Into Ludlow we go, and more friends join the fun

Waking up the following morning, I made myself comfortable on the couch with my first cuppa of the day, and gazed out though the french bistro-style doors at the pastoral scene in front of me. “Terry! Come look at this!” I gasped. Right there, almost within reach, was a magnificent pheasant, strutting his stuff underneath the birdfeeder. And it wasn’t a one-off, he came by most mornings to grab his early morning snack.

Today’s morning adventure was a trip into the nearby market town of Ludlow. Most days, the market square is brimming with stalls and canopies, where the local farmers and artists sell their goods.

I was particularly taken with the Welsh sheepskin rugs (and a stunning Icelandic one!) and went back and forth on whether I could jam one into my already over-stuffed suitcase or not. Terry spent an inordinate amount of time at the cheese stall, salivating over the mature Cheddars, and especially the Shropshire Blue. There were also several local produce shops bordering the market, more than one butcher and baker, but alas no proverbial candlestick-maker. Naturally we couldn’t resist buying a bagful of delicacies like scotch eggs, sausage rolls and a couple of pork pies.

After visiting all the stalls and perusing some antique shops and a couple of bookshops, we headed down College Street to St Laurence’s cathedral. Not only its architecture was a sight to see, its history which dates back to the late 11th century when the Normans founded the town, and also a coffee shop was tucked into a corner, with reputedly the best coffee in town. No coffee today though, it was time to make our way down the hill towards the river, to our lunch destination, CSONS Restaurant - named for the four sons in the Crouch family, Reuben, Adam, Ben, and Josh. The menu is eclectic and of local provenance, with dishes inspired by Korean, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern flavors. We didn’t hold back, and enjoyed a fabulous lunch al fresco soaking in the gentle sunshine and remarking on the patterns of light reflected from the River Teme onto the underside of the Dinham Bridge.

A lovely morning and lunch under our belts, we went back to Broomer's Barn for a siesta, all the while awaiting the first of our gaggle of friends to arrive from other parts of the country. First up, Linda and Mark, all the way from Canterbury. We welcomed them with a glass of ice-cold prosecco out on the patio, and had a good catch up of the latest family sagas. Cheers.