Hidden Cotswold Tour 28th April 2023
I was ready and waiting for the 9.15 train from London. And here I greeted Nancy and Janice. Sisters who were having a day out from London. It was Nancy’s Birthday today so I wanted to make sure she, and Janice, had a good day.
We set off and headed north west towards Blockley.
Blockley
We parked up in Blockley and went straight to the church. From here, in gentle drizzle, we did a small loop of the town and back to the car.
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.
Chipping Campden
In Chipping Campden we started with a visit to the impressive ‘wool’ church followed by the Arts and Crafts exhibition and then on to the high street. It was definitely time for a cup of coffee and cake! So we went straight to Da Luigi Bistro. A lovely little place for coffee which gave us time to chat and get to know each other. Thank you for the coffee.
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
The first stop in Broadway was the Cotswolds Chocolate Shop. Time for some edible presents to take back home.
We walked down and back up the High Street and on the way back we went to look in Haines Fine Art Gallery. Amazing pieces of work, sadly, most are way beyond my impulse-buy budget!
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.
Snowshill
With lack of concentration I took the wrong road out of Broadway and ended up in Snowshill. But this was not a bad thing as this is such a beautiful village. Made even better as the sun came out just in time for a few photos.
Snowshill village sits on the top of the escarpment above the villages of Broadway, Buckland, and Laverton. It is a secluded village where ancient pretty cottages and a 19th century church cluster around a small green. As its name implies – if there is any snow about then you will find it here first.
Stanton and Stanway
Getting back on track we drove to Stanton. With one eye on the clock I thought we’d try the Mount Inn at the top of the village for lunch. However it was completely full and no room for us. This became another good photo opportunity looking down over the high street and into the distance.
Stanton is probably one of the prettiest and idyllic villages in the whole of the Cotswolds. Little changed in 300 years it nestles beneath the slopes of Shenbarrow Hill. It has a very pleasing long main street with several delightful corners where the ancient house are built in typical Cotswolds style with steeply pitched gables, mullioned windows and glowing honey coloured limestone walls.
Winchcombe
In Winchcombe, it was definitely time for lunch so we parked up and went in search of a good pub. Following a little indecision we plumped for the Lion Inn. This turned out to be a very good choice and we had a very relaxed and enjoyable lunch, chatting away. I was very generously treated to lunch, so thank you again.
We had a gentle walk up to Sudeley Castle and took the footpath around the back, to get a better view, through kissing gates and a field of frolicking lambs.
The name Winchcombe means ‘valley with a bend’, and today the town still retains street which curve gracefully along the ‘combe’. In the early 1600’s the Winchcombe area was know for tobacco growing and was banned in 1619 due to the vested interest of the industry in America and other colonies.
Bourton-the-Water
Taking the back roads it was a short journey to Bourton-on-the-Water with some wonderful views across the rolling hills.
Our first stop in Bourton was the Cotswolds Distillery. Unfortunately, they had just stopped giving tasting samples. But, undeterred, Nancy and Janice bought some small presentation packs to take with them.
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
Time was getting short and we drove very slowly through Lower Slaughter and then another slow drive through Upper Slaughter.
I would liked to have stopped but the train would not wait.
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.
Traffic was building up and I decided to miss out on visiting Stow and dropping into our shop ☹.
In the end the traffic was not too bad and we arrived back at the station in good time.
It was a great day out for me so thank you for being such delightful guests. I hope you get to Paris on Monday too!
If you enjoyed my tour and would be happy to share any thoughts or photos please click on the TripAdvisor link below. Thank you
