Catherine Lorimer's Guide to Life
Fifty something, strong minded independent woman who lives with a black Labrador called Pippa. I have lived a full life, been married, divorced, travelled with others and alone, been to concerts and festivals alone. I have run a marathon, owned and run my own small holding and separate dog walking business, I ride horses and currently own a rare breed Fell pony called Merlin. I have taken part in dressage, show jumping, cross country and long distance rides. I have been on a South African Wildlife Safari, riding horses amongst zebras and giraffe. I have worked for a Royal College, a Castle on a small country estate, in book production and publishing, for Italian and Chinese companies.
I started my podcast to help me survive divorce, it has taken me on an incredible journey and I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone, doing activities the stories of which are available for you to listen to. I have met some incredible individuals along the way, real people who have overcome lots of different life challenges.
I have found myself having coffee with Paula Radcliff in Manchester, I have met Chris Evans, been interviewed by him on Virgin Radio, I have met the inspirational Richard Branson, sat next to the lovely Jake Quickendon at a charity event and asked him if he was on Instagram. I have worked on my self development, physical fitness and mental health, having suffered from social anxiety and had a massive lack of self confidence and I talk about this in my podcasts. By pushing myself to do all the things I talk about in my podcast, I have built up resilience. I am now mentally strong enough to date and my podcasts are currently on this topic. There are interviews with some truly inspiring real people to have a listen to, real life role models, who have overcome real life situations which you can listen to for advice and encouragement to help you through life.
Catherine Lorimer's Guide to Life
Benthall Hall and Ironbridge with Pippa
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Find out about our trip and what the Piptastic score was.
Pippa and I headed to Shropshire for the afternoon in early June, I haven’t been out in Shropshire for a while and one thing was evident from the outset, I was reminded just how friendly the people were from the man with the leaf blower in the car park helping me with the ticket machine and the same at the National Trust car park, to the people on the street who said hello and took the time to read Pippa’s harness and mention her, which is the first time that has happened. I spent a really enjoyable time there and I was reminded why I enjoyed living so much on the Cheshire / Shropshire border. In addition to which it has some really stunning landscapes well worth seeing. Pippa enjoyed her day as well and despite sleeping all the way home is now snoring next to me on the sofa as I type. Shropshire is definitely on my list for places I might end of living in.
I had been to Iron Bridge a couple of times before but that was many years ago, it is an impressive structure erected in 1779. I didn’t go to any of the museums, I have been to them before, it is an industrial village and you can tell that by the type of houses and buildings that are round about. If you wanted to take your dog and go to any museums you would need to check whether they allowed dogs in. I just wanted to go for a stroll about see what was available for dogs in terms of open place to walk, water to splash in, shops that allow dogs in, pubs snd cafes that allow dogs and doggy ice-cream availability.. Pippa and I parked in the convenient cark park, the short stay one £3 for 3 hours, value car parking. There were also long stay car parks if you wanted to be there all day. If you are a National Trust Member feeling very active and wanted to park at Benthall hall for free, you can do a walk to Iron Bridge from there and back which is about 3 -4 miles.
Pippa and I headed out along the main street which runs alongside a river and climbs as you head towards the bridge, which is an impressive structure, the first Iron Bridge to be built in England. Admiring the terraced gardens and beautiful rose gardens on the opposite side of the road. You can walk over then bridge for free and on the other side of the bridge there are some lovely houses to look at and a Toll House where you can buy tickets for various things. I also found a wooded area called Benthall Edge woodland and it is from there that you can walk over to Benthall house, which looks like it is a steepish climb starting at the bottom of some steep steps. Pippa and I enjoyed a wander about the well constructed footpath along the edge of the woodland and she was able to run about doing one of her favourite pastimes chasing squirrels.
We then headed back over the bridge and across to the other side, ignoring the smell of fish and chips coming from some one eating them on the bridge, the chip shop was just around the corner. We had a look around the shops there are a variety of little gift ship and cafes and even a second hand bookshop where you can pick up a copy of A Shropshire Lad by b A E Housman if you felt inclined. Most of the shops had a dogs welcome sign in the window, even the Christmas decoration shop, however there were lots of ornaments Pippa tail height and I didn’t head into this one looking for an Iron Bridge Christmas Decoration for fear that she might destroy the display. There were a couple of pubs with well behaved dogs welcome signs and a café that said dogs allowed in the courtyard at the back so there was a few places to eat and you could order an ice cream and a doggy ice cream from a hatch on the street of one shop.
One the way back to the car park I took Pippa down to meet the ducks merrily swimming about on the river seven and Pippa dipped her paws in the river, she even seemed to be thinking about going in for a swim, discouraged only by myself who still had hold of her lead and as appealing as wild swimming might be, this was not the time or place to start. We then headed back to the car and onto Benthall Hall. The house and gardens were closed, they don’t allow dogs anyway but the grounds were open and there is a choice of two walks a long and a short one. I opted for the long one which is also a series of public footpaths and part of the Shropshire Way in places so I left her off the lead, to have a run about on these sections. It was a really enjoyable walk, we saw the house from the outside, with lime rendered walls in places and the rhododendrons looked lovely. I was informed by the man on the car park gate that the Orchid meadow was open and if I was doing the longer walk I should turn left at the row of chestnut trees which I did and had a good look around and saw lots of buttercups and other wild flowers but alas no orchids had made an appearance for my visit today, although I expect if I had taken my Uncle Pete with me, who travels around Europe looking for orchids, he would have probably managed to find one. So a note for early June next year that if you are an avid orchid hunter head over to Benthall Hall at about this time.