Hidden Cotswold Tour 8th April 2023
My guests today were Kevin and Maria. We met as planned outside the Lygon Arms in Boadway at 2pm.
They had been given this trip by work colleagues and had come into Broadway on the steam train from Cheltenham.
Chipping Campden
Despite the forecast, promising warm weather, it was a cold overcast day, about 58 degrees.
But we set off, in good spirits, to visit our first stop, Chipping Campden.
I dropped them off at the start of the high street so that could wander at their own pace and meet me near the church.
The village of Lacock dates from the 13th century and has many lime-washed half-timbered and stone houses. The Abbey was founded in 1232 and converted into a country house around 1540. The fine medieval cloisters, sacristy, chapter house and monastic rooms of the Abbey have survived largely intact.
Blockley
As the tour was booked for around 3 hours we did not have time to stop at Blockley. But, we did drive slowly as I pointed out the church with connections to Father Brown and I told them about the darker history of the town. We drove out through the river valley, negotiating the very narrow lanes.
Castle Combe has been described as the prettiest village in the Cotswolds. This magical and ancient village, mentioned to the Domesday Book of 1086, was once a weaving town at the heart of the Cotswolds wool trade. Now a popular tourist destination with good reason.
Stow-on-the-Wold
On our way to Stow-on-the-Wold we passed through Moreton-in-Marsh.
In Stow I took them to the ancient church doors which were, supposedly, an inspiration to JRR Tolkien for the Doors of Durin.
Unfortunately, we could not have a cup of tea at the Porch House (dating back to 947) as their coffee/tea machines were not working ☹
Malmesbury is rightly called the “Queen of Hilltop Towns” being England’s oldest borough with a rich history of over 1,000 years. Officially Malmesbury can be traced back to the fifth century, but modern excavations have revealed the remains of an Iron Age Fort, which casts the settlement possibly as far back as 500 BC.
Upper Slaughter
I was very pleased that they both found Upper Slaughter and St. Peter’s Church to be as fabulous as I do.
It has a great history with the list of rectors going back to the 12th Century.
We drove slowly through Lower Slaughter looking at the Mill and the bridges crossing the river Eye.
Thomas Arkell bought a 13th-century watermill in this idyllic countryside on the edge of a magical lake setting. Today, the mill wheel is still used to drive pumps and machinery to brew their beer the same way 150 years on.
Lower Slaughter
At the beginning of the Journey Maria had expressed an interest in visiting the model village in Bourton-on-the-Water. But before we got there I side-tracked them into the Cotswold Distillery shop for a taste of their whisky. They went home with some of their signature whisky (my favourite) and a bottle of their Whisky Liquer.
Unfortunately the Model Village was closed so we had time for a welcome cup of tea (thank you) in a cafe as, eventually, the sun came out.
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.
It was now time to head back to Cheltenham and to their hotel.
I had a very enjoyable afternoon with Kevin and Maria, which makes what I do such a pleasure.
To the right is the route we took.
Also, a link to TripAdvisor if you were able to give a review 😊
If you enjoyed my tour and would be happy to share any thoughts or photos please click on the TripAdvisor link below. Thank you
