Phil Gillam: Spoiled for choice in stunning Shropshire

There's the way in which it's held in the embrace of the horseshoe bend of the River Severn. There's the medieval street pattern, the little passages that run between the shops, the historic architecture, wonderful churches, cosy pubs, secret corners.

But not only is Shrewsbury beautiful in its own right, it also benefits from being surrounded by stunning countryside and a host of fine attractions.

A short drive away you find gems like Acton Scott Historic Working Farm, Stokesay Castle (quite simply the finest and best preserved fortified medieval manor house in England), and the gorgeous hill country of south Shropshire (including Carding Mill Valley of course).

Then there's Hawkstone Park with its stunning views and mysterious follies, the fascinating Ironbridge Gorge Museums and Wroxeter Roman city.

No wonder PG Wodehouse was moved to describe Shropshire as "the nearest earthly place to paradise".

One of our absolute favourite places to visit is Attingham Park, four miles south-east of our county town, and today in the good hands of the National Trust.

We were there just the other weekend when the deer seemed particularly at ease with the gathering of human beings keen to get a photograph. (By the way, my wife took the picture which accompanies this article).

The deer were graceful and beautiful. The human beings (barring my darling wife, of course) were not.

The walks at Attingham Park are not demanding in that there are no difficult hilly bits to climb (which suits me), but you have the choice of a gentle stroll or a more vigorous stretch, depending on your mood and/or general physical condition!

And the house, of course, is a stunner.

The imposing Attingham Hall was built for the first Lord Berwick in 1785. Both the hall and its lovely parkland were owned by the family for more than 160 years.

As their fortunes rose and fell, they proved themselves to be spenders, savers and saviours, as the National Trust puts it on their website.

The full story of love and neglect is told today in the splendid rooms of this exquisite building.

So if you have the time, enjoy both the walks and the hall.

You'll discover the traces of the family story throughout the mansion, from the flashy but flawed Picture Gallery roof that contributed to the bankruptcy of the second Lord Berwick to the prized paintings of the cattle that the fifth Lord loved so dearly.

You can also admire the contrasting rooms in the 'masculine' and 'feminine' sides of the mansion, you can discover the tranquil space of the Walled Garden - and take some produce home with you from the shop.

The winter walks around Attingham are every bit as enjoyable as a summertime stroll, and when it's frosty or it's been snowing, it truly is a winter wonderland.

A couple of years back, my wife and I went along to the enchanting frost fair held at Attingham and we were so lucky because there was a good thick snow on the ground. Who needs to go to Lapland to feel Christmassy?

Attingham is a very special place.

For a combination of fresh air, exercise, beautiful scenes, a powerful sense of history, and time for reflection, it's hard to think of anywhere better.

Phil Gillam's gentle novel of family life, Shrewsbury Station Just After Six, is available from Pengwern Books in Fish Street, Shrewsbury, and from amazon.co.uk