BISHOPS Castle has been included in a new travel guide as to what puts Shropshire as one of 10 “destinations to watch” for holidaymakers this year.

Shropshire is the only UK location included in the list by travel trade organisation Abta, which described it as a “rural gem” with “beautiful landscapes, towns and villages”.

The county is the first-ever UK representative to be named in the list, and has joined some ‘exceptional’ destinations in Germany, Spain, Greece, Vietnam and more.

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In the guide, the town is highlighted as one of the reasons to visit.

It said: “Bishop's Castle is a lively market town which provides a great base to explore the stunning countryside with the added bonus of claiming the oldest working brewery in the country.”

Abta director of communications Graeme Buck said: “We know many people are looking for inspiration and new suggestions of where to go, so our team of experts at Abta has put together a list of 10 destinations to watch which offer varied and memorable experiences around the globe.

“Some are a little unexpected, and all are well worth a visit.

“The destinations showcase the amazing range of experiences that our world offers to holidaymakers.”

Abta put forward destinations to be viewed such as the Ironbridge Gorge, which is famed for being one of the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century.

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It also listed Ludlow, the sporting history of Much Wenlock and Ludlow.

Among the other destinations on the list are: the Spanish region of Extremadura, Saxony in Germany; Vietnam and Zambia.

The list is updated each year in time for the first Saturday in January, which is referred to as ‘Sunshine Saturday’ by the travel industry as it is one of the busiest days of the year for holiday bookings.