FREE MAPS What to see, do & where to stay 2019 OSWESTRY Where Shropshire meets Wales Surprising - Historic - Friendly P L A C T H E R O I F B • • 1893 1918 W I N L E F W www.borderland-breaks.co.uk OswestryTourism R E D O Do you like surprises? Then visit Oswestry... This small border town on the edge of Shropshire and the brink of Wales may not be familiar to you and certainly, many of the visitors that arrive here say: What a surprise Oswestry is – there is so much to see and explore. We’ll have to come back again. Information at Visitor & Exhibition So let us surprise you and tempt you to visit. Take a look through our Centre brochure and we hope it will make you want to visit Oswestry – 2 Church Terrace where Shropshire meets Wales. Oswestry SY11 2TE Firstly, take a spectacular, dramatic and What’s on? Let us entertain you. We say 01691 662753 mysterious 3000 year old hill fort that was Oswestry is ‘Fest Fabulous’ because there are the beginning of Oswestry and add a so many different events and the variety is Photo thriving town that still has a weekly market. impressive. Don’t miss the free town centre Reference: There’s a lively café culture which, combined events which are in the streets and our Front cover: with the eclectic mix of small independent beautiful park. The Hot Air Balloon Carnival, Hot air balloon over shops, entices visitors from miles around. Food and Drink Festival and Christmas Live Oswestry Town Then scatter a few castles around; sprinkle are the main happenings there. How about This page: The Knife in canals, meres, mosses and the World music and arts? Looking for a great family Angel at British Heritage site of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct day out or want to be taken back in time? Ironworks Opposite: Meet our and Canal then you will begin to get that Check the Events Calendar or online events Town Crier distinctive border feeling. page so you don’t miss your favourite. Ready to be surprised? Why not book now? Contents 4 Oswestry Town 32 Let’s bring history alive 8 Oswestry Town Council 34 Let’s go out - events calendar 10 Let’s explore Oswestry & 37 Let’s find things to do - the Borderlands attractions 26 Let’s have fun - 43 Let’s eat, drink & sleep - Surprising Oswestry – enjoy family time food, drink and where to stay discovering our market town 28 Let us entertain you - 52 Area Map and the Welsh Borderlands. arts & festivals 54 Oswestry town map & shopping 2 www.borderland-breaks.co.uk Follow us @OswestryTourism Oswestry Town Market Cae Glas Park Visitor & Exhibition Centre Hot Air Balloon Carnival Food & Drink Festival Wilfred Owen Memorial Friendly Oswestry “What a friendly town” is an often heard comment from visitors as they tootle around Oswestry’s bustling streets. And it’s true! P L A C T H E R O Living here, it’s easy to take for granted displays. Take a moment or two to visit the I F B • • what a traditional and very friendly market statue of Wilfred Owen the poet. He was town this is. Visit on market days to enjoy born in Oswestry and the life size bronze 1893 1918 W the bargains and then discover the many statue remembers both the poet and the I N L E F W R E D O independent shops around town. Browse legacy of his poetry. for antiques and arts, indulge your inner masterchef, be a bookworm or go on a The evening scene in Oswestry can be discovery of local flavours in our speciality as lively or as laid back as you wish. Our food shops. restaurants celebrate all the wonderful local produce and the town pubs are There is nothing better after all that a great place to meet up and try a shopping than to take a break and taste from the nearby artisan brewery enjoy Oswestry’s café culture. Again, it and distillery. is the independent coffee, tea shops, pubs and restaurants that offer a special deliciousness and what could be nicer than an ice cream in the park? Do take a walk in Cae Glas Park. You can Browsing – the enjoy ice creams and picnics all summer perfect way to describe Photo long and a lovely way to spend a sunny Reference: Sunday afternoon is to come along to one wandering around town Above: of the free concerts. Many of the town Market day discovering our mix of Right: Oswestry events focus on the park and you won’t Visitor & want to miss the dazzling summer floral independent and Exhibition Centre interesting shops. 4 www.borderland-breaks.co.uk Follow us @OswestryTourism Friendly Oswestry Friendly Old Oswestry Hill Fort Oswald’s Well St Oswald’s Church Cambrian Heritage Railway Oswestry Town Museum Old Racecourse Old Oswestry begins the story of the town. Jack Mytton was a local squire who enjoyed This 3000 year old hill fort is considered a fairly wild lifestyle and who probably to be one of the finest in the country and lost more than a little of his inheritance legend even has Queen Guinevere born when up at the old racecourse. Imagine here. The ramparts have softened over their exploits when you visit the Cambrian time and are now a haven for local plants Railway Museum or take a walk on the Old and wildlife. Take a walk to the top and Racecourse. enjoy views over Oswestry Town and the Shropshire plains. King Oswald, Wilfred Owen, Henry Walford Davies and Barbara Pym all have links to The town is said to be named after King and the town and you can find out more about Saint, Oswald. Visit the Church of St. Oswald them by visiting Oswestry Visitor and Oswestry Visitor and Exhibition Centre & Exhibition Centre and the railway and and you will be in one of oldest parts of the town museums. town. The Visitor and Exhibition Centre, the original Oswestry School building, enjoys a changing programme of exhibitions by Don't miss... local crafts people and artists and is home to the Information Centre – the perfect Meeting our local guides and place to find out what’s on and where to discovering Oswestry’s history on a stay. Walk on a little further and you will guided walk round town come to Oswald’s Well. Said to be where a large raven dropped Oswald’s arm after he The hot air balloons taking off from died at the Battle of Maserfield, it is now the Cae Glas Park at the Hot Air Balloon Photo source of pure spring water. Carnival on August Bank Holiday Reference: Above: A snowy day Oswestry has quite a few famous sons Sampling locally made gin and ales on Old Oswestry and more local tastes and flavours at Opposite clockwise and daughters, some more eccentric than from top left: others. Thomas Savin and ‘Mad’ Jack Mytton The Food and Drink Festival in July Visit Oswestry, were two who hit the headlines. Thomas The Farmer’s Statue, Savin brought the railways to Oswestry and Looking for bargains on market days The Broadwalk, and meeting our friendly shop keepers Cambrian was a grocer, colliery owner, gunpowder Heritage Railway enthusiast and later mayor of Oswestry. 6 www.borderland-breaks.co.uk Follow us @OswestryTourism Advertorial: Oswestry Town Council - www.oswestry-tc.gov.uk Council Town Oswestry Advertorial: Something quite different but equally Oswestry enjoyable is the Youth Music Festival in February. It attracts almost 1000 young musicians and the finale concert features Town the very best of these and is free. As a council we are especially proud of award winning Cae Glas Park. Walk Council through the memorial gates, past the stunning summer flowers and the 2018 Heart of recently installed statue of war poet, Wilfred Owen into the park where England in Bloom you can find traditional games such 14th Consecutive as bowling, tennis and crazy golf and a children’s play area. The Victorian Gold Medal bandstand is the focus of free music events throughout the summer. There is a great pride, tradition and Oswestry is fast becoming known for Oswestry Visitor & Exhibition Centre is a passion about Oswestry and Oswestry the events that are happening all year landmark building in the town; built in Town Council celebrates this in their and the council supports many of them. 1407, it was the second oldest grammar day to day role within the town. As The first Hot Air Balloon Carnival took school in the country. The building is now a a council, Oswestry believes that by off in 2018 and is set to return in August Oswestry Town Council magnet for visitors looking for information supporting many of the community 2019. In July, the town streets host the Sponsored Events 2019 and to see its arts and craft exhibitions and activities and attractions throughout the free and tasty Food and Drink Festival sales. Visit the Town Museum too, housed year, the vibrancy of the town will be and December wouldn’t be so special Youth Music Festival Apple Day in the impressive Guild Hall, it celebrates enhanced and visitors and locals alike without Christmas Live when Oswestry’s 27th Feb – 2nd March 12th October Oswestry and its people. Finale Concert 2nd March will enjoy being in Oswestry and will streets are transformed into a festival of Bonfire Night want to return. Year on year the Council’s fairground rides, foodie feasts, live music Good Friday Firework Display efforts are recognised, winning Council all topped off with a firework finale.