-20 minute drive away and also have a variety of pubs and restaurants for guests to choose from. Craven Arms boasts the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre and just outside the town is Stokesay Castle. We are also located a 20 minute drive from Ludlow and Church Stretton and 15 minutes from Bishop’s Castle. Clun, with its historical ruined castle, is also a short drive away.