What is special about Shropshire?
What is special about Shropshire?The largest inland county in England, Shropshire is one of the least crowded and most peaceful regions in Britain. Bordering Wales, it is a country-lover’s paradise, ideal for most outdoor activities. Market towns, some which date back to the seventh century, and medieval abbeys also make it a county with great historical interest.
What can I do there?From the gardens and meres (lakes) of the north to the hills in the south,the entire county is ideal for rambling, hiking and riding. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy over 30 courses, while those looking for a little more excitement should make for The Parachute Centre at Tilstock Airfield, three miles south of Whitchurch, and try a 10,000ft jump. The Midland Gliding Club, on the Long Mynd near Ludlow, offer flights all year round at one of the UK’s premier sites. Quad trekking – bouncing around on four-wheel buggy/bikes in the mud on hills and over obstacle courses – costs £30 for two hours per adult, but is also enjoyed by families (children get a discount).
Fishing, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing and sailing are all popular on the meres, and there are a number of organised holidays which cater for water-sports enthusiasts.Anything else?Visit Shrewsbury Abbey, now famous for Ellis Peters’ tales of the fictional 12th century monk-detective Brother Cadfael. Enjoy the black-and-white half-timbered houses and little lanes. Ludlow has 500 listed buildings, mainly Georgian and half-timbered. Ironbridge Gorge, a World Heritage Site, is regarded as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution; the world’s first cast-iron bridge can still be seen here.How do I get there?Birmingham and Manchester airports are about one hour’s drive away, and the M54 provides easy access by car.
Visit for the cheapest rail fares; for bus and train information, phone West Midlands Traveline on 0870 608 2608.Where can I find out more?Shropshire Tourism, 01743 462 462, ; ; for gliding, ; Border Quad Trekking, 01743 884 843; for organised activity holidays, . The current tax year ends in a little over a month (5 April) but many of us still haven’t made the most of our tax-free annual allowance. MoneynetsavingssearchThe current tax year ends in a little over a month (5 April) but many of us still haven’t made the most of our tax-free annual allowance. The Halifax estimates that more than £200m of potential tax savings are being wasted by people who don’t use up their £7,000 allowance.
Investing some or all of this in an individual savings account (ISA) is the simplest way to take advantage of the tax break. But the Halifax reveals that nine million of us have yet to put any money into an ISA this year, even though we have cash to invest. And of those who do take the plunge, independent mortgage and financial adviser Charcol has found that nearly half won’t bother shopping around but will simply get their ISA from their bank.Many people are likely to opt for a mini cash ISA this time around because they are not exposed to the volatility of the stock market. You can invest up to £3,000 in a mini cash ISA, £3,000 in a mini stocks and shares ISA and £1,000 in a mini insurance ISA, and you are able to open one of each of these in any tax year.The advantage of the mini cash ISA over the Tessa (tax-exempt special savings account), which it replaced, is that your money is not locked in for five years.
Most have no minimum investment term, although some have short notice periods.If you need to get hold of your money in less than five years, a mini cash ISA is a much better idea than a stocks and shares ISA. Mini cash ISAs work in almost the same way as a savings account, with the added advantage that gains are tax-free.But don’t plump for the first ISA you see advertised, as, like standard savings accounts, ISAs vary widely in the rates of interest paid. For instance, HSBC’s instant access mini cash ISA pays only 2.7 per cent interest on balances between £1 and £500, while those from Britannia Building Society, Coventry BS, Nationwide and Smile are all instant access and pay 4.25 per cent.If you are willing to forgo some flexibility, there are mini cash ISAs that pay higher interest but require notice before you can make a withdrawal, or place restrictions on withdrawals. Nationwide, for example, has a 60-day- notice mini cash ISA, paying 4.7 per cent interest, that allows only one withdrawal a year.If you have a Tessa due to mature before the end of the tax year, the capital can be re-invested into a Tessa-only ISA (Toisa) without affecting this year’s ISA allowance.
