Hidden Cotswold Tour 23rd August 2023
At 9.55am I was sitting in the car revising some historical facts when there was a tap tapiing at my window. It was today’s guest Jan who had come out of the hotel to find me.
Following introductions and a discussion on the day’s tour we set off.
Woodstock
I negotiated the traffic and drove safely out of the city centre and suburbs and north headed towards Woodstock.
We did a little loop of the town and continued on our journey.
We stopped, briefly, outside Jeremy Clarkson’s farmshop, called Didley Squat, amazed at the queues building up!
Woodstock is a picturesque, historic market town with a difference, thanks to its immediate, on-foot access to Blenheim Palace, a World Heritage Site often referred to as Britain’s greatest palace, and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
Chastleton House
My first planned stop was Chastleton House. Sadly, it was not open today as I knew that Jan would love to have looked round. As would I.
But the house was looking splendid on this sunny day.
From here we passed through Moreton-in-Marsh and then slowly through Blockley.
If you ever get to watch Father Brown this is his church 😊
Chastleton House was built between 1607 and 1612 as a statement of wealth and power by prosperous wool merchant, Walter Jones. Owned by the same increasingly impoverished family for nearly 400 years, Chastleton has remained a time capsule and hidden treasure-trove for generations.
Chipping Campden
Our next stop was in Chipping Campden which was also looking fabulous in the sun.
We parked up and walked up to the Church of St James.Then it was a gentle stroll down the high street, stopping to look at the 17th century Market place with the extremely uneven floor.
Continuing down the hih street I wanted to take Jan to visit the wonderful workshop of Harts the silversmiths. Sadly, the bangle Jan tried on was just a touch too big for her to buy there and then😒
Their website is: https://hartsilversmiths.co.uk/
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.
Stanton and Stanway
Normally, I would be thinking about finding somewhere for lunch. But Jan does not usually have a midday meal. Besides, she was eating at Le Manoir this evening and who would want to spoil their appetite for this?
So we drove very slowly through Stanton taking in a loop around the pub at the top of the hill.
From here it was along to Stanway where we got out for a look over the wall at the Jacobean Manor. Again, sadly not open today.
Plus, a little look in the Church of St Peter.
Stanway House is an outstanding example of an English Jacobean manor house; built of mellow Cotswold limestone between 1580 and 1640.
Sudeley Castle
It was now time to get to Sudeley Castle. Fortunately, there were tickets and I left Jan to wander around the house and gardens.
Either Jan was enjoying it so much or was baffled by the lack of directions to get out, but by the time we met up again, outside the cafe, time was getting on and the tasting menu was calling!
With Royal connections spanning a thousand years, Sudeley Castle has played an important role in the turbulent and changing times of England’s past.
Today Sudeley Castle remains the only private castle in England to have a Queen buried within the grounds.
Upper and Lower Slaughter
So with one eye on the clock we drove along the picturesque small lanes on the way to Upper Slaughter. A quick loop arond the centre and then on to Lower Slaughter. Here we stopped to look from the car windows at the River Eye running through the village and the little bridges.
Sadly, we did not have time to stop in Burford either.
Putting ‘The Manoir’ into the SatNav the ETA was 18:10. So we needed to keep going.
Upper and Lower Slaughter – the slightly macabre name comes from the Anglo/Saxon word for marsh. Lower Slaughter Mill is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. Upper Slaughter is equally attractive – and one of only 14 Double-Thankful villages in England, villages that lost no men during either World War I or II. The villages are are linked by the gently flowing River Eye.
Route
You were a delight to spend the day with touring the Cotswolds together.
We managed to talk almost non-stop entertaining each other with stories and memories. Thank you for your understanding of some of the holes in my history. I must do more homework!
I do hope you had a wonderful meal and continue to enjoy your fantastic travels.
I mentioned an electonic diary that I use – an app on my phone – It is called Journey.Cloud Click this link. I love the app as you can add images 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
