Hidden Cotswold Tour 13th June 2023
It was going to be hot today with temperatures expected to reach 27C or 81F
It was warming up as I picked up today’s guests, Shelley, Charlene and Marie from Kingham Station.
Swinbrook
Once in the car and the air-con working hard we set off towards Burford. We took the back roads driving down small lanes and through the beautiful village of Swinbrook, once home to the 6 Mitford sisters, and past the quintessential English cricket pitch.
Swinbrook is a small village on the River Windrush, about 2 miles east of Burford. Apparently untouched by time, it is the quintessential English village with its stone walls, pretty church, cricket pitch with wooden pavilion, and an old stone pub next to the old stone bridge across the River Windrush.
Burford
In Burford, we were fortunate to find a space to park the car and had a gentle wander down to the classic wool church of St. John the Baptist. The path up to the church had some beautiful roses.
Having taken advantage of the public facilities we left Burford behind us.
A beautiful old Cotswold town, its High Street sloping from the high Wolds, where you have beautiful views over the open countryside, down to the willow fringed River Windrush in the pretty Windrush valley. A fine three arched medieval bridge crosses the river at the foot of the hill.
Bourton-on-the-Water
Our next stop was to be Bourton-on-the-Water. Again, on the back roads we passed through the beautiful villages of Taynton and Great Barrington. We stopped to look at the folly in the park and had a glimpse of the deer in the distance.
Bourton was busy and we decided not to stop, but to drive through slowly.
Bourton-on-the-Water has been described as the ‘Little Venice’ of the Cotswolds and is one of the most popular tourist spots in the region being serviced by the many shops, cafe’s, and attractions
The Slaughters
Our first stop was Lower Slaughter. I left them to wander gently from the mill down to the hotels where we met up again.
Then onto Upper slaughter where we got out and visited the church, where it was wonderfully cool. Spookily, Shelley found a greetings card with ballerina lillies. “Spookily” because she had only been talking about them ten minutes before!
The name of the village of Lower Slaughter stems from the Old English name for a wet land ‘slough’ or ‘slothre’ (Old English for muddy place) upon which it lies. This quaint village sits beside the little Eye stream and is known for its unspoilt limestone cottages in the traditional Cotswold style.
Blockley
From the Slaughters we drove on towards Blockley. The church of St Peter and St Paul in Blockley is used as the church in the TV series ‘Father Brown’. So it was time for a few photos. Our planned lunch here was aborted as the only place to eat was out in the full sun.
During the eighteenth century when the wool industry was in decline Blockley turned to silk production. By 1884 six silk mills powered by the fast-flowing Blockley brook provided work for about 600 people preparing silk for ribbon-making factories in Coventry. The Church is also well known from its role in the TV Series Father Brown.
Chipping Campden
Parking up in Chipping Campden we went straight to the Red Lion Pub for some pub-grub. Service was a bit slow, due to an event in the garden, but we had a good lunch. Thank you for treating me
There was time for a little window-shopping before a short drive around the town.
Chipping Campden is one of the loveliest small towns in the Cotswolds and a gilded masterpiece of limestone and craftsmanship. The main street curves in a shallow arc lined with a succession of ancient houses each grafted to the next but each with its own distinctive embellishments.
Broadway
Our next was to be Broadway, but we detoured slightly to drive up to Broadway Tower. It was too hot to get out as there was no shade.
In Broadway we stopped at the Cotswold Chocolate shop and the Cotswold Distillery shop for some small gifts.
Shelley had been describing what a 99 is. Well, we found a shop. So, two happy customers!
The Cotswold village of Broadway is often referred to as the ‘Jewel of the Cotswolds’ and the ‘Show Village of England’ because of it’s sheer beauty and magnificence. The ‘broad way’ leads from the foot of the western Cotswolds escarpment with a wide grass-fringed street lined with ancient honey coloured limestone buildings dating back to the 16th century and earlier.
Stow-on-the-Wold
As we had a train to catch there was only time to drive through the historic market town of Stow-on-the-Wold. Famous for its sheep sales of up to 20,000 sheep in a day in the middle ages.
We stopped briefly outside the Porch House which claims to be the oldest In in England going back to 947AD.
Stow-on the-Wold is the highest of the Cotswold towns standing exposed on 800 feet high Stow Hill at a junction of seven major roads, including the Roman Fosse Way. The vast Market Square testifies to the towns former importance. Around the square the visitor is faced with an elegant array of Cotswold town houses and shops.
Then back to Kingham to catch the17.57 back to London.
I had a lovely day out with the three of you. It was a pleasure to spend time with you and to take you around the Cotswolds which were looking particularly beautiful on the day.
I hope you enjoy your big tour of the West country and have safe journeys back home.
If you enjoyed my tour and would be happy to share any thoughts or photos please click on the TripAdvisor link below. Thank you
