🌳 9 Self-catering Lodges | 🛌 Sleeps 2 – 6 | 👙 Hot Tubs | 🐟 Riverside Location | Tried & Tested | 🐶 Dog-Friendly | Min 2 night stay
Why we love Riverside Cabins for a weekend
“If total chill out is top of your agenda, you won’t be disappointed when you arrive at Riverside Cabins in Shrewsbury. These award-winning lodges with hot tubs sit in seemingly endless greenery, which rolls on for 10 lush acres from the site entrance to its finish. Plus, all come wrapped in a blanket of bird song that fills the air and the treetops in the nearby forest. Sublime.”
Tucked away down a ribbony country lane, 20 mins’ drive from Shrewsbury, is a collection of 9 riverside log cabins built specifically for you to fall into and not move for an entire weekend, whether you stay here as a couple – or you fly solo (like our Editor-in-Chief did).
Opened in 2020, the lodges sit in 10 acres of private Shropshire grounds with the River Perry flowing gently along the perimeter. It’s hard not to be impressed as you open the site entrance gate and drive yourself in: the grounds here are immaculate, clearly the pride, joy and hard work of owner, Anthony, and his team. As are the lodges themselves, lovingly built, all dog-friendly and named after the owner’s labradors.
The placement of the lodges couldn’t be more idyllic, either. Each lodge comes rooted into the scenic Shropshire tranquility, with enough space between all 9 to ensure your stay feels yours – and yours alone.
5 of the lodges sit on the banks of the river, as it tumbles past bringing the soothing sound of water onto your wooden decking. The remaining 4 sit nearby, in enviable spots in or near the woodland with its towering pine trees and surround-sound bird song.
Every cabin has its own spot for 1 car in the neatly arranged gravel parking bays, so you can simply roll up, unload and follow the stone footpath to your door. There are no muddy tracks to traverse or slippy slopes to worry about; this is rural luxury with capital convenience.
The Lodges and Cabins
Like the grounds, the insides of these Shropshire lodges have been carefully manicured to be practical, comfortable and luxurious.
Sleeping 2 – 4: The smaller lodges (or cabin pods as the owner calls them) that sleep 2 – 4 people (Reuben, Babar, Doris, Milo, and Winston), are as neat and tidy as a pin; their compact features ensure you have enough room to enjoy your stay whilst also feeling cosily cocooned from the outside world.
There’s either a downy double or masterly king-size bed with an accompanying fold-down twin bunk bed to sink into. And a clever space-saving galley kitchenette to cook up something delicious. There’s also a separate toilet and shower room, with an incredible modern multi-function shower.
Thick curtains block out any light from the front and bi-fold glass doors and a beautiful harem-style ceiling awning gives each cabin a decadent Bedouin feel – which we absolutely loved. Babar, Milo and Winston, also have their own private hot tub overlooking the river.
Sleeping up to 6: The bigger cabins are called boutique lodges and sleep up to 6 people (Roscoe, Snowy, Gloria and Severn). All are similarly stylishly appointed but come with 3 separate bedrooms (one ensuite), an extra bathroom, a galley kitchen with breakfast bar and an open-plan living area. All the larger lodges also have a bath and hot tubs on private decking.
Should you want a hot tub dip but are staying in the only cabins without one (Reuben and Doris), don’t worry. There’s a hot tub set up in the woods for you to hire out. Should you want a different kind of splash about, you can borrow one of the on-site SUPs or kayaks and take to the river. There are also e-bikes for you to hire, if you’re keen to explore the gorgeous Shropshire countryside (which we thoroughly recommend you do).
But even without a tub, you don’t miss out on the real joy of a stay at Riverside Cabins, which is, quite simply, its biome of wildlife. Draw up a chair on your covered decking, either sheltered from the sun or the rain, and stop a while:
Whether it’s the splash of an otter your hear or the staccato peeps of a kingfisher, you will easily lose hours just listening to the sounds of the river, the woods and the creatures that call them both home.
The Area
Shropshire as a weekend destination has got it going on! If you fancy rewilding yourself in amongst the beautiful countryside, you can: lace up your walking boots and hit the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For walking inspiration, Shropshire’s Great Outdoors provide loads of routes near to Riverside Cabins. Including historical walks, family-friendly walks, circular walks, and walks along the Offa’s Dyke Path. For those who crave a little adventure, you can easily enjoying mountain biking in Shropshire and go canoeing with Canoe UK.
Beyond the great outdoors, there’s plenty to see and do on a cultural and historical front. There are castles and abbeys on your doorstep (we love Ludlow Castle and Wenlock Priory). There are plenty of National Trust properties to saunter around (from Attingham Park to Cronkhill Villa). And the world’s first iron bridge over the River Severn isn’t too far away.
For those who like pretty towns to discover, the medieval market town of Shewsbury is a real undiscovered gem with over 660 listed buildings most of which are half-timber Tudor houses. And the lively market town of Oswestry is also worth a detour, famed for its independent shops and friendly shopkeepers.
You won’t be stuck for food either at Riverside Cabins. Instead of cooking, head out to the New Inn at Baschurch, a traditional village pub just a few minutes away, or The Dickin Arms, a popular pub and restaurant that serves up some delicious grub, including tapas, and is only 15 minutes away from Riverside Cabins.
The Essentials
- From £148pn, minimum no of nights: 2
- Recognised in the Guardian’s top 30 cottages and campsites
- 9 luxury log cabins in Shropshire sleeping between 2 – 6
- Under-floor heating, kitchen with a fridge and a hob
- Riverside launch area for paddle boarding; natural plunge pool for wild swimming; giant fire pit in woods
- Dogs welcome in Gloria, Seven, Snowy and Roscoe woodland lodges, and Milo, Doris and Winston riverside cabins
- Private hot tubs in Gloria, Snowy, Roscoe and Seven lodges, and Babar, Milo and Winston
- Free WiFi
- Complimentary tea and coffee, and a BBQ/firepit (coals are not provided but are available to buy, subject to availability)
- Welcome, bbq, and breakfast hampers can be added to your stay
- Electric car charging point on site
- Bolt-on experiences, such as yoga and wine tasting, available
- Helpful, friendly team happy to help with local sight-seeing suggestions
- Great pub and local farm shop is a 5 minute drive
- 20 mins’ drive from the pretty market town of Shrewsbury
- Min stay 2 nights, 3 in August
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