Hidden Cotswold Tours
Hidden Cotswold Tour
7th June 2024
I had been in WhatsApp correspondence with Angela to put a tour together for her parents. I was therfore, delighetd to meet David and Angela at the Wild Rabbit in Kingham. Sadly, ‘Flaming June’ was not living up to its name and Angela went back for an extra layer!
I really enjoyed your company for the day. What was to be a short day turned out to be the full 8 hours with a final stop at Daylesford.
Swinbrook
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.
The next door village of Asthall was the one-time home of the notorious Mitford Sisters.
Burford
Burford is a beautiful old Cotswold town. Its High Street slopes down from the high Wolds, providing 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.
The Slaughters
The name of the villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter stem from the Old English name for a wet land ‘slough’ or ‘slothre’ (Old English for muddy place) upon which it lies. These quaint villages sit beside the little Eye stream and are known for their unspoilt limestone cottages in the traditional Cotswold style.
Stanway and Stanton
Stanway House is an outstanding example of an English Jacobean manor house; built of mellow Cotswold limestone between 1580 and 1640.
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.
Broadway and Broadway Tower
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.
Built in 1799, Broadway Tower is a perfect example of an eighteenth century Gothic folly from which it is possible to survey an area which includes as many as fifteen counties.
Chipping Campden
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.
Stow-on-the-Wold
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 town’s former importance. Around the square the visitor is faced with an elegant array of Cotswold town houses and shops.
Daylesford Farm Organics
Daylesford farm shop is a truly special shopping experience, with an abundance of fresh organic produce to tempt you.
Your senses will drift from the cheeses to the fresh meat to the wines. Don’t be put off by some of the eye-watering prices as it’s the perfect stop for a relaxing cup of tea and to lap up the luxury of this place.
I hope you enjoyed your cheese and crackers. 😋
Route
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