The Cotswolds has everything that sums up classic England, the rolling green hills, charming villages and history that dates back thousands of years. Dig a little deeper and underneath the pretty exterior are many reasons to come and visit the area.
Dan K
Product Specialist - Cotswold Journeys
10 min read
Here are 10 great reasons to come and walk in the area, some may be obvious and some maybe less so!
This is the classic English countryside of many fables and stories. Rolling hills that are home to a patchwork quilt of farmland, pasture, woodland, wetlands and sheep! The saying Green & pleasant land is like it was invented for the area. Not only are the hills themselves a wonderful sight. There are superb views further afield from certain points in the area, across towards the West you may catch sight of the Malvern Hills, Forest of Dean and the mountains of Wales in the distance. Or perhaps it might be the light catching the golden limestone of a village up ahead. From the winding country lanes to the beautifully crafted traditional stone walls there is beauty to be seen everywhere in the area.
The UK has a rich and fascinating history stretching back millennia. The Cotswolds is no exception. You cannot fail but feel the history as you make your way through the area. There are ancient Long Barrow burial mounds that date from 3000 BC and roads that still have the long straight sections originally built by the Romans. The Romans have also left their mark in many other ways – remains of old villas and even the Roman Baths that still stand in the city of Bath today. In later times its importance for wool trading is still evident in many of the churches and impressive houses built with money from that period by wealthy wool merchants. More recently there was the arts and crafts movement and the regency architecture that is particularly evident in Bath. The timeline of history runs back many thousands of years and can be seen and felt today.
It is like The Cotswolds was made for walking. Gentle hills that give enough elevation to give wonderful views but which aren’t overly demanding make up most of the landscape. The villages are never too far apart from eachother which makes walking between them just the right distance to arrive feeling like you’ve earned your rest. There is also much variety that each days walk will always have something beautiful or interesting to offer. The myriad of footpaths crossing the area will take you through all kinds of different fields and woodland. Past imposing manor houses and through charming villages.
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The Cotswolds has a great reputation for having some outstanding places to eat and stay. There are friendly B&B’s with hearty breakfasts and welcoming locals, delightful pubs that date from the 17th Century offering locally brewed beer and delicious classic pub food right through to some fantastic luxury hotels. For those into their food there are several Michelin starred restaurants in the area as well as many other restaurants which it could be argued deserve the same accolade often using the varied locally produced ingredients. Whatever people are looking for here they will receive a fine welcome and certainly find something that is right for them.
The Cotswolds has been home and is also presently home to some famous faces. Several famous writers, composers and poets made their home here. Laurie Lee for example. Then there is the Prince of Wales Highgrove Estate, Corsham Court which was a former Royal Manor and also Sudeley Castle where Catherine Parr is now buried, one of the six wives of Henry VIII. There are many modern day celebrities who call the area home such as Kate Moss, Kate Winslet and Alex James.
The Cotswolds are very well located. They are easy to reach with several train stations which have frequent connections to London, Bristol and Birmingham and also easy to reach by road. Not only this but they are an excellent gateway for visiting other areas. The cities and towns of Bath, Cheltenham, Worcester and Oxford are all either in the area or very close. You have the Forest of Dean and Wales to the West and also places of interest like Stratford upon Avon to the North with its connections to Shakespeare
HOW TO PLAN YOUR PERFECT SELF GUIDED WALKING TRIP IN THE COTSWOLDS
A 100% free email course that will teach you everything you need to know about planning self guided walking trip in The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds is home to many strikingly pretty and fine gardens. Some of these are standalone gardens and some are attached to impressive properties. There are also many smaller private gardens open by appointment only. Thanks to a fine history of carefully tended gardens and a growing climate that allows for a wide variety of plants. There is lots to see for any gardening enthusiasts but also for those who would like to spend a relaxing afternoon breathing the pleasant scents of flowers and appreciating these pristine spaces. Hidcote Manor & Gardens, Kiftsgate Gardens, Batsford Arboretum, Highgrove Estate, Rococo Gardens and many more!
The area has many small artisan producers of many different types of food and drink and they have grown massively in the last several years. From small cheese producers to gin distilleries, organic meat farmers and fresh fruit and vegetables many of these ingredients are then used to make wonderful dishes in the restaurants of the area.
The area still maintains traditions dating back many centuries, some of them are quite quirky! But they are all interesting. Perhaps one of the most famous is the annual cheese rolling festival where participants chase large wheels of cheese down Coopers Hill. A true spectacle! There also the Cotswold Olympicks which takes place every year on Dovers Hill near Chipping Campden which has shin-kicking amongst other interesting activities, other interesting events include Tetbury Woolsack races, Randwick Wap, Eynsham Shirt Race. The Cotswold Lion, a breed of sheep native to the area are still kept in small numbers throughout the area and there are many producers still adhering to the traditional ways.
The area is bursting with culture, all the things that have been previously mentioned in this list make up only a small part of the cultural fabric of the area. The aspects that make the area so special have inspired many artists, composers, authors and poets through the centuries. Laurie Lee, J.R.R Tolkien, J.M Barrie and Beatrix Potter have all gained inspiration from the villages and countryside of the area. There are many festivals that celebrate food, music and literature. Cheltenham is home to annual Jazz Festivals, Literature festivals and food festivals and Bath is also host to many well known festivals such as Bath comedy festival, Bath literature festival, Bath international music festival.
How to Plan an Incredible Cotswolds Walking Trip
A 100% free email course that will teach you everything you need to know about planning an incredible walking trip in The Cotswolds!
