Discover Bishops Castle

Bishops Castle lies on the edge of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape and retains much of its medieval street layout. This brings historic traces in the townscape together with a close connection to the surrounding landscape. For planning your trip, the castle and palace remains at the northern end of town, the Town Hall and the brewing tradition of Three Tuns Brewery are also useful points of reference.

Castle Ruins and Town History

At the northern end of Bishops Castle are surviving earthworks, along with buried and standing structural remains of a motte-and-bailey castle and a bishop's palace. The castle was probably built by the bishops of Hereford between 1085 and 1127. The standing sections of the castle and palace walls are listed Grade II and included in a Scheduled Monument. The different forms of preservation are therefore part of the character of this historic end of town, as is the medieval castle itself.

Town Hall: History and Events

The Town Hall is a listed 18th-century building with Grade II* status. It also houses a Visitor Information Centre and art exhibitions. Other events include monthly flea and farmers' markets, as well as regular craft fairs and book fairs, music events and talks. The programme therefore ranges from information and art to markets and cultural events. Detailed and concise walking leaflets for Bishops Castle are available at the Visitor Information Centre. This lets you choose between different walking guides depending on how much detail you want.

Three Tuns Brewery's Brewing Tradition

Three Tuns Brewery in Bishops Castle is a traditional real ale brewery dating from the 17th century. It brews its beer in a small Victorian tower, while an original Grade II listed brewhouse is used as the fermentation room. The tower and brewhouse therefore serve different purposes: brewing takes place in one, fermentation in the other. This contrast links the brewing tradition to specific buildings and explains part of the production process. For travellers interested in local food and drink culture, the brewery is a distinctive feature of the town.

Walking and Festival Routes

Bishops Castle has “Walkers are Welcome” status, and care is taken to keep the public footpaths in good condition. The Scots Pine Stroll and Scots Pine Stomp routes were developed from the town as part of the Bishop's Castle Walking Festival. The festival is a four-day walking event held in May, with specific dates varying from year to year. The two named routes connect the walking tradition with the festival project and give it a tangible link to the town. If the festival is a key factor in planning your trip, check the dates for your chosen year.

A Museum Activity for Children

The House on Crutches Museum offers children the ten-part “Piggies” trail, featuring ten hidden little pigs. Unlike the named walking routes, this trail is a museum-specific activity expressly aimed at children. If you are travelling with children, you can consider it as a separate type of activity.

Discover more destinations: Ludlow, Easthope, Frodesley, Sutton Maddock, Clun, Wem, Longville, Alberbury

For the wider travel overview: Shropshire.