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The Old Rectory

Smethcott, Shropshire
Bed & Breakfast
+44 (0)7973 710272

Per night
£125 - £140

2 rooms

Rooms sleep 2

Elegant Regency rectory full of charm, with walks in all directions, views to gaze at and kind, generous hosts. A rare place

Per night
£125 - £140

Contact the owner directly to check date availability and secure your booking.

The Experience

The Shropshire Hills are surely one of England’s best-kept secrets, with the Old Rectory set plumb in the middle of it all. The two en suite bedrooms look out onto idyllic views of pastures dotted with sheep; easy-going Jo and Ben live at one end of a corridor with their two quiet and friendly dogs but the house is large so you won’t feel crowded.

Breakfast is served around a large table in the dining room and includes homemade muesli, yogurt, seasonal fruits, good juice, croissants and bread along with any variation of a full English, all locally sourced and delicious.

The guest sitting room has a warming fire for winter evenings, and board games and books; Ben’s art collection is an eclectic and distinctive mix of photos and pictures. You can play tennis if you fancy, and walks are in all directions, one to a charming country pub; further afield, the Iron Age hill fort of Caer Caradoc beckons.

We think you'll love

The views and total peace and comfort
Spending time in the elegant, art-filled house
Playing a game of tennis on the immaculate court

You should know

There's no television
The en suite bathrooms have showers only, although there is another bathroom available with a bath
Children are allowed, but the place is more suited to grown-ups

Essentials

EV charger
Swimming pool
Hot tub
Garden
Open fire / woodburner
Breakfast included
Breakfast available
Meals available
Vegetarian meals
Oven
Parking on premises
Free parking nearby
Accessible by public transport
WiFi
Television
Spa
Central heating
Mobile reception
Hob
Bar
Barbecue
Licensed premises
Paid parking nearby
Air conditioning
Relaxation areas
Washing machine
Tennis court
Microwave oven
No smoking
Credit cards
Working farm
Owner has pets
Dishwasher
Pets welcome

Family friendly

Baby monitor
Books and toys
Children welcome
Babies welcome
Stair gates
High chair
Fire guard
Cot available

Nearby

Pub/bar within 3 miles
Restaurant within 3 miles
Shop within 3 miles

Activities

Bikes available
Food courses
Kayaking
Other courses
Sailing
Surfing
Wild swimming

Pricing

Nightly price: from £125
Surcharges: Singles £125-£140.

2 Doubles: From £125

Information

Booking information

Check in: 4pm
Check out: 11am
Closed: Christmas, New Year & occasionally.
No smoking: Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
Owner has pets: Animals living on the property

Reviews

A beautiful, art-filled house that oozes comfort and charm with two lovely en suite bedrooms. Walks in all directions, one to a charming country pub; further afield the Iron Age hill-fort of Caer Caradoc beckons. Ben and Jo are easy, generous hosts. A rare place.

David Sawday's Inspector

Margaret, Cambridge Jul 2026

We thoroughly enjoyed our two-night stay at the Old Rectory; the house is set in the beautiful Shropshire countryside and tastefully furnished throughout. The bed was extremely comfortable, the breakfasts were delicious and our hosts were friendly, welcoming and attentive.

John, Edinburgh Jul 2026

We stayed one night. A stunning tranquil rural location, up a couple of miles of single track roads off the A49, with views over the Shropshire hills and local farmland. Only two guest rooms in this beautifully updated 18th/19th century former rectory but we were the only ones staying. Spacious room with extremely comfortable bed and no TV (great!). Jo and Ben were welcoming, attentive hosts. Our allergies were accommodated beautifully and Jo welcomed us with tea and homemade biscuits. Breakfast was superb, again highly personalised and fresh, all beautifully presented. I'd go again!

Alexa, Stroud Mar 2026

Our second trip - hopefully of many! Since staying last year we’ve looked for any excuse to return, so a week off led us straight back to The Old Rectory. After a beautiful walk at Carding Mill Valley we arrived drenched, and Jo’s warm welcome—drying our boots by the AGA and lighting the fire—was perfect. It was so cosy we skipped dinner and stayed by the fire in the lovely cosy sitting room. The bedroom and en-suite were luxurious, with views to Caer Caradoc; coffee in bed with the radio and the uninterrupted view was a highlight. A true sanctuary—we can’t wait to return.

Enid, Derby Nov 2025

This was our first visit to the Old Rectory and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Jo and Ben are excellent hosts and made us very welcome.

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Location

The neighbourhood

The house is only a few miles off the well-connected A49 but feels quite rural and is surrounded by glorious rolling countryside, just 30 minutes from Ludlow or Shrewsbury. Narrow lanes lead to the house and finally a delightful larch-lined drive. There's a small church on the other side of the lane but you are very private here. The Bottle & Glass in Picklescott is about a mile away.

Local points of interest from Jo Powell

The Old Rectory is a great base from which to explore Shrewsbury and other towns such as Ludlow, Bishops Castle or Ironbridge with their fine architecture, mediaeval streets, fabulous food and eclectic independent shops.
Set with in an AONB the house is on the door step of many National Trust and English Heritage sites on the doorstep, not to mention fabulous castles and forts dottedaround Shropshire and the Welsh borders.
Walk, run or cycle with footpaths heading to the Long Mynd at the end of the drive, or, contemplate conquering Caer Caradoc whilst viewing it from thebreakfast table.
Plan your trip to coincide with one of the many sporting and cultural events in Shropshire, from racing, fringe and food festivals in Ludlow, to Flower and Folk festivals in Shrewsbury.
Play a game of tennis on our astro turf court but try not to get too distracted by the view. Then walk to the pub at Picklescott or drive to the Bridges at Ratlinghope where food is produced with a farm to fork ethos; local, seasonal and sustainable.
Shropshire is all about food, be it Michelin-starred restaurants, pubs serving good honest food, the outstanding deli in Church Stretton or unique food, drink and shopping destinations like the Market Hall in Shrewsbury, there is something for everyone.

Introducing

Jo Powell

Jo and Ben divide their time between running the B&B in Shropshire and visiting their house in France.