Ludlow - Historic Town & Castle

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Detective Mystery around Ludlow's historic town and castle, with Detectives sent undercover by the Chief to sort the suspects and follow the clues around town after Pepe's assistant Mini Stroni goes missing during a Food Festival sausage showdown.

The investigation covers approximately 1.75 miles and should take around 2 hours to complete. You'll start at the entrance to the castle, explore the castle area and gardens in front of the castle walls, head through the town, pass Dinham House, investigate Castle Square, continue into the grounds and churchyard of St Laurence's Church, then work through Ludlow's historic centre around Broad Street, Broadgate and the Buttercross before returning to the front of the castle.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The route uses paved roads with some narrow pavements and hills to tackle, including steep hills, plus a narrow lane with no pavement.

Take care along road sections, cross safely wherever needed and keep Mini Detectives close on the narrow lane with no pavement.

Getting There

By car: Start your investigation at the entrance to the castle (SY8 1AY). The recommended place to park your squad car is Castle Street Pay and Display (SY8 1AT), which is the nearest car park to the start.

By public transport: Make your way to the entrance to the castle (SY8 1AY) to begin the case. The circular route returns to the front of the castle once the suspects have been sorted.

Need the Loo?

Detectives can find toilets in the car park at the start, so it's a useful comfort stop before heading out around town.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Detectives are welcome to join the investigation 🐾

The route includes paved roads, narrow pavements, hills, road crossings and a narrow lane with no pavement, so keep canine colleagues close around traffic and busier town sections.

Food & Drink Stops

Sausage-related sleuthing can be hungry work. Pick up snacks at the start, take refreshments from Clues 06 to 07 and again from Clues 16 to 17, or wait till the end. There are also great pub stops highlighted along the way.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Ludlow Castle

The case begins at the castle entrance, then follows the path through the gardens in front of the castle walls before heading off into town. Keep an eye out for the cannon that was captured, and for views from the top of the castle wall if you're spending longer around the castle area.

St Laurence's Church

The investigation turns into the grounds of St Laurence's Church, continues through the churchyard and passes the church itself, making this one of the key historic stops on the route. It's a good place to slow the pace once the evidence-gathering pressure eases.

Broad Street and Broadgate

Ludlow's town centre shows off the ordered elegance of a 900-year-old Norman planned town, and Broad Street is described as one of England's finest streets. With the Buttercross at the top, Broadgate at the bottom and several historic coaching inns and hotels nearby, this is prime territory for a post-case wander.

The Buttercross

The route passes the Buttercross in the town centre at the top of Broad Street. Sitting within Ludlow's elegant historic core, it's a handy landmark for pausing, regrouping and admiring the planned centre once the suspects have had a proper grilling.