Cotswolds Travel

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 15:07:00 +0000

If you are having to stay local for your exercise, happen to live in Shipton Oliffe- the finest village in The Cotswolds, and want a beautiful countryside walk through rural river valleys and countryside, this the the

Outside Guiting Power this afternoon. Great light today! #guitingpower #Cotswolds #instablogger

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 16:03:00 +0000

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Thatched garden she's along the River Coln in Winstone. Roses are looking lovely now! #Cotswolds #roses #Winstone

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 14:47:00 +0000

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Can you guess what this building in the Cotswolds is? You might need to zoom in a bit. #instablogger #Cotswolds

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sat, 15 Jun 2019 02:05:00 +0000

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Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe #sudeleycastle #Winchcombe #Cotswolds

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 17:38:00 +0000

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Fly fishing on the Evenlode this morning. Beautiful day!

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 14:39:00 +0000

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Christmas Day, all done. Finally time to relax! #Christmas. #Cotswolds

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 01:38:00 +0000

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St. Oswald's church in Shipton Oliffe, lit up for Christmas. #StOswalds #Shipton Oliffe #Cotswolds #Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 20:38:00 +0000

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Always nice to stumble across a 2000 year old Roman villa on your hike. #romanvilla #GreatWitcombe #Cotswolds. #instablogger

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 16:38:00 +0000

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Best hedge trim ever. #hedge #cheshirecat #Cotswolds

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 17:38:00 +0000

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Dace caught on a dry fly today on the River Evenlode in the Cotswolds. #instablogger #flyfishing #Cotswolds

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 17:38:00 +0000

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Tithed cottages in Shipton Oliffe. #Cotswolds #EnglishCottages #Shipton Oliffe #instablogger

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 13:38:00 +0000

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Hidcote Gardens as summer really comes in #hidcote #cotswolds #instablog.

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 17:38:00 +0000

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Hidcote Gardens as summer really comes in #hidcote #cotswolds #instablog.

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 17:25:00 +0000

via Instagram https://ift.tt/2uKKXjj

Cranham and Painswick Stream

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 14:42:00 +0000

This is a really nice 5.5km walk taking in the heights of Cranham Common and the tranquil beauty of the Painswick Stream valley. There are so many footpaths and lanes around here you could make this walk any length and direction- and in every direction the scenery is stunning, from Painswick to Sheepscombe. I've published the route on ViewRanger here: http://my.viewranger.com/track/details/NTkzODQ2Mw== Let me know if you give it a try! We begin at the church of St. James the Great in Cranham, with some interesting architecture and classic gargoyles and reliefs.

Coberley and Shab Hill

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 18:21:00 +0000

This is one of my favourite local walks. On a sunny day, like today, you can see for miles during most of it, and the valley is just beautiful. It also passes right past the Coberley Long Barrow, for those interested in Neolithic burial mounds!

Edgeworth - Along the Frome Valley near Stroud

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 20:52:00 +0000

We took a ride up the narrow lanes above Stroud to the tiny, and exceptionally wealthy village of Edgeworth today. The old Grade II listed Edgeworth Manor, next to an old Saxon church, is a delight, and the public footpath goes right through it's gardens. The rest of the walk follows the River Frome up one side of the valley and back down the other. The hills are extremely steep, almost like cliffs in some place, so provide some excellent views. The river is also looking very healthy- I spotted quite a lot of brook trout and was rather wishing I had my fly rod with me (although, strictly speaking, that would have been poaching!).

Salperton

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 17:19:00 +0000

Another very warm, sunny day in the Cotswolds! This is a little ramble around the little know and little visited village of Salperton in the Central Cotswolds. Its an estate village, meaning the entire village is owned by the manor house. Everyone that lives here is a long term tenant, but they have their homes, and village, kept in immaculate condition by the local landowner. Not a bad deal!

A Foggy Spring Round Miserden and Caudle Green

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 20:32:00 +0000

This is a walk I'd been meaning to take for quite some time. These two pretty villages- well, Caudle Green is more of a hamlet- really are off the beaten path, even by Cotswolds standards. They lie at the head of the Golden Valley, and the views they offer are as dramatic as they are beautiful. The walk is fairly well documented, and well sign posted. Even though it was a lovely Saturday morning, it was very quiet. I only came across one horse rider and one couple walking their dogs during the whole 5 1/2 miles!

Rolling hills coming down into Misarden Park

The ornamental lake in Misarden Park

A very unusual green/turquoise water, teaming with waterfowl

The young River Frome

Shetland ponies outside Caudle Green

Daffodils coming up on the green

Old Cotswold house on Caudle Green's green- vast views over the valley below!

Mile of open pasture land heading back to Miserden

Parkland with Miserden just visible up ahead

Looking back into he valley

Can you spot the horses that kept watch as we ascended back to the village?

The view from this house's back garden is the two photos above.

Some interesting mixed architecture in the village

One of two honesty "shops" in the village

A grand entrance to the church

War Memorial opposite the church

The village shop & Post Office. It was really busy and very well stocked!

The Most Haunted Place in the Cotswolds?

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 20:50:00 +0000

Any list I've come across of the "most haunted place in the Cotswolds" lists Woodchester Mansion as number one. Or at least puts it in the top ten. I shall leave it to you to decide, should you ever visit. What I can certainly say, however, is that this unfinished Jacobean mansion set deep in a remote valley near Stroud is as fascinating as it is beautiful.

We went there today for a look, and are looking forward to returning again soon. I've taken a few photos, including a set from the cellars, where paranormal researchers routinely carry out studies, as this is supposedly a "hot spot" for otherworldly activity. There just may be a ghost or two captured in the photos... if you spot one, please let me know.

Details of the property and its history are here- http://www.woodchestermansion.org.uk/HomePage.aspx. And if you want to see just how frightening this place can be, try the all night ghost hunt this Halloween! http://www.dusktilldawnevents.co.uk/halloween-in-woodchester-mansion-ghost-hunt-p-690.html

And now for the cellar. Again, if you think you see anything, let me know!

A Spicy Walk around the Farmcotes

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 17:59:00 +0000

It was another delightful day in the Cotswolds today, so we struck out early for a 5k ramble between Little Farmcote and the neighbouring bustling metropolis of Farmcote. Little Farmcote has three houses, and Farmcote about seven.

There are huge, panoramic views throughout most of the walk, and arguably some of the finest in the area. The walk uses part of the Winchcombe Way and a bit of the Cotswold Way, and is a circular route between the two villages. Farmcote itself is gorgeous. A short, single track lane with just a few houses, each made of honey coloured stone, all perched along the top of the wolds at over 260 meters. There is also a very pretty little Saxon church, St. Faith's, that is well worth a visit.

Now, for the spicy bit. Farmcote is home to the one and only Farmcote Herbs and Chilli Peppers. Not only is the location along well worth a visit- the views from here are some of the best- you can stop by to pick up over 250 kinds of fresh herbs, all manner of chilli peppers and products (Gloucester Old Spot chilli sausages, chili chocoloate, sauces and chutneys, chilli burgers) to take home. And, if you are on a long walk on a hot day, as we were, they sell some really lovely country ice cream, and have cold water to fill your bottles straight from a Cotswold spring!

If this has piqued your interest, and you'll be in the area on 20 & 21 August, stop by for their annual Chilli Festival. Both days from 10:30am to 5pm, and featuring BBQ, Beer Tent, Tea Tent, Live Music, stalls selling handcrafts, and , of course, all manner of chili-related products, including chilli ice cream and chocolate.

See you there!

Stanway House Summer Fete

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 22:00:00 +0000

Apologies for being offline for such a long time. You see, there are just too many brilliant summer fetes and festivals going on here in the Cotswolds, and I haven't had time to write! Today was an especially good one- the summer fete at Stanway House, home to the 13th Earl of Wemyss (Jamie Neidpath), and a truly stunning place to visit.

Stanway House is home to a 300 foot high gravity powered fountain, that can often be seen as one travels around the North Cotswolds between Broadway and Winchcombe. The fete itself was quite an event. All manner of traditional games (I spent some time having children throw wet sponges at my face), the local Morris side was out dancing up a storm to some lively traditional tunes, there was a brass band performing throughout, a hog roast, and some very special ale.

The ale. So very good! Stanway House was built during Elizabeth I's reign, and included a brewery. The old brewery had been in disuse for many, many years until a local brewer convinced Lord Neidpath to let him fire it up again. Now, the Stanway Brewery is producing some outstanding real ale, only to be had at a very tiny number of local pubs. Luckily for me, they had come to the party with take home two-pint ale cartons. So, hours after returning from the fete, I sit writing this post with a cool glass of Stanney Bitter. Top hole!

Shipton Oliffe & Withington Circular

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sun, 29 May 2016 18:54:00 +0000

I like cows. And horses. The problem is that my dog doesn't. In fact, she wants to eat any animal she sees, and makes it very clear. Even if the animal is ten times her size, and is in a herd with 25 other large animals. The result is that my walks around the Cotswolds are getting longer and longer.

That's because I am continuously following some footpath only to discover that it crosses a field full of cows or horses. Although serious trouble with them is rare, aggressive dogs often provoke their defenses, and can have a very bad result. So, when this happens, I am forced to turn around and find an alternate route. This can easily add an extra kilometer sometimes.

This walk, which should have been about 9km, was 12km. I suppose its for the best.

We started in the little known village of Shipton Oliffe, famous for having nothing in it at all apart from a few houses and two very beautiful Norman churches, and takes in the quintessential Cotswold village of Withington. Quite a lot of the route follows the River Coln. Trout, anyone?

In case anyone would like to try this walk, here is the link to my ViewRanger upload: http://my.viewranger.com/track/details/MzIxNTAyNg==

Idyllic Circular Walk Around Turkdean, Hazelton, and Salperton

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Sun, 08 May 2016 17:25:00 +0000

I took this circular today, a hot, sunny, Sunday morning, and managed nearly two and a half miles without coming across a single person, apart from when I passed through Hazelton. The views are incredible throughout- one of the most beautiful Cotswold walks I've been on. I've included the map at the end, and am happy to share details if anyone wants them. It starts at a small car park in Turkdean along the Sabrina Way, turns along the Gloucestershire Way, and then uses a few public footpaths over open farmland and pasture. Give it a try!

A Walk Around Sudeley Castle to St. Kenelm's Well

noreply@blogger.com (cotswwoldstravel) — Thu, 05 May 2016 10:59:00 +0000

I'd been meaning to take a hike up to St Kenelm's Well for a while, and finally had the chance the other evening. There's a great story behind it- read it here - the story goes that after St Kenelm died, the monks of Clent carried him back to Winchcombe to be buried at the abbey. Wherever they lay his body down along the journey, a spring arose when they picked him up again. This is one of those springs. So, you could imagine that it has some healing or spiritual qualities- and perhaps it does!

For a long time, the door was locked. But when I visited this week, it was open, so went inside and took a few photos.

The countryside around Winchcombe is some of the best in England, and its full of great walks. This one started off at Sudeley Castle, followed the Gloucestershire Way up to the Salt Way, and then looped past St Kenelm's Well and back through the castle's parks. Beautiful scenery throughout, especially of Langley Hill opposite and Cleeve Common in the distance. Highly recommended!