This 400-year-old thatched cottage and its knot garden only had 557 visitors in 2023.
Staffordshire is full of great places to visit, like Alton Towers, Drayton Manor, Waterworld, and Trentham Monkey Forest.
But there’s one small, lovely attraction that often gets missed because of these big theme parks. This hidden gem is over 400 years old, and was once home to the author of the famous book The Compleat Angler.
Now, the cottage is a museum dedicated to Izaak Walton’s life. Inside, you’ll find rooms set up to look like they did in the past, a pretty knot garden, and a paddock.
It’s located in the tiny hamlet of Shallowford, between Stafford and Eccleshall, about 40 minutes’ drive from Birmingham.
Izaak Walton left this charming cottage to the people of his hometown in his will. The house dates back to the 16th century and even has a small gift shop that sells local arts and crafts.
One reason it doesn’t get many visitors is because it’s only open on Sunday afternoons during the summer.
On Tripadvisor, it has a 4.5-star rating from just 18 reviews. One visitor wrote, "A tiny hidden gem, in a peaceful and beautiful spot with a gorgeous cottage. The garden is lovely with benches where you can sit and enjoy the quiet.
The car park is small, but fine for an average car. The lady inside was friendly and knew a lot about the cottage. Best of all, it’s free to visit! Definitely worth a stop if you’re nearby!"
Remember - LeaveNoTrace!
As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!
Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.
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