Mereside Farm

Guest Information

BOOKING INFORMATION

Length of stay

We have a minimum stay of 2 nights and maximum stay of 10 weeks.

How to book

Either book online or contact Nicky directly by email or text. Once accommodation has been reserved a 25{9ab04305d2607fab892945f2abb6f4d15db1f1cf7ca3a2f67ce15e8514cd23a9} deposit will be required within 48 hours (2 days) to confirm the booking. When the deposit has been received the booking is confirmed. A confirmation email with the check-in details and travel directions will be sent within 24 hours. On the day of arrival the balance of payment will be taken from the credit or debit card used to pay the deposit. No refunds are payable in the event you cut short your stay.

Cancellations and refunds

The deposit becomes non-refundable 14 days prior to the first night of your stay. Cancellations must be in writing via email to the address on the confirmation email. The effective date of cancellation is when the email is received by Nicky. If you cancel prior to 14 days of the first night of your stay, a full refund of your deposit will be given minus any card charges.

Arrival and departure

Check-in is between 3pm and 9pm. Check-out is at 10am.

Parking

There is free, ample off-road parking. Secure storage for bicycles is available.

HOW TO FIND US

Our postcode is SY12 0PA (note: 0 = zero). We share our postcode with The Boathouse and Castlefields, so your sat-nav may not deliver you directly to Mereside Farm. With that in mind, please use the following directions:

We are on the A495 (Whitchurch to Oswestry road) or, effectively, the A528 if approaching from Shrewsbury or Wrexham. When approaching Ellesmere from Shrewsbury or Whitchurch, we are the first entrance on the left-hand side after the ‘Welcome to Ellesmere’ sign. When approaching from Oswestry, St Martins or Wrexham, with The Mere and The Boathouse on your left (the road will be signposted to Whitchurch or Shrewsbury), there is a right-handed bend and Mereside Farm is 100 yards further on, on the right-hand side. The ENTRANCE to Mereside Farm is between two hedges and opposite the entrance to Moors Car Park.

Please do NOT turn up Sandy Lane (which runs in front of the farmhouse) as there is no suitable access to Mereside Farm from this lane. Sandy Lane will take you to St Johns Hill and then down to Ellesmere town centre. And finally, make sure that you are not going to Ellesmere Port – it’s 2 hours away!

DOGS AND WALKING

Dogs

Quiet, friendly, well-behaved dogs are welcome. 🙂

Your dog is welcome to stay with you in The Old Dairy or The Shippon. Maximum two dogs. There is a one-off charge of ÂŁ10.00 per dog.

Dogs are not to be left unattended at any time in any of the rooms, so please keep your dog with you at all times. If you wish to request a dog sitting service please contact Nicky BEFORE your stay.

Both The Old Dairy and The Shippon have their own secure outside areas for dogs. Assistance dogs are welcome to stay in Merebank. All assistance dogs stay free of charge.

Walks from the doorstep

You are welcome to walk through our garden to access the 5-acre plantation woodland which offers one of the many ways to reach the Shropshire Union Canal towpath, as well as offering beautiful woodland walks.

Walk 100 metres up Sandy Lane, which runs in front of the farmhouse, and you will come to Castlefields, which has beautiful views over The Mere and is a great place for dog walks. From here you can access the Arboretum which takes you down to The Mere (it is necessary to cross a main road) and walk along The Promenade into the Cremorne Gardens.

Sandy Lane was once the original ‘main’ road into Ellesmere, though it is now a quieter country lane. A walk along this lane gives you a view across The Mere in one direction and over the Blackwater Meadow Marina and the rolling Shropshire countryside to the other. Sandy Lane takes you past Love Lane on your left (which, with it being a narrow lane with high walls on each side, you may not wish to drive down!), and into the heart of Ellesmere and past the oldest buildings of this friendly, market town.

The Shropshire Union and Llangollen canal towpath meanders through the beautiful North Shropshire countryside and offers long, flat, peaceful walks; and the Shropshire Way (a county walk) passes along the boundary of Mereside Farm land.

Being a few miles from the Welsh Borders there are ample opportunities to get onto Offa’s Dyke, the Ceiriog Trail or one of the many footpaths which criss-cross the farmland and woods.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Buses

http://www.arrivabus.co.uk
Bus 53 Ellesmere – Oswestry (via RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital)

http://www.lakesidecoaches.co.uk
Bus 501 Ellesmere – Shrewsbury
(Bus stop by The Boathouse. You must REQUEST the bus!)

International Airports

Birmingham Airport
58 miles (1hr 17 mins)

Liverpool John Lennon Airport
52 miles (1 hour)
Tolls required, payable in advance, for bridge near to airport. Visit http://www.merseyflow.co.uk to pay for your crossing.

Manchester Airport
61 miles (1hr 6 mins)

Railway Stations

Gobowen
8 miles (15 minutes)

Shrewsbury
16 miles (27 minutes)

Wem
8 miles (18 minutes)

Whitchurch
13 miles (20 minutes)

Taxis

Berwyn Cars (Gobowen)
Telephone 01691 652000 or 07866 009944.

Jeff and Burgess Taxis (Oswestry)
Telephone 01691 656367.
Taxis and mini-buses. Long and short journeys including airport transfers.

Powell’s Taxi (Bronnington-based (5 miles) – near Whitchurch)
Telephone: 07778 193789

PLACES TO EAT AND DRINK

Pubs, restaurants and cafés in Ellesmere

The BoathouseThe nearest restaurant and café to Mereside Farm (300 metres away). They serve breakfasts (from 9.00am), lunches and afternoon teas. Delicious home-cooked food in a fantastic location by The Mere. Dog friendly. Wheelchair access. Outdoor seating. 9am – 4pm. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Breakfasts served until 11.30, and lunches from 12 noon.

Moolah’s, Scotland Street.
Includes Information Centre. Delicatessen providing lots of local, fresh produce. Freshly made meals to takeaway.
Café and gifts. Vegan and vegetarian food. Self-service groceries – rice, nuts etc.

Pete’s Café, Cross Street.
Very popular local café and great place for takeaway baps, amazing cakes and cookies etc.

Vermeulen’s Deli, Cross Street.
Renowned deli in the centre of Ellesmere. Local cheeses, hams, bakery etc.

Coco Coffee Bar and Café, Scotland Street
A popular café with home-cooked food and home-baked cakes. Butties for breakfast. Dogs allowed in side room.

Cherry Tree Café, Scotland Street
Light lunches. Homemade cakes and sandwiches – all reasonably priced.
Great breakfasts. Popular with cyclists on a Sunday morning!

The Red Lion, Church Street
Less than half an easily walked mile from Mereside Farm. A popular local
pub, also serving pub grub. Dogs allowed in Pool Room and outside.

The Black Lion, Scotland Street
Pub with meals. Welcomes dogs.

The Meze, Cross Street
A popular Greek restaurant with outside seating and also offering takeaway. Lots of information on their Facebook page.

Asian Spices, Birch Road
Indian restaurant – eat-in or takeaway.

The White Hart, Birch Road
Popular local pub serving a variety of beers (but no food). Dogs welcome.

Further afield

The Sun Inn, Welshampton, SY12 0PH (3 miles)
Home-cooked food in a very friendly pub with lovely atmosphere. Dog friendly. Outside seating.

The Cross Foxes, Erbistock, LL13 0DR (5 miles)
Overlooking the River Dee. Pub with good food. Hearty dishes to lighter bites. Dog friendly. Outside seating.

The Boat, Erbistock, LL13 0DL (5½ miles)
Quaint old timbered pub and restaurant. Next to the River Dee and with local walks. Locally sourced and freshly cooked food. Dog friendly. Outside seating.

Ye Olde Boote Inn, Whittington, SY11 4DQ (6 miles)
Located next to the church and opposite Whittington Castle. Serves food 12noon – 2pm and 6.15pm – 8.45pm. Dogs welcome in the Reception area, which includes tables to eat at.

The Dickin Arms, Loppington, SY4 5SR (6 miles)
Newly refurbished pub that’s gaining a good reputation for food. Dog friendly. Outside seating.