We stopped off at the The Porch house for a simple getaway from the hustle and bustle of town life and The Porch house did not disappoint.

We stayed in the 'Blue room' at the rear of the house and were lost in the huge comfortable bed. The room was nicely proportioned and had a separate sitting area and a big bathroom with a very deep bath.

we spent two nights at The porch house which is centrally located for pubs and restaurants. We really enjoyed eating out at The three Tuns on the saturday were i'd recommend the lamb for main course and The castle hotel provided a simple good quality roast on the sunday.

At the Porch house Gill cooked a great 'full english' using fresh local produce. Both gill and her husband were really friendly and knowledgeable of the local area and helped us plan things to do including a Falconry course run by a local guy which was a great way to spend an afternoon in the country!

All in all a great weekend away (shame about the cold and rain!!)

If you’re looking for an unspoiled bit of Britain with real people, real ale and real peace and quiet - Bishops Castle is it!
The Porch House (run by Gill and John) is a great place for a quiet getaway! We were made very welcome and shown to our room up a very impressive staircase (there are self-contained flats on the street level, too). We were in the blue room, comfy bed, view over the back of the property and an large bathroom adjoining it. The accommodation has the off-street parking around the back. Much of the building is original and has a really homey feeling.
John cooks a great breakfast which set us up for a day in the fresh air. In the evenings, we had our pick of several pubs and restaurants in which to mingle with the locals.
All in all, just what we wanted. We’ll be back

My husband & I stayed here in April 2005. We had the front room of the property which was spacious with all that was needed supplied and the little quirks of the ancient building really made the difference. The accommodation was right in the village centre so accessable to everything, although the main street was a little noisy at night but did quieten down later. The breakfast was 100% fresh and delicious and well cooked and the hosts were most accommodating. If you love history as I do you will love this place, there is parking on site and Bishops Castle has lots to offer the temporary visitor. Try the Creme Brulee at the Castle Hotel, it is fabulous, the main street is timeless and there are a fair few book shops for the book lovers like me! All in all if you decide to stay here it will be an unforgettable experience!

The Porch House is a magnificent Elizabethan building brilliantly converted into a B&B. It's in the centre of Bishop's Castle, an unspoilt Shropshire town which makes a good base for walks on the Long Mynd to the east and Offa's Dyke to the west.

We stayed in the 'red room' which has a giant six foot bed (effectively two single beds zipped together). It can also be separated into twin beds. There's an ensuite bathroom and TV. The exposed beams and low ceiling add character to this tastefully decorated room. The room looks out onto the High Street, and the only downside is the scruffy pub, the Crown Vaults, right opposite. It sometimes has live music at weekends, but the pub closes at 11pm.

Across the landing from the red room is the other first floor guest bedroom, the blue room, which has a regular size double bed and a larger bathroom than the red room. Two self catering flats are also available in the same building.

Breakfast is served in the dining room which looks out over the garden. There are yogurts and cereals as well as varied cooked breakfast choices - including kippers. All tasty local produce.

The B&B has its own parking spaces at the rear of the building.

At the time of writing the cost of B&B was £30 per person per night with a £5.50 supplement for Saturday nights. All in all good value for what you get. Helpful owners John & Gill know everyone in town and everything that's going on. They have masses of maps and books of walks.

For those in need of a packed lunch or picnic the Happy Bap sandwich bar right next door does excellent sandwiches and rolls - all prepared from fresh organic ingredients. It opens from 8am weekdays but not Sundays. Recommended local pub in BC is the Three Tuns. It doesn't do food on Sunday nights.

Two walks we would recommend are Wentnor to Bishop's Castle (9 miles) via Long Mynd ridge using the Secret Hills weekend shuttle bus out from BC at 1115; and Clun to Bishop's Castle via Offa's Dyke (10 miles) using the 0915 bus (Mon-Weds) from BC to Clun.