Christmas Craft Weekend in the Shropshire Hills

Longmynd Hotel

3 nights at an HF Country House

2 Itineraries available

Full Board

70kg CO2 details

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Escape to the picturesque Shropshire Hills for a festive weekend filled with creativity, relaxation, and seasonal charm. This Christmas Craft Weekend offers the perfect opportunity to unwind in a countryside setting while indulging in a variety of Christmas-themed craft activities. For 2026 enjoy festive lino printing and wreath making, and for 2027, wreath making and Christmas calligraphy in morning or afternoon workshops led by an experienced tutor. And when you’re not busy getting creative, there’s free time to explore the beautiful countryside surroundings on self-guided walks.

Accommodation

HF Country House
For rural calm in the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, the location of this characterful country house is hard to top. Set in a wooded hillside just a short stroll from the market town of Church Stretton (nicknamed Little Switzerland for its picturesque landscape), you’ll be within walking or driving distance of the Stiperstones, Caer Caradoc, Ironbridge Valley of Invention, and the historic towns of Ludlow and Shrewsbury. And then, of course, there’s the Long Mynd itself – an area of registered common land that has been cared for by a group of farmers (the self-named commoners) who have grazed sheep and ponies here for generations.
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What You’ll Love

  • Immersing yourself in the joy of crafting your own Christmas decorations 
  • Benefiting from the knowledge and skills of local artisans who will guide you through each craft activity 
  • Sharing inspiration and ideas with fellow crafters 
  • Having a dedicated workspace for the duration of your stay 
  • Getting into the festive spirit with like-minded guests 

What's Included

  • Comfortable en-suite accommodation in our country house

  • Cream tea on arrival day

  • Cooked or continental breakfast every morning

  • Daily packed lunches

  • Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee

  • Expert tuition and all necessary equipment/materials for the given craft workshops

  • Easy-to-follow routes, maps, and information available in our Discovery Point if you want to explore independently


Reviews


Itinerary

Itinerary

Check-in at the hotel is available from 16:00. If you are a member you can arrive at the house from 14:00. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea at 16:30 and meet other guests.

Enjoy an introduction to lino printing where you will learn carving techniques. Following a demonstration you’ll have the opportunity to practise with tools and materials to get a feel for the technique, before moving on to exploring designs – will yours be a wintery scene, a Christmas tree, a robin or maybe decorations? Then comes the exciting part; you’ll start carefully carving out your design before you begin rolling and printing with ink. Once you are happy with the result, cards will be printed and laid out to dry. You can expect to create a set of five Christmas card prints (which you can then make into further cards!) and to come away with an understanding of basic lino printing skills. No experience is necessary as there will be a step-by-step demonstration of each stage.  

You will be allocated a morning or afternoon 2-3 hrs workshop session with our festive craft tutor, the very creative Becky from Meraki Wenlock Craft Studio in nearby Much Wenlock. The rest of your time is free for you to do as you please. Perhaps explore the local area, or if you prefer, you could visit our dedicated Discovery Point to enjoy one of our self-guided walks.    

Spend time making your very own Christmas wreath. All the materials, equipment and tuition will be provided for you to make a festive Christmas wreath using foliage, dried flowers and seed heads. Come away with a beautiful wreath that will be much admired by friends and neighbours when it graces your front door! No experience is necessary as there will be a step-by-step demonstration of each stage.  

You will be allocated a morning or afternoon 2-3 hrs workshop session with our festive craft tutor, Bea from much-loved local Church Stretton florist John R Thomas. The rest of your time is free for you to do as you please. Perhaps explore the local area, or if you prefer, you could visit our dedicated Discovery Point to enjoy one of our self-guided walks.    

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.

Itinerary 2027

Check-in at the hotel is available from 16:00. If you are a member you can arrive at the house from 14:00. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea at 16:30 and meet other guests.

Spend time making your very own Christmas wreath. All the materials equipment and tuition will be provided for you to make a festive Christmas wreath using foliage, dried flowers and seed heads. Come away with a beautiful wreath that will be much admired by friends and neighbours when it graces your front door! No experience is necessary as there will be a step-by-step demonstration of each stage.  

You will be allocated a morning or afternoon 2-3 hrs workshop session with our festive craft tutor, Bea from much-loved local Church Stretton florist John R Thomas. The rest of your time is free for you to do as you please. Perhaps explore the local area, or if you prefer, you could visit our dedicated Discovery Point to enjoy one of our self-guided walks.    

Enjoy a blissful few hours of mindful lettering as you reconnect with the art of writing. In this workshop your tutor will explore the anatomy of letters with you, delving into the structure of typography. Through guided exercises, you’ll learn how strokes of the pen can create a visual impact on the page. Your tutor will help you to discover a signature flow and you’ll find out how to transform a simple sentence into a cohesive work of art that you can use across many aspects of writing in everyday life – proving especially useful at Christmas when writing greetings or name place cards. Whether you are a total beginner or a seasoned creative, this session offers a calm, focused space to rediscover the joy of the written word. No experience is necessary as there will be a step-by-step demonstration of each stage.  

You will be allocated a morning or afternoon 2-3 hrs workshop session with our festive craft tutor, the very creative Becky from Meraki Wenlock Craft Studio in nearby Much Wenlock. The rest of your time is free for you to do as you please. Perhaps explore the local area, or if you prefer, you could visit our dedicated Discovery Point to enjoy one of our self-guided walks.  

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.

Accommodation

Longmynd Hotel

For rural calm in the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, the location of this characterful country house is hard to top. Set in a wooded hillside just a short stroll from the market town of Church Stretton (nicknamed Little Switzerland for its picturesque landscape), you’ll be within walking or driving distance of the Stiperstones, Caer Caradoc, Ironbridge Valley of Invention, and the historic towns of Ludlow and Shrewsbury. And then, of course, there’s the Long Mynd itself – an area of registered common land that has been cared for by a group of farmers (the self-named commoners) who have grazed sheep and ponies here for generations.

A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out). 

Evening entertainment

While evening entertainment varies from house to house, HF Holidays Inter-House Quiz night held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided waking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.

Walks talks 
Our HF Holidays walk leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on guided walking holiday arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s guided walks (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.  

The walking day
Prior to setting off on guided walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house. 

You are welcome to check in from 4pm at the earliest. HF Members can check in earlier, from 2pm. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team. Check out 10am.

•  56 well-appointed guest rooms  •  Exclusive occupancy: 89 guests minimum  •  Check in from 4:00pm • For members check in from 2:00pm •  Free Wi-Fi  •  Free on-site parking  •  Boot room and drying room  •  2 travel cots & 2 high chairs  •  Discovery Point offering a wide range of local area maps, route guides, and information for self-guided walks  •  Books and games to borrow  •  Licensed bar  •  Lounges  •  Garden  •  Well-behaved dogs welcome on self-guided holidays  •  Electric vehicle charging point - Please note, you will need to bring your own cables to use this EV charging point Visit England - Guest Accommodation

Seasonal dining, tailored for you

Our team of skilled chefs design our dinner menus to showcase the best of each season, from warming winter comfort food to vibrant summer dishes, including vegetarian, vegan  and high-protein options. We also source fruit and vegetables within a  40-mile radius of each house, open every break with a Chef’s Special menu inspired by dishes and flavours of the local area, and are able to adapt dishes to suit special dietary requirements.

Welcome Cream Tea

What better way to start your stay than with a cream tea, served fresh on arrival to make you feel instantly at home.  A quintessentially English tradition, our scones are baked in-house and served with preserves and clotted cream, providing the perfect opportunity to meet fellow walkers.

A hearty breakfast to start the day

Start the day with a freshly-prepared cooked breakfast  and a wide choice from our continental buffet, including  hot drinks, juices and fresh fruit. Our team offer a quick  and friendly service, leaving you fuelled and ready for your day’s adventures.

Our famous picnic lunch

Our personalised picnic lunches are perfect for a day out walking, ready to enjoy when hunger strikes. Choose from a large selection of fresh sandwiches and salads, freshly baked cakes and snacks, including the ever-popular Freddos chocolate bar! Everything is designed to fit neatly into your rucksack, and all of the packaging we provide is recyclable or compostable.

3-course evening meals

Our à la carte evening menus feature a wide choice of starters, mains, and desserts, made with seasonal ingredients and, wherever possible, herbs and vegetables from our own gardens. Shared around sociable tables, dinners are relaxed occasions, with drinks available to order at the table or from the bar, and a traditional Sunday roast to round off the week.

Since 2022, the £3 million invested so far has established a flagship HF property. A full upgrade of all rooms is expected to be complete by April 2027 with 65% of guest rooms upgraded. Designed with your comfort in mind, Longmynd Hotel has 56 well-appointed guest rooms available in two categories: Classic and Premium. 

Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV. 

Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

We love: For more privacy, the lodges have their own terrace. 

The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply.  

Room supplements

Premium single Premium double/twin Choose your room
£20 pppn £20 pppn £30 per room

 

*Views and layout reflect each properties unique character and location 

For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Longmynd Hotel

Getting here

Address

Longmynd Hotel
Cunnery Road
Church Stretton
Shropshire SY6 6AG

Tel: +44 (0)1694 722244

By train

The nearest station is Church Stretton.  Although Longmynd Hotel is less than a mile from the station, it is at the top of a steep hill and there is no taxi rank at the station. Taxis are in extremely limited supply in the Church Stretton area and drivers usually come from further afield which is reflected in fares.

Shrewsbury has more choice of trains, and you can take a taxi directly to the house from the station (see below).    

Check National Rail for train times and routes.

By taxi

From Shrewsbury, it’s a 15-mile journey taking 30 to 40 minutes.

Single journeys are approx £45 but please contact Shropshire Cars directly for confirmation.

You can pre-book a taxi from our recommended Shrewsbury based company, Shropshire Cars*. We recommend booking your taxi, including your return journey if needed, at least seven days in advance by contacting via WhatsApp or using their App:

WhatsApp: 07379338526

APP STORE:

https://apps.apple.com/app/shropshire-cars/id6578451220

and

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shropshirecars.passengerapp

By car

There’s free car parking at Longmynd Hotel if you decide to drive. 

Follow the A49 to Church Stretton. At the traffic lights turn off into town, then at the first junction turn left onto the High Street. Go straight over the mini-roundabout, and then take the next right into Cunnery Road. Follow the road up the steep hill to Longmynd Hotel.

By air

The nearest airport is Manchester International Airport. 

Trains take about two hours, with a change in Crewe. 

You can also fly into London Heathrow airport, but it’ll take at least 4 hours to reach Shrewsbury by train.

National Rail has up-to-date routes and train times.

More Information

Packing list - Christmas Craft Weekend

The UK has a famously unpredictable climate so it's best to be prepared for weather that’s sunny one minute and raining the next. To make it easier, here’s a list of items you should consider packing.

Essentials
For self-guided walking should you choose:

  • Suitable footwear such as waterproof walking boots that provide ankle support and good grip 
  • Waterproof and windproof jacket
  • Comfortable clothing (jeans & waterproof capes are not suitable) 
  • Mid-layer(s) to keep you warm. Fleeces make a good choice
  • Waterproof overtrousers 
  • Gloves and a warm hat
  • Rucksack with waterproof liner
  • Flask for hot drinks  
  • Water bottle (at least 1 litre capacity) 

Recommended
For crafting:

  • Battery powered craft lamp
  • Closed toe shoes

For self-guided walking should you choose:

  • Walking poles are useful, particularly for descents
  • Insect repellent
  • Sunglasses
  • Camera

Carbon Footprint - 70kg CO2

We see it as our responsibility to minimise our emissions, not just for this year but every year to come. Our work with sustainability experts, ecollective, has enabled us to measure our carbon footprint and create a strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of our product by 5% each year. Our ambition is to be net zero by 2040 – earlier if we can.

Learn more

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Dates & availability

Christmas Craft Weekend in the Shropshire Hills

Members save an additional £30 on this booking and get a range of other exclusive benefits. You can join during booking process. Read more about membership
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Trusted British co-operative

We are proud to be Britain’s only walking holiday co-operative. Led by almost 40,000 members, offering hundreds of holidays across the UK and overseas, with all surplus being reinvested back into our Society.

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Flexible choice of guided walks

Experienced volunteer HF Leaders guide every walk at our UK country houses, offering up to three daily options. Making it easy to find a holiday to suit your ability, and with the flexibility to switch grades each walking day.

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Become an HF Member to benefit from our Price Pledge. Secure your first choice of holiday early, and if the cost drops after you book, we will automatically refund the difference (exc. travel agent & group bookings).

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Book with confidence

If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday

If we cancel your holiday, we honour all refund requests 

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Travel with confidence

We know that peace of mind is priceless, so we’ll always go above and beyond to meet – and exceed – expectations

If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday

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HF Holidays

A British heritage brand with 111 years of experience

Offering a choice of over 260 itineraries in nearly 40 countries

Run as a co-operative with 40,000-plus members

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