The farm, the grounds & the wider South Shropshire countryside
Everything you'll want to know about the grounds at Reaside, and how to make the most of the Shropshire countryside on your doorstep.
100 acres, all around you
Reaside is a working farm bordered by the River Rea on three sides, with two kilometres of riverbank that guests are free to explore. We farm it gently, favouring species-rich hay meadows and wide hedges bordered with wildflower margins. This is all complemented with extensive tree planting to support the wildlife you'll spot on your walks.
A place to slow right down
The heated outdoor pool is shared by guests from both cottages and is usually open from mid-May to mid-September, with sun loungers, a pergola and the loggia nearby for shade. Use of the pool is unsupervised, and all facilities are used at your own risk.
Beyond the pool, wander the formal gardens and wildlife pond, or find a spot on one of the garden benches with a book. On a wet day, our games room is just the thing: underfloor heated, with a large smart TV, games console, and a good stack of puzzles, games and DVDs.
Kingfishers, dippers and a good pair of boots
The river gives the farm its rhythm. Look out for kingfishers and dippers along the water, and buzzards and red kites overhead. In the fields you may see hares and meet the Jacob sheep as well as the horses and donkeys. Closer to the cottages there are the peacocks who wander freely through the gardens.
A closer look
Two historic trails - right here
The Farm sits directly on two of Shropshire's best-loved waymarked routes. The Simon Evans Way crosses through the middle of Reaside and the Jack Mytton Way marks the Western edge of the farm.
The Simon Evans Way
This 22km figure-of-eight walk from Cleobury Mortimer retraces the rural postal round walked daily by postman Simon Evans between 1926 and 1935, including the very stretch that passes beside Reaside Farm, over the footbridge and around our pond. Evans, a WWI veteran with a gift for words, was encouraged by his tutor at Ruskin College to write, and went on to publish five books evocatively describing the Shropshire countryside and characters he met on his round.
The Southern (10km) and Northern (12km) sections meet at Detton, and waymarked posts (look for the figure of a walking postman) guide you the whole way. The route is maintained by the Cleobury Mortimer Footpath Association, whose website (cmfa.co.uk) has full route notes and even a geological guide to what you'll see underfoot.
Read more about Simon Evans and his connection to the farm →
The Jack Mytton Way
Shropshire's long-distance waymarked bridleway for walkers, cyclists and horse riders is named after John “Mad Jack” Mytton (1796–1834), the spectacularly eccentric Regency squire of Halston Hall. Mad Jack is notorious for riding his horse up a hotel staircase, hunting duck in his nightshirt and quandering the family fortune.
Its southern leg (Route 8, Wheathill to Cleobury Mortimer) passes Bank Top Farm, Musbatch Farm and Titford Bridge, all within easy reach of the cottages. Look out for the leaping horse waymark as you explore.
Worth the short drive
Cleobury Mortimer 10 minutes
Our nearest town, known for the twisted spire of its 12th-century St. Mary's Church. It has a Co-op supermarket with petrol and EV charging, plus a good choice of pubs and restaurants, and a farmers' market on the third Saturday of the month.
Tenbury Wells 11 miles
A small town on the fertile banks of the River Teme, said to have been called "my little Town in the Orchard" by Queen Victoria, with independent shops selling local produce.
Bewdley 10 miles
Named from the French "Beau Lieu", or beautiful place, and said to be the most perfect small Georgian town in Worcestershire, overlooking the River Severn with galleries and antique shops.
Bridgnorth 12 miles
One of Shropshire's most picturesque market towns, split into High Town and Low Town by the River Severn and linked by England's steepest funicular railway.
Ludlow 13 miles
Often called the food and drink capital of the Marches, with a culinary reputation stretching back to medieval times as a major trading centre.
Make the most of South Shropshire
Wyre Forest 7 miles
One of Britain's largest remaining ancient forests, with a treetop challenge course and a population of beavers introduced in 2024.
Clee Hills 7 miles
Shropshire's highest point, with panoramic views to the Welsh mountains and the Malverns, historic mining sites and distinctive radar installations.
Hobsons Brewery 4 miles
A family brewery running regular tours, where you can learn first-hand from the brewers about each stage of the process.
Severn Valley Railway 8 miles
A heritage railway running year-round through 16 miles of beautiful Worcestershire and Shropshire countryside.
Stokesay Castle 19 miles
One of the finest examples of a fortified medieval manor house in Britain.
West Midlands Safari Park 12 miles
A 200-acre park home to over 165 exotic species, including elephant, rhino, lion and tiger.