20/05/2024
10 reasons we love The Cotswolds:
Timeless Beauty
The towns and villages of the Cotswolds seem to have wandered into the twenty-first century from another era. Cathedrals and manor houses, built by wealthy textile merchants, testify to the region's rich heritage shaped by sheep farming.
Vast Expanse
With its rolling "wolds" or hills, is the largest of the 38 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales. It spans over 800 square miles across five counties.
Literary Connections
Laurie Lee’s "Cider with Rosie" immortalised the area in literature, and Jilly Cooper often sets her stories against a more vibrant Cotswold life.
Royal Associations
Highlights include the Prince of Wales’s Highgrove Estate and Corsham Court, a former royal manor with gardens designed by Capability Brown, both open to the public.
Gateways to Elegance
Festival-loving Cheltenham lies to the west, Elgar’s Worcester to the north, the university city of Oxford to the east, and Cirencester and Bath to the south.
Foodie Heaven
The region offers local produce, such as Gloucestershire Old Spot pork, lamb, asparagus, plums, Gloucester cheese, and trout from local farms.
Exceptional Pubs
The Cotswolds is home to some of the finest pubs in the country, ranging from 17th-century avers to historic real ale houses.
Charming Villages
The villages of the Cotswolds are uniformly breathtaking, built from the distinctive Cotswold stone. Visitors can enjoy local pubs, cafes, and antique shops while soaking in the architectural beauty.
Beautiful Gardens
With notable gardens like Hidcote, designed by Major Lawrence Johnston, featuring floral borders, sculpted hedges, and rare trees. Batsford Arboretum and Kiftsgate Court are also worth visiting.
Scenic Walks
The Cotswolds offer numerous picturesque walking trails. Most rambles will take in parts of the Cotswold Way National Trail, which stretches 102 miles along the length of the Cotswolds.
